Abstract

JAMES, Robert  and  MELERO, David. Nesting and conservation of the Olive Ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) in playa Drake, Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica (2006-2012). Rev. biol. trop [online]. 2015, vol.63, suppl.1, pp.117-129. ISSN 0034-7744.  http://dx.doi.org/10.15517/rbt.v63i1.23099.

The nesting of the Olive Ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) sea turtle was studied from 2006 to 2012 in Drake Bay, Costa Rica, an important solitary nesting site and center of eco-tourism in the Osa Peninsula. During this period, 958 nests were recorded (mean: 136.9 nests per season; density: 3.8 nests/100m of beach per season), of which 38% were relocated to a hatchery. The incidence of poaching was reduced from 85% in 2005 to a mean of 10.1% from 2006-2012. A total of 335 nesting females were tagged; the mean curved length of carapace was 66.1cm, the mean curved width was 70.2cm, and the mean number of eggs per nest was 96.3. A mean rate of reproductive success of 79.2% was obtained and over 61 000 hatchlings were liberated from the hatchery. This project is an example of a successful community-based conservation and eco-tourism initiative. Rev. Biol. Trop. 63 (Suppl. 1): 117-129. Epub 2015 April 01.

Keywords : Olive Ridley; Cheloniidae; nesting biology; sea turtle; poaching; community-based conservation.

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