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The leatherback sea turtle population in the Pacific, once the species' stronghold, has decreased by over 90% since 1980. Help scientists investigate this decline and find ways to save this and other sea turtle species.

Costa Rica’s Guanacaste Province is a crucial habitat for four of the world’s seven sea turtle species. Its beaches, such as Las Baulas National Marine Park and Playa Cabuyal, are essential nesting sites for endangered leatherback, green, and olive ridley turtles. Additionally, the waters of Guanacaste provide critical foraging grounds for juvenile turtles, including the critically endangered hawksbill. With various life stages occurring in this region, Guanacaste plays a vital role in the survival of these ancient mariners. In the beginning, on the sandy shorelines, the mama turtles haul themselves out of the ocean, dig holes with their rear flippers, and lay clutches of soft-shelled eggs. After a few months, fragile hatchlings will emerge and make their way to the ocean.

The world is a dangerous place for these tiny turtles and their parents. They’re threatened by climate change, boat traffic, fishing gear, coastal development, nest predation, and humans hunting them for their meat and eggs. To truly understand why these ancient species have declined so rapidly and what we can do to stop this decline, researchers need to know everything about them: their behavior, physiology, genetics, population biology, and migration patterns. Subsequently, it is essential to determine whether the current conservation and management efforts are working and how climate change impacts these populations.

Researchers must understand all aspects of sea turtles’ lives to ensure their protection, including migration routes and nesting success. As part of this effort, you will patrol the beach after dark to observe these remarkable creatures up close. During your patrols, you will identify individual turtles, record essential measurements, and monitor their health. You may also collect skin samples for genetic research, attach satellite transmitters to track their movements or assist in relocating eggs from nests at risk of being washed away. With sea turtle populations declining, every piece of data—and every turtle—plays a crucial role in their conservation.