6 April 2002

INTERNATIONAL SERVICE LEARNING EXTERNSHIP IN COSTA RICA
LEATHERBACK TURTLES AT PLAYA GRANDE

December 20-30, 2001

Program Description:

"Participants in the International Service Learning Externship will assist biologists, working on a long-term investigation of the demography and nesting ecology of leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) at Playa Grande, Costa Rica. This investigation, funded in part by grants from the Earthwatch Institute to Drexel University and Indiana-Purdue University Fort Wayne, has yielded important insights into the nesting ecology of leatherback turtles that may ultimately help bring this endangered species back from the brink of extinction.

Students will be working with female leatherback turtles nesting at Play Grande, Cots Rica, and will help tag and identify turtles, record nest location and turtle size, and measure fecundity of nesting females and hatching success of eggs. There will be an opportunity to assist in the nesting and hatchery projects, as well as other research projects during the day and night throughout the entire externship.

This will be a rigorous program that calls for significant physical and mental stamina. Students will be expected to work from dusk until about 2:00 am as well as various hours during the days. Schedules will vary according to the high tide; timing of meals and work assignments may change daily. There will be a great deal of walking (4-7 miles each day/night) on the beach while carrying a pack weighing approximately 10-15 lbs. Students will also be digging nests in the beach sand for 1-2 hours a day. Daytime temperatures may reach 90-95 F."
(Excerpt from Kalamazoo College Center for International Programs Special Study Abroad Program Description)

And, a few of my own thoughts after returning:

I had the most incredible time! I was impressed with how Vince ran the program and the interaction between the biologists, volunteers, and tourists. In fact, I am extremely interested in returning for a full field season. Of course I find the turtles amazing, but one thing that cemented my interest in returning was a particular night in the hatchery with one of the biologists, (a K-grad), Eddy. We had a large group of tourists and guides come by as we were measuring hatchlings and Eddy gave a short talk about what we were doing and the goals of Earthwatch (in both English and Spanish, which impressed me). I had fun walking around with a hatchling and answering people's questions. It felt comfortable to me and made me realize that I want to be more involved in turtle conservation in the future. . .

Click here for pics! Warning: large pics = long wait

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