The day starts at 5 am with morning monitoring. We go to different points previously marked where there is more activity of these animals. We monitor not only the two species of the sloth, but we also do it with the associated species. In addition to their diet, we collect data scientists and field samples that are then analyzed.
After a monitoring patrol we return to our house where we have breakfast at 8:30 a rest time where it is possible to enjoy an extensive beach of volcanic sand, in the paradisiacal Pacific of Costa Rica.
12 pm is half day lunch time. We go to our next monitoring from 1 pm to 3 pm. 6 pm is dinner time. The next monitoring is at 7 pm until 9 pm.
Turtle patrolling depends of the tide. This tasks starts at 6 pm. We go looking for turtles at the beach. When the turtles are found laying eggs, we rescue the nest and take it to a safe place which we call hatchery. Here we protect them until the turtles are born and release them in the sea.
Sea turtles season
From June to January, laying season starts on June to November, from December January It is less likely to see walking turtles, the probability will be in baby turtles hatching.
The tasks in the hatchery consist of watching the nests in 6-hour shifts. Here, we have a small cabin to protect us from the sun or rain,
The written works can vary every day as well as the schedules. This means that depending on the season, we will be more focused in one or another area. It will also depend on the number of volunteers
In addition, the activities could vary depending on the circumstances, such as finding injured animals, helping them and taking them to the rescue center for recovery depending on the severity. If their recovery is prompt, there is also the opportunity to release them into their environment again. This does not mean that you will be in daily contact with these adorable animals. Most of the work will be monitoring and collecting scientific data in order to study their population and in which state of risk is this kind of species.
In the task of turtle conservation, when we find one on the beach, we take measurements and scientific data. Also when the turtle babies are born, we take data before releasing it. During these processes, the volunteers will have the opportunity to touch these beautiful and mystical creatures of the sea.
