Rainforest Concern - Urpiano Beach Project

Rainforest Concern has been protecting marine turtles on the Caribbean coast since 1993. The great success of our work with the Pacuare Reserve saw a massive reduction in poaching of leatherback turtle eggs. As a result of this positive experience we have turned our attention to Urpiano beach, immediately to the south of Pacuare.

Since 2016, Rainforest Concern and its Costa Rica team have run a programme to patrol Urpiano beach and protect the eggs and hatchlings during the nesting and hatching season. Previously, Urpiano had been notorious for illegal poaching of turtle eggs - in an initial survey conducted in 2015, 100% of eggs were poached.

This project’s aim is to protect the beach for the turtles' long-term survival. Through monitoring and protection, environmental education and involving the local community, our goal is to ensure these hatchlings have a higher chance of survival.

Bárbara working at the hatchery — Bárbara Barrera in the hatchery

How do we protect the nests?

To maintain a safe and protected nesting area for sea turtles, conservation efforts include regular monitoring and patrolling of the beach to ensure the safety of nesting females and their eggs. These activities are essential for reducing threats and maintaining a secure environment.

Due to the significant risk of poaching, eggs are carefully collected after being laid and relocated to a dedicated hatchery. Under constant surveillance, the hatchery provides a controlled and secure space where the eggs are protected from human interference, predators, and environmental hazards, greatly increasing their chances of successful hatching.

Monitoring and Research

As well as patrolling the beach and protecting the nests, details of nesting females and hatchlings are recorded, and unhatched eggs are excavated to assess the reasons for their lack of development.

The future of leatherback turtles at Urpiano beach

Rainforest Concern has a proven record working in Costa Rica to protect marine turtles, achieving dramatic reductions in killings and egg poaching.

Over the last seven years since the Urpiano Beach Project was established, we have worked hard to make a significant difference to the survival rates of this marine turtle colony.
In the first year of the project we were able to save around 18% of nests. In year two, this increased to 23%.

The 2021 season was the most successful so far:
As the country started to recover from the pandemic and restrictions were lifted, it created difficulties for us due to the presence of more poachers. Despite this, 32% of nests were saved and a record 60% of hatchlings were released to the sea.

We need help in expanding the project and building infrastructure in these early years - your support would be hugely beneficial in doing this.

Turtles at Urpiano

Leatherback Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea): The largest and oldest of all sea turtles, the leatherback is unique for its lack of a hard, scaly shell. Instead, it has a flexible, leather-like carapace. Known for epic migrations, leatherbacks can dive to incredible depths and often nest on tropical beaches, including Laguna Urpiano, one of the most important nesting sites in the Americas.
Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta caretta): Recognisable by its large, powerful head, the loggerhead is a sturdy turtle that favours coastal areas for feeding and nesting. These turtles often migrate thousands of miles between feeding grounds and nesting sites.
Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas): Named for the greenish colour of its fat (not its shell), the green turtle is primarily herbivorous as an adult, feeding on seagrass and algae. It plays a key role in maintaining healthy seagrass ecosystems.
Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata): Known for its strikingly beautiful, patterned shell, the hawksbill is critically endangered due to illegal harvesting for its carapace. It primarily feeds on sponges, contributing to the balance of coral reef ecosystems.

Hatchling
Agami Heron
Building the hatchery
Members of the local community releasing baby turtles
Hatchling
Urpiano beach
Grasshopper by Carolina Brown
Carlos Fernandez with adult turtle
Local workers with volunteers
Bárbara and Johnny counting turtle eggs at Urpiano beach
Turtle tracks on sand, Urpiano beach