In 2000 Stanley Rodriguez, founded
Estación Las Tortugas (The Turtle Station) in an effort
to help save the remaining population of sea turtles. Sea turtles
have adapted for over 100 million years, but are now on the verge
of extinction due to many human factors including poachers, pollution,
and development. Located ten miles north of Limon ,on the Caribbean
Coast of Costa Rica, the station protects three kilometers of
land between the mouths of Rio Mondonguillo and Rio Serafin. It
is one of eight sea turtle reserves in all of Costa Rica.
International student
groups visit Estación Las Tortugas each year through EcoTeach,
along with hundreds of local and national Costa Rican schoolchildren.
Students who visit the project learn about the ecology and conservation
of sea turtles. They experience the life of a volunteer field
worker, taking an active role in patrolling the beach at night,
helping to collect data as well as relocating and counting eggs.
Longer-term volunteers live and work at the station for periods
of a few weeks to months. Volunteers help on beach patrols throughout
the nesting season, and learn skills such as how to tag turtles,
look after the hatchery (pictured here) and excavate nests.
View
Estación Las Tortugas 2006 Data
