Protecting Jaguars and Biodiversity in the Amazon

Dear Supporters,

April, May and June are times of change throughout the world, when the cold winter rains bid us farewell and the reassuring hopefulness of the summer seems just around the corner. However, nowhere is this sensation of alteration better expressed than in the ever-dynamic neotropical rainforest. These changes in Jalova mean one main exciting thing to everyone here; babies! This is the time when all the mothers and fathers of the natural world are hard at work building nests out of twigs and twine or braving the beach under the gaze of the milky way. 

The yearly rains in Jalova bring change, and this is positive change for the life of Tortuguero National Park (TNP) as it means an abundance of resources. Almost as if they have evolved for millions of years to know this, the animals recognize the richness and start building nests and finding mates; meaning that the babies are on the way.

Of all the babies we’ve had on base, the Rufous-tailed hummingbirds were a highlight. The mother diligently attended the eggs and fledglings for four weeks, which is commendable, less so was her placement of the nest. It was built on a branch at head height, in the middle of a busy path through base. We had to block it off for a month and circumvent the nest through the adjacent bushes and tall grass. However, everyone’s wet socks were justified when the babies fledged, seeing the little beaks and faces for the first time was a magical experience. It wasn’t just the hummingbirds who utilized our beautiful base as their suburban heaven for their children. A Kiskadee Flycatcher pair, flamboyant birds with a taste for cacophony raised hatchlings and the lime-green iguana young found perches all over base to soak up the preciously rare sunlight.  

Most excitingly of all however, this time of year brings Tortuguero’s namesake to our beautiful beach, sea turtles! Nothing will compare with the Jurassic feeling that overcomes one when they first witness these archaic reptiles drag their ungainly bodies out of the depths and onto the sand. The starlight reflects off the surface of the Caribbean, revealing the soaking silhouette of a gentle giant. Waves break over them, like a mountain torrent over boulders. They stare up at their task, miles of empty moonlit beach, the second-hand sunlight conjuring up shapes to scare all but the hardiest. Yet they press on, knowing that their task is one of the most important in survival. Like a man on the moon, these creatures haul themselves further into this alien world in order to create the next generation. 

This time of year, the beach is transformed by the lumbering Leatherbacks turtles. They create a colossal mess while nesting, flinging sand like feral diggers. The presence of these creatures means plenty more beach time for the volunteers, who go out every night between 21:00 and 02:00 to search for nesting turtles; a once-in-a-lifetime experience. When a nesting mother is encountered certain data is gathered. This includes carapace length and width, whether she has any injuries and if the group is lucky enough to encounter her before she has laid her eggs, they are counted while she lays them. Although most nests will not hatch for the next two months, to share these intimate and expressive moments with the mother is unrivalled. 

To preserve this biological fairy-tale, funds must be raised and in order to do this we organized a 24-hour survey. This was a mammoth undertaking, as most surveys are no longer than two hours, so this one had to be completed in stages with different rotating groups of volunteers. The aim of this mission was to have at least one survey out in the national park for 24 hours. During this was two turtle night walks and a Jag Walk, which in total is nearly 40 miles on our beach. Supplemented to this extraordinary amount of distance on sand were a bird boat and an enormous forest survey, assessing over four miles of dense and coastal forest. Every single person delightedly participated, showing both commitment and exaggerating the sense of family that is generated here in Jalova. All the effort, sweat and blisters were worth-while, as thanks to everyone who selflessly donated, we managed to raise over £700!

The GVI Jalova Base is situated in one of the most relevant and vital locales in the world when it comes to the preservation of its biodiversity. The research that the field team and volunteers come together to accomplish is incomparably important to the fate of sea turtles and indeed global fauna as a whole. It all contributes to the UN’s sustainable development goals; Life on Land and Life at Sea, sea turtles being synonymous with the link between the two. What is achieved here at Jalova is nothing short of providing insight into the future of our planet and making a difference in its conservation. However, none of this would be possible without the help of people on the outside.

The continuing support of fellow conscientious humans give us hope that the future is not as bleak as the news makes it seem and it should never be understated how important every single donation is.

With Gratitude,

Costa Rica Conservation

Dear Supporters 

The first quarter here in beautiful Jalova is always full of surprises, from the sensationally beautiful breeding plumages of the dozens of rare, migratory birds we encounter at this time of year to those friendly snakes you find in your boots! Scientific research during this time is always essential to accurately assess this globally unique terroir and how the long-haul frequent flyers interact with their resident temporary neighbours.

