Olive Ridley Turtle nesting on the beach in Costa Rica

 

Costa Rica beaches is the nesting ground for 5 different types of turtles, Leatherback, hawksbill sea turtles, the pacific green sea turtle, Atlantic green sea turtle, and the Olive Ridley. We are not here during nesting season but were told that the Olive Ridley can nest though out the year. It was something I really did want to see and there are a few beaches close to Samara that we just might get lucky.  

Right in the center of Samara is Samara Information Center which gives free information on tours and other events going on in the area. That seemed to be the place to check to see what is going on with the turtles this time of year. We were told that nothing had been happening the last couple of days but with a full moon coming later in the week there could be some coming to nest. They took our email and told us they let us know.

Sure enough as the moon got close to full we got an email that a few have been coming on shore and tonight would be a good night to go.

They set us up with guide who picked us up at 6:00pm right in town and took a small group of us to Camaronal National Refuge. You cannot enter the beach at night without a guide. We were on the beach for just a moment when a female Olive Ridley came out of the ocean and was making her way up the beach. I have seen the diamond back turtles in Long Beach Island, NJ do this many times as a volunteer there but it still was amazing to see this big turtle coming up the beach.

Olive Ridley measures about 2 feet and weighs between 70 and 100 pounds. They nest twice a season and lay more than 100 eggs each time.

 

Once she felt she had gone far enough up the beach, she started to dig and lay her eggs. Only a small red flashlight was shone as to not to disturb her. Once she finished she did her happy dance and went back to the ocean.

 

The eggs will hatch in about 52 – 58 days. 

 

Here at the Refuge once the female is gone, the nest are dug up and moved to a protected hatchery. Much like we do in Long Beach Island as part of the Terrapin Nesting Project.

At 8:00pm the volunteers check the nest for hatchlings to be released. Tonight we got lucky and were able to see both a female laying her eggs and watch these tiny baby Olive Ridley turtles make their way into the sea.

 

The life span is estimated between 50 – 60 years.