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| At the Right Place at the Right Time As I headed for the birding trail before breakfast this morning, the turtle man told me that 12 new Olive Ridley turtle eggs hatched last night and he was ready to release them. New Morning Plans! I got to pick up all 12 from their nest and put in box for taking to beach. Tambor, Costa Rica |
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| 12 Babies Ready for the Beach! Tambor, Costa Rica |
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| One by one we take them from the box and sit each one on the beach. Instinctively the head for the water, some in a big rush! Tambor, Costa Rica |
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| What a privilege to participate in helping save an endangered species! Tambor, Costa Rica |
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| Once on water’s edge the next wave carries them out to sea. They swim for a full day before stopping to eat. Because of predators (birds & fish) only one in a thousand make it to adulthood. Tambor, Costa Rica |
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| Once eggs are laid on the beach, volunteers bring to this sheltered fenced area to protect eggs from predators. Behind a chain-link fence each clutch of 30-80 eggs is netted, dated and watched by volunteers. Eggs take about 45 days to hatch, thus they know when most will hatch. Most already have. They are expecting 100+ hatchlings on Christmas Day. Tambor, Costa Rica |
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| A small building was constructed by local volunteers who watch the eggs around the clock. Tambor, Costa Rica |
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| Tambor, Costa Rica |
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| A Mouse Pad here + T-shirts are sold to raise money. Tambor, Costa Rica |
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| There are government regulations on turtles, but no money to help. This volunteer group meets both national & international standards. Tambor, Costa Rica |
They are a new program and do not have a website yet, but will eventually have something similar to nearby MontezumaBeach.com to promote support and volunteerism and they are wanting to affiliate with a university somewhere for research as well as volunteers. They do have a Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/Tortugas-Bah%C3%ADa-Tambor-120575518588150/ Though my effort to post photos did not work well with one put as a “Visitor Post” in the right hand column.
They plan to also post more information about the program on the hotel website: Tambor Tropical Resort.
And I will eventually have these photos posted on my trip gallery for this particular trip: 2017 Christmas Week Tambor Bay. And maybe in my other animals gallery eventually! 🙂
How exciting that you got to release the baby turtles! I'm so happy you are having a good time!