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| Organization | La Tortuga Feliz |
| website | http://www.latortugafeliz.com |
| Country | Costa Rica |
| Program Costs | $20 One time |
| Duration | 2 week minimum |
| Room & Board | $15 per day |
| Language Requirements | English |
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La Tortuga Feliz is a non-profit organization whose aims are the protection of
sea turtles and the improvement of the living conditions and education of the
local inhabitants. The local inhabitants generate income by cooperating in the
project; they guard the beach together with the volunteers and act as tour
guides for eco tourists and assist with various agricultural activities. By
helping to generate an income for the locals, we hope to take away the necessity
for them to poach the turtles and again by working in partnership with them we
seek to establish an ideal environment for the turtles to lay their eggs.
The project is situated on an isolated Caribbean beach in Costa Rica, 1 km north
of the mouth of the Pacuare River. It covers 10 km of coastline and has a total
surface of 800 hectares. The beach is part of the 50 km stretch between
Tortuguero National Park and the harbour of Limón. The area is not only unique
in every way, but is also famous as being the nesting site where the four
largest spieces of Marine turtles (Leatherback, Hawksbill, Loggerhead and the
Green Turtle) come to lay their eggs.
Poachers, fishing nets, polution and other threats are the cause of an alarming
decline in turtles being born on this beach. In particular the 10 km covered by
the project is in danger, for it has no protection whatsoever.The late Paul
Lepoutre, took the initiative in April 2004 to establish a Biological Reserve
here. His approach was rather unique and has the special attention and support
of various organizations around the world, most notably the World Wildlife Fund. |
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