LATEST NEWS

February 2008

The 2008 leatherback season will soon be upon us and our team is ready.

During the last three months, interviews have been taking place in South and Central America and Europe to select the “coordinators” who will run the projects at Pacuare and Panama during the 2008 season. The interviews were the culmination of the many responses we received from our wide search on the internet and through the “turtle network”.

At the same time eight Research Assistants have been recruited for Pacuare out of the many more who applied.

Below is the list of those who are now making their way to Costa Rica and Panamá to take up their stations for the 2008 season.

We thank all those who wanted to join us and were disappointed not to have been chosen this time round.


Nombres de coordinadores y asistentes en Pacuare:

Coordinador General: Kerstin Kalchmayr, Surafrica

Biólogo encargado: Pablo Garcés, Ecuador

Biólogo asistente: David Melero, España


Asistentes de investigación:

Maja Celinscak: Croacia

Daniel González: España

Christine Parfitt: Australia

Jenniffer Hederman U.S.A.

Jessica Obie U.S.A.

Juan Manuel Carrillo España

Neil Davis Inglaterra
José Ruiz España


Panamà

Soropta:

Scott Handy: Inglaterra, Coordinador

Sarah Lucas: Inglaterra asistente


Playa Larga:

Mauricio: Panamà, Coordinador


Sixaola:

Huascar Miller (Panamá)

There is a good mix of nationalities here, though, sadly, no Costa Rican this time.

For the turtles, 2007 was a really good year. Let us work and hope for the same again or better in 2008.

Latest news

According to our latest figures for this year (Spring/Summer 2007) at Pacuare Reserve, we counted over 900 nests during the Leatherback season, the highest number since 2001! It has been a most encouraging year so far.

Our warmest thanks to all who have contributed with their hard work to these excellent results - Biologists, Coordinators, Research Assistants, Guards, volunteers and many school groups.

(Please click on 'Panama latest news' for an update on this year's 'landmark' Leatherback season in Panama, or scroll down to read details of the 2006 Season at Pacuare)

Recent comments:

"Our visit has been very enjoyable and educational. We learned so much from you and your staff. It was exciting to go with you on the night patrol of the beach. We were so fortunate to be able to see a leatherback completing her nest and for Rich to be able to "see" so much through touch and your descriptions. It is conforting to know you are here and diligently helping to preserve a link in the web of life. We commend your dedication. The facilities are most comfortable and you helped us to feel part of the family. We appreciate all you have done to make this adventure the highlight of our trip to Costa Rica. Thank you, Carolyn Anderson, PHD. Rich Irwin."

[Please note that Rich Irwin is visually impaired]

The 2006 Season - a short summary

by John Denham

At PACUARE we counted 591 leatherback nests, down from 708 last year but better than 2003 and 2004

Student groups and visitors reached a total of 760, all of them staying in the Reserve to participate in the turtle programme. Ecology Project International (EPI) brought a record 37 groups of US and Costa Rican students.

This year we divided the management roles at the Reserve. Rubén, a Costa Rican with a degree in marine biology, came to Pacuare first in 2004 as a Research Assistant, stayed on the next year to be in charge of the North Station and this year was in charge of the turtle programme and everything connected to it - collection of data, beach guards, Research Assistants etc.

Tomás, also Costa Rican, came as operations manager to be in charge of almost everything else.

It has been a most successful combination and we thank them for all their hard work. Rubén will return to his studies next year but we hope to see Tomás again at Pacuare.

To continue protecting the leatherback turtles of Pacuare each season, we rely on volunteers to help to monitor the beaches and keep a watchful eye on the laying females. If you would like to visit the Pacuare Reserve and be a part of this invaluable project, please contact us on 020 72292093 for further information. These magnificent animals need your help to survive!

measuring a leatherback at Pacuare