| |
|
|
| |
Clutches
of eggs ready to hatch at Estacion de las tortugas
4
Howler
monkeys spotted
14
Average
number of leather back turtles who come to the
station
400
|
|
| |
|
|
 |
Lesson
Plans
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Daily
Dilemma
|
|
|
We
have noticed that the Cecropia Tree are the
only tree in the lowland rain forest that
does not have vines, epiphytes, or bromileads
growing off of them. Pika knows the reason,
but won't tell us. He said, "Tell your
students to research it and tell you."
Try to unravel the mystery!
|
|
 |
|
Looking for Leather Back Sea Turtles!
October
30th 7:00 PM Las Tortugas Research Station, Caribbean Coast,
Matina, Costa Rica
|
This
afternoon Alvaro met us in a small motor boat along
the edge of the Tortuguero Canal. Within minutes all
of our groceries and bags were loaded on board, and
we were watching the jungle zoom by as we made our way
to Las Tortugas Research Station. The research station
is responsible for patrolling and protecting 3 km of
beach that is frequented by hundreds of leather back
sea
turtles each year to lay eggs. Leather backs are
the largest of the seven species of sea
turtles in the world and can have a shell that is
10 feet long!
|
Click
to enlarge
We
were surrounded by new sights and sounds as we headed
down the Tortuguero Canal.
|
As we wound
through the ever narrowing waterways towards the station howler
monkeys were calling from trees all around us. Saying, "Welcome
to the lowland Rainforest!
" Howler
monkeys are not the only animals that have welcomed us to this
amazing ecosystem today. We have also seen sloths,
toucans,
eagles, spider
monkeys, butterflies, lizards, fresh water turtles, and
lots of other amazing Rainforest
critters. We can only hope that tomorrow is half
as exciting as today.
|
|
The
main reason that we have come to the research station
is to learn about sea
turtles. Most of the leather back turtles come here
to breed from March to July. Most of the eggs that the
turtles laid this year have already hatched, but there
are still some eggs that have not hatched yet. Today
we got to see the protective pens where the turtle eggs
are kept until they hatch. The people that run the station
dig up the eggs after they are laid and move them to
protective pens to help protect them from poachers and
other animals. Last night some of the eggs hatched,
and we are hoping that some more will hatch tonight!
|
|
Tomorrow
we are going to help build a new sea
turtle education center at the station. The Ed Center
will be used to help educate people about the sea turtles
and help raise awareness about the problems that face
these amazing animals. If you would like to help you can
sell coffee and raise money that will go to protecting
these endangered
reptiles. |
|
We
would like to thank Gonzalo and Enrique from El Pizote
Lodge in Puerto Viejo de Limon for their wonderful
hospitality! Plus we found a new sled dog for this
winter's adventures!
|
Click
to enlarge
A
troop of howler monkeys welcomed us to the lowland rain
forest!
|
Please
join us for our next chat session on Thursday, November 6th
at 10 AM Central Standard Time. We
are looking forward to answering all of your questions!
If
you have sent us questions lately please visit Q
and A! We have been busy answering all of your great
questions.
Notes
from the Trail Index
|
