Wildlife Conservation Costa Rica Project #42828

Improve conditions for our sea turtle heroes

by Asociacion Latin American Sea Turtles - LAST

Improve conditions for our sea turtle heroes

Project Report | May 11, 2026
Building Hope for Sea Turtles in Pacuare

By Jonathan Contreras | Field Biologist

The sea turtle season in Pacuare has officially begun! Since late February, when the first research assistants arrived, our team has been working intensively to ensure a successful start to the nesting season.

During March, we combined nightly beach patrols with one of the most demanding and important tasks of the year: the construction of our hatchery, which will house the sea turtle nests we are able to rescue throughout the season. This process required an enormous physical effort and many hours of work, as it involves completely removing the sand from the hatchery area, sifting and disinfecting it, and then carefully placing it back.

Despite the complexity of this task, the commitment of our staff and volunteers was extraordinary, and we managed to finish the hatchery during the first days of April, just in time to receive the first nests of the season. Thanks to this effort, we have already managed to protect more than 30 leatherback turtle nests inside the hatchery, in addition to 11 other nests that were relocated directly on the beach before the hatchery construction was completed.

None of this would have been possible without the support and dedication of our volunteers, who bravely chose to leave their countries and travel thousands of kilometers to join sea turtle conservation efforts in Costa Rica. Thanks to their hard work and commitment, hundreds of potential hatchlings from the nests they helped us rescue will now have a better chance of reaching the ocean.

This year, we also made an important decision to improve working conditions at the station by installing Starlink satellite internet. With this tool, we aim to improve communication and coordination in a remote area like Pacuare. However, this also represents a new challenge, as the station depends entirely on solar panels and batteries for electricity. The system’s high energy consumption requires us to carefully manage the available power in order to ensure the operation of all our essential equipment during daily conservation work.

Another major challenge we have faced has been nest poaching. As happens every year, we continue encountering illegal poachers on the beach who reach the turtles before we do and steal their eggs. This season, there was even an isolated incident in which a poacher intercepted one of our patrols and took the bag of eggs while they were heading to the hatchery to relocate the nest. Fortunately, the situation did not escalate further, but this incident clearly reflects the serious problem faced at Pacuare Beach, where sea turtle eggs continue to be illegally taken to be sold or exchanged for drugs, without any regard for the enormous damage this causes to the conservation of these threatened species.

Despite these challenges, our team continues working every night to locate and protect as many nests as possible from threats such as poaching and erosion. During the past few weeks, the season has shown consistent leatherback turtle activity on the beach, keeping our patrols active night after night.

The support we receive from people like you makes it possible to keep these efforts going. Your donation helps us purchase hatchery materials and patrol equipment, maintain our solar panel system, provide food for our staff, and increase the number of nests we are able to save on this beach. Thank you for being part of this effort and helping thousands of small turtles have a better chance of reaching the ocean.

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Jan 16, 2026
Preparing the ground for another season

By Sasha Lees | Field Biologist

January marks a quieter time in Pacuare. The intense months of night patrols, nest relocations, and hatchling releases are behind us, but conservation work does not stop when the beach is calm. In many ways, this period is what determines how strong the next nesting season will be.

During these months, our team focuses on maintaining the foundation that allows us to operate year after year. Equipment is repaired or replaced, data from the previous season is reviewed and organized, and plans are put in place to improve nest protection for the coming months. Patrol schedules are evaluated, hatchery protocols are adjusted based on lessons learned, and new training materials are prepared for incoming volunteers.

Infrastructure remains one of our most pressing challenges. The tropical conditions of Pacuare continue to take a toll on our station, particularly on volunteer accommodations. High humidity and salt air accelerate deterioration, making constant maintenance unavoidable. Safe and functional dorms are not a luxury. They are essential for keeping volunteers healthy, rested, and able to perform demanding night patrols and daily conservation tasks.

Each volunteer who arrives at Pacuare represents additional eyes on the beach, faster nest detection, and better protection against threats like poaching and erosion. Providing them with reliable shelter directly translates into stronger conservation outcomes. This is why improving and reinforcing our facilities remains a priority as we prepare for the next season.

The off-season is also a time of reflection. In 2025, we were reminded how vulnerable sea turtle populations remain and how quickly setbacks can occur without sustained effort. Being present on the beach year-round helps ensure that when turtles return, we are ready to protect them from the very first nest.

Your support during this quieter time is especially important. Donations made now help us repair infrastructure, prepare equipment, and ensure that Pacuare remains an active conservation site when the nesting season begins again. Every contribution strengthens our ability to protect endangered sea turtles and to continue releasing thousands of hatchlings into the ocean each year.

Thank you for standing with us, not only during the most visible moments of conservation, but also during the months when preparation makes all the difference.

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Sep 24, 2025
A fragile balance

By Jonathan Contreras | Field Biologist

The 2025 season at Pacuare Beach reminded us how fragile sea turtle populations are and how valuable every conservation effort is. This year, between March and September, we recorded 180 nests of leatherback, green, and hawksbill turtles, three endangered species that use this corner of the Costa Rican Caribbean as one of the few refuges where they can still nest. Thanks to the commitment of our team and volunteers, we were able to protect 91 nests, which were relocated to our sea turtle hatchery or to safer sites on the beach, representing the protection of more than 50% of the nests. Although this percentage was lower than that achieved in 2024, it reflects the multiple challenges faced during the season, such as coastal erosion, frequent rains, and, especially, nest poaching. Even so, conservation efforts have yielded positive results: nearly 2,000 leatherback turtle hatchlings, more than 100 hawksbill turtle hatchlings, and around 3,000 green turtle hatchlings are expected to be released in our hatchery. Each one represents hope for the future of their species, and each release was made possible thanks to the support we receive from people like you.

One of the most significant challenges of 2025 was the emergence of ant infestations in some of the nursery's nests. This reminded us that the fight for conservation is not only about fighting human action, but also about ecological threats that put hatchlings at risk. However, these challenges motivate us to continue improving: with your help, we hope to strengthen the nursery and expand patrols for the coming seasons.

Beyond nest protection, during 2025 we also carried out beach cleanups, collecting more than 832 kg of inorganic waste, which contributes to maintaining a safer habitat for turtles. We also trained more than 150 volunteers from around the world, who are now sea turtle ambassadors in their countries.
In terms of infrastructure, the project continued to operate normally, but the need to improve and expand our facilities and equipment remains an outstanding challenge. Constant maintenance of the hatchery, monitoring instruments, and volunteer accommodations is essential to sustain and increase our capacity for action in the coming seasons. We are also still awaiting repairs to our all-terrain vehicle, which is essential for patrolling and protecting nests in the most remote areas of the beach.

In terms of infrastructure, the project continued to operate normally, but the need to improve and expand our facilities and equipment remains a challenge. Constant maintenance of the hatchery, monitoring instruments, and volunteer accommodations is essential to sustain and increase our capacity for action in the coming seasons. We are also still waiting to repair our all-terrain vehicle, which is essential for patrolling and protecting nests in the most remote areas of the beach.
Each season is a race against time to find nests before poachers, to rescue hatchlings from erosion, and to ensure that Pacuare Beach remains a sanctuary. With your donation, we can protect more nests, release more hatchlings, and strengthen the project's infrastructure. You are part of this story: every contribution translates into patrols, hatchery materials, training, and, above all, thousands of tiny turtles reaching the ocean.

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