Costa Rica, CR, Pura Vida, Olive Ridley Turtles, Tortugas, Nesting Grounds, Hatching, Hatchlings, Babies, World Heritage, Conservation, Endangered Species, Environmental Protection, Precious Natural Resources, Beach
Cuajiniquil, Provincia Guanacaste, Costa Rica
time : Dec 9, 2019 10:46 PM
duration : 0h 31m 57s
distance : 0.8 mi
total_ascent : 23 ft
highest_point : 66 ft
avg_speed : 1.6 mi/h
user_id : NomadHeeday
user_firstname : Heeday
user_lastname : Nakahashi
In search of the "arribada" of the Olive Ridley turtles, we timed our arrival to this wildlife refuge perfectly to the tide schedule. On this night, high tide was scheduled at 24:54. Given that, I figured that the turtles would start arriving to the beach a few hours before the high tide to find their perfect nesting grounds, dig holes, lay eggs and return to the ocean. It was shortly before 23:00 when I got to the main nesting beach of Ostional National Wildlife Refuge hoping to spot at least one turtle laying eggs, if not the "arribada" with hundreds and thousands of olive ridleys.
Unfortunately, all I could spot in darkness was the traces of nests that were dug and messed up by the stray dogs and coatis with broken eggshells spread around all over the beach.
Next time, I will have to return when the refuge announces the "arribada" on its Facebook page.
~ Resources & References ~
https://www.facebook.com/GUIASAGLO/
https://wwf.panda.org/knowledge_hub/endangered_species/marine_turtles/lac_marine_turtle_programme/nesting_costarica/ostional/
https://www.travelexcellence.com/costa-rica-travel-blog/ostional-national-wildlife-refuge-costa-rica
https://nicoyapeninsula.com/ostional/
https://mytanfeet.com/costa-rica-national-park/ostional-wildlife-refuge-protecting-turtles/