World Wide Shame in COSTA RICA Emails are a Hoax
CostaRica.com Refutes Misinformation on Illegal Turtle Poaching
Internet Hoax
A series of emails containing false claims has been circulating about the supposed “attack against nature" on Costa Rica’s beaches. The emails contain photographs depicting people digging up and allegedly stealing turtle eggs to sell. The turtle eggs are those of Olive Ridleys (Lepidochels olivacea), an endangered species that nests on the shores of the Ostional National Wildlife Refuge, on Costa Rica’s north Pacific coast. In actuality, the photos demonstrate the legal gathering of eggs, as part of a successful conservation program that has yielded a significant increase in Olive Ridley turtle hatchings. The Internet hoax falsely labels the photos as “theft” and an “international shame.”
Successful Conservation Program at Ostional
CostaRica.com wishes to clarify that the Internet images actually portray sustainable development within the Ostional community. The turtle egg harvest is a crucial part of a 13-year conservation project created and managed by the Costa Rican government. The Ostional National Wildlife Refuge hosts up to 200,000 Olive Ridley sea turtles between May and November and about 15,000 in the dry season. In large waves known as arribadas, the sea turtles lay thousands of eggs and inadvertently destroy hundreds of them as they return to the Pacific Ocean. The Egg Harvest Project (EHP) permits locals to continue their traditional practice of harvesting eggs while furthering the larger, long-term goal of preserving the Olive Ridley species. The project ensures a proper use of the eggs and avoids uncontrolled removal by residents. The egg harvests are strictly monitored; residents are only authorized to take eggs within the first day and a half of each mass egg-laying event. This unique conservation program is the pride of the country and has been highly praised by national and international scientists.
Increased Turtle Hatchings
For more than a decade, this program has proved successful with up to a 20% increase in Olive Ridley turtle hatchings. The current nesting data in Ostional demonstrates a stable population of Olive Ridleys, which can be attributed in part to the lack of decomposing eggs. The efforts of the EHP, in compliance with the Costa Rican government has proven successful, ensuring the continued survival of the Olive Ridley sea turtle.
A Note on Responsible Tourism
CostaRica.com does not condone the practice of poaching endangered wildlife of any kind and continues to promote responsible tourism in Costa Rica. We encourage all visitors to partake in eco-friendly activities such as guided turtle tours, to learn how to protect and conserve Costa Rica’s endangered animals.
Contact Info:
Costarica.com, Inc.
P. O. Box 460671
San Francisco, CA 94146
Tel: 1-800-517-7893
Web: www.costarica.com
E-mail: pr@costarica.com