Leatherback nests early, lays many eggs

PRETOMA’s sea turtle conservation project at Playa Caletas, on the North Central Pacific coast of Costa Rica, received an encouraging sign this past week with a visit from an early nesting Pacific leatherback. Typically, the leatherback nesting season on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica does not begin until late October. Given the existence of critically endangered leatherback sea turtles and the rich biodiversity of the area it is hoped that Playa Caletas will be declared a national wildlife refuge within a year. PRETOMA’s sea turtle protection project at Playa Caletas is made possible with support from the National Wildlife Federation, Marine Conservation Action Fund and Sea Turtle Restoration Project.

PRETOMA researchers Eric López (Costa Rica) and David Palange (USA) encountered the leatherback on the night of August 3, 2004. The turtle was in the initial stages of nest construction and the two witnessed the entire nesting event which culminated with the laying of a whopping 102 eggs and 29 yolkless eggs. This is well above last year’s average size for Pacific leatherback nests at Playa Caletas, which was 56 eggs.

The turtle measured 143 cm in length and 100 cm in width. Leatherbacks can often be over 170 cm long. She was tagged with internal PIT tags on both of her shoulders to aid in future identification and monitoring efforts.

The eggs were taken to PRETOMA’s project hatchery at the site, where they will be protected and monitored until the hatchlings emerge. ”We are very excited about the number of eggs in this nest, because when it comes to leatherbacks every single egg counts,” stated Palange, Research Coordinator for PRETOMA’s Playa Caletas Project. ”This is a species that is currently on the brink of extinction.”

Pacific leatherback sea turtle populations are in serious peril. To illustrate the severity of the decline of Pacific leatherback populations, in 1968, 3103 leatherbacks were recorded nesting at Terengganu, Malaysia and by 1988 that number had been reduced to two. Now the most important leatherback nesting beach in the Pacific is Playa Grande, Costa Rica. In 1989, 1367 nests were recorded and in 2002 only 68. It is thought the Pacific Ocean may now contain as few as 2,300 adult females, making Pacific leatherbacks the world’s most endangered sea turtle. ”The situation is bleak, that is why Playa Caletas and every leatherback conservation project is so crucial,” says PRETOMA’s President Randall Arauz. “It is a big part of the efforts that need to be taken to protect and restore this critically endangered species.”

Last season at Playa Caletas a leatherback surprised everyone by coming up in early September. However, she only laid 30 eggs. This year’s event comes more than a month ahead of last year’s and has produced more than three times as many eggs. “This is a great sign for this yearxs nesting season and we hope the trend continues,” commented Research Assistant Alison Cobb (UK).

PRETOMA has been monitoring and protecting leatherback, olive ridley and Pacific green sea turtles at Playa Caletas since 2002.

For photos of a leatherback that nested at Playa Caletas, go to http://www.tortugamarina.org/downloads/3leggedleatherback.jpg.

PRETOMA is a Costa Rican non-profit, non-governmental, environmental protection organization that works to promote responsible fisheries and protect sea turtles, sharks and marine biodiversity. Contact them by email at alexandergaos@tortugamarina.org or info@tortugamarina.org

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outdoors

Endangered leatherback sea turtle lays massive early nest in Costa Rica