Project News

Pumas and Turtle sightings in Costa Rica

News item submitted by Tim Allen
News item dated 30 Jan 2012

Since Christmas, our team in Costa Rica has been kept very busy with a whole host of sightings. Continuing on with their vital survey work, the volunteers have not only spotted 3 nesting Pacific green turtles but also 3 pumas! The puma, also known as a cougar or mountain lion, is one of the largest species of cat in the world, but is not, amidst misconception, part of the Panthera (big cats) genus. A member of the Felidae family, sightings of this beautiful cat are extremely rare and to see 3 in such a short space of time is unusual.  So many sightings however suggest that perhaps the population of pumas is healthy and doing well and that the conservation efforts are paying off!

In addition to the 3 nesting green turtles, 6 other turtle tracks were also spotted by volunteers conducting routine beach patrols last Thursday night. These sightings not only provide volunteers with an example of the behavioral traits of green turtles but help build an accurate picture of the current state of the population, allowing for the better development of a conservation strategy. 

Finally, there was a surprise find in camp with the discovery of two Thomas' fruit-eating bats in a palmate umbrella tent. The volunteers are now building a bat box in the hope of encouraging more bats to visit the camp in the future.