Volunteer Articles

Rescuing Turtles in Costa Rica

By Megan Tady December 2005

This article will be published in Nature Landings

Isabelle Pury, a Swiss citizen, saw Costa Rica by sunset, sunrise and, mostly, by moonlight.

During the day, she was resting. But she wasn’t a weary traveler; she had come to Costa Rica to work. Isabelle volunteered through the Global Volunteer Network to work on a conservation project rescuing endangered turtles on Costa Rica’s scenic Pacific coast.

Isabelle, who was joined by other volunteers, had the opportunity to have a hands-on experience working with two types of turtles: Baula turtles and Olive Ridley turtles. Both populations are in sharp decline due to over harvesting of eggs, beach development, and fishing. Volunteer roles include beach patrolling, handling eggs, helping to release baby turtles and counting and recording eggs, and the work day often begins just as the sun is setting.

"I really enjoyed freeing them," Isabelle said "You put them on the beach and they just run into the ocean. And sometimes there would be a sunset, so it was like they were running toward the sunset. It was very beautiful."

The Baula Turtle is a subspecies of the Leatherback Turtle, the biggest marine turtle in the world, weighing as much as 1,900 pounds and reaching nine feet long. The name is indicative of their backs, which are actually not shells, but pliable thick leather like skin. The Olive Ridley is the smallest of its species, weighing in at 75 pounds and measuring only 2 feet long.

This program is run by a biologist, and volunteers are supervised by personnel, who give volunteers on-site training; volunteers are not required to have prior biological knowledge. Volunteers live in basic accommodation, which is built only for the turtle season, and spend their free time lying in hammocks and learning to salsa dance.

"It’s really nice because it’s all protected area and you can feel the energy of nature," Isabelle said.

Isabelle found that she experienced the country differently as a volunteer than as a tourist.

"As a tourist, you just experience a resort, nothing else," Isabelle said. "This is something with the soul. You felt like you were part of the people that live there. You’re living the way they’re living and eating what they eat everyday. There’s no comparison."

A few months after her trip, Isabelle is still eager to return.

"I just want to wake up with the sunrise and free the turtles," she said.

Related Programs

Costa Rica Help protect endangered Olive Ridley and Leatherback turtle populations along Costa Rica’s coastline, or become involved with our healthcare, teaching, orphanage and construction programs in San Jose.