Marine Turtle Conservation Project, Punta Banco

P u n t a B a n c o Tu r t l e Conser vation Project A l o c al e f f o r t to co ns e r ve o ur d e lic ate mar in e e nv iro nm e nt

2017

A s o ciaci o n Ve cin os d e Punt a B an co

Co mi te To r tu gas d e Punt a B an co

w w w.t i s k i t a .c o m

Asociacion Vecinos de Punta Banco

ABOUT US

In an effort to protect the Green/Lora (Chelonia mydas) and Olive Ridley/Verde (Lepidochelys olivacea) and Carey (Eretmochely simbricat) sea turtles that nest on the beaches in the local area the turte conservation project started in 1995. It has slowly evolved into a project being managed exclusively by the local Punta Banco community with the support of all the different businesses around the area.

HISTORY In 1996, Tiskita started collaborating with PRETOMA. Around 2005 PRETOMA started to focus more on other species conservation efforts and the project continues but at a very small scale. The community realized that poachers were coming in from other areas to get turtle eggs from the beach and a local effort was born to continue the long standing project.

The last four years the project has been managed exclusively by the community wihth strong community involvement patrolling the beach, monitoring, maintaining the hatcheries and being in charge of releases.

Wilber on the way to release turte hatchlings

Turtle Festival 2016

COME RAIN OR SHINE...

2016

324 Nest s 21 889 tur tle hatchilings

2017

557 Nest s 1250 0 tur tle hatchlings

With the help of:

5 commit tee members 25 local volunteers

Nov 2016 Natural Habitat Group staying at Tiskita

Pablo and Wilber at the hatchery www.bencherryphotos.com

Local activities to promote the proyect

THE TURTLES Lora Turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) Vulnerable Smalles of the marine turtes that nest in Costa Rica Nesting season: July-December Lays on avarage 100=120 eggs

Tortuga Verde (Chelonia mydas) Endangered The largest hardshelled marine turte Nesting season: October-December Lays on average 68 eggs

Carey Turtle (Eretmochely simbricat) Critically endangered Carachteristic shell in yellow/brown & heart-shaped Nesting season: August-September Lays on average 155 eggs in 2-5yr intervals

Consevation International Costa Rica

adult turtle

10000 eggs will reach maturity as an

It is estimated that just 1 out of every

WE NEED YOUR HELP PayPal & email: puntabancoambiental@gmail.com

Donations will be used for: • Maintenance of the turtle hatcheries of which there are 3 and could increase if the number of turtle nests being rescued increases.

• Materials for volunteers to patrol and keep records.

• Organizing events to keep the community and volunteers motivated.

• Capacity building and Environmental education programs for the volunteers and local community

FEEL THE INSPIRATION w w w.tor tugaspuntabanco.com Facebook : tor tugaspuntabanco PhotoStories: Releasing baby tur tles T isk ita page on the program Faceb ook : Tur tle program video

T ha n ks to: T isk it a J un gl e Lo d g e, R an ch o Bur ic a , Yo gaFar m , Co mite d e To r tu gas d e Punt a B an co, B e n Ch e r r y f o r p rof essi o nal p h oto gr ap hs