Costa Rica is famous for its avian biodiversity, and at no other time of year is this better expressed than during the start. This is due to the large influx of migrant bird species, who fleetingly visit our small patch of paradise. They impose on us a sense of wonder with the idea of their monumental upcoming journeys and kaleidoscopic colours, and then before we’ve even arrived at a first name basis, they are out the door. This reputation among the birding world is no fluke as Costa Rica is situated along the Atlantic flyway, a vital migration route for birds. The field team here, along with the ever-inquisitive volunteers, work around the clock to monitor and assess the different species, rating them from quantitative values such as group size and sexual dimorphisms to less scientific ones like fluffiness, (granted, the latter is not encouraged to be discussed while on the survey!)

One such famous migrant, who must be clocking up those air-miles by now for a cheap holiday to Honolulu, is the Whimbrel. Every year, it makes the incredible journey from its breeding grounds in Alaska and Northern Canada down to Southern Brazil where it spends winter, a wise decision by anyone’s standards. Here in Jalova, we catch them on their two-week layover, which they spend lounging on the beach, sipping on mollusc martinis. The Whimbrel is joined during this time of year by thousands of Barn Swallows, who always look they whole-heartedly enjoy their ability to fly. Zipping over the surf, ducking through tree-trunks and diving-bombing aerodynamically to catch insects mid-air inspires any naturalist. In a single two-hour morning survey, 9000 were observed soaring through the sky, stained pink by the dawning sun, an experience which will live long in the memory of all who witnessed it. However, without proper management, this will not be around for upcoming generations.

Occurrences such as these amplify how vital this area of land is to the preservation of the natural world, as so many varied and special species call into this beach-front haven on their way to their breeding grounds. Tortuguero National Park (TNP) is a part of the crucial network of pit-stops, providing birds with a safe-haven, plentiful in resources, in which they can rest on their way from the Pantanal to Vancouver. The research occurring here brings into focus how the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals are being achieved. For these species to have a sanctuary is so essential to their life-cycles, but further research is required to fully comprehend the directions and an effective methodology for this conservation.

It takes resources and time to carry out the research to meet the standards set by the U.N. Goals (such as Life on Land) and ethical conservation.  Over 1,000 surveys were done this quarter, clocking up an impressive 4,392 volunteer hours! Included in these hours was an incredible nation-wide assessment to investigate shorebird populations organised by our partner MINAET (Ministry for the Environment in Costa Rica). Every river mouth along the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica is surveyed at the same time with all data going directly to MINAET, in conjunction with a shorebird research centre. This is vitally important data to collect to ensure that the protected habitats continue to support key migratory species. The species themselves cross boundaries so the research must too. Research like this would be effectively impossible without the support of people from around the world and shows what can be achieved when we come together with a shared goal.

For the non-bird enthusiasts out there, plenty of other wonders occur. From the stubborn shuffling of our tree-dwelling hairy porcupines to the stealthy stalking of the ethereal jaguar, life continues in its cyclical fashion here in Tortuguero. Being the height of the dry season (dry being used in a relatively loose sense – it is the rain-forest!)  means that food sources become scarcer. This leads to some of the more cryptic species giving us glimpses into their ambiguous lives. The sinisterly beautiful Halloween-snake made a rare appearance on our trails and some species were recorded for the first time ever in Jalova, including the Cope’s Bluntheaded snake and South American Racer! Jalova never fails to amaze and inspire and new species are constantly being recorded and put into our database, which has now been running for nearly ten years! Surprises like this are what keep conservation so exciting and engaging but it should not be forgotten that none of this would be possible without the support of people all around the world. From all of us here in Jalova, we appreciate everything and would like to point out how all contributions make a difference in preserving this world and its animals.

January, February, and March are times of great exchange here in Jalova, with avian migrations a key topic on everyone’s mind. We have spent resources investigating these patterns and intend to continue to monitor populations of all kinds of fauna throughout the year. We would like to thank every single individual who donated to this worthy cause and stress that none of this would be possible with your help. If we all work together, we are able to make a difference in this world,

With Gratitude

Costa Rica, Conservation