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Monthly Achievement Report

Jalova Wildlife Conservation Expedition

February 2014

Maintaining Tortuguero National Park Mile Markers

Working along with the Costa Rican Ministry of Environment (MINAE) and the Sea Turtle Conservancy

(STC), Global Vision International (GVI) Jalova is helping to maintain mile markers that are indispensable

for studying the parks nesting sea turtles. These mile markers also assist in GVI Jalovas Jaguar Predation

on Marine Turtle Study.

Running along the beach of Tortuguero National Park are pieces of driftwood standing

tall and painted white with black writing. These pieces of driftwood are positioned every eight

of a mile (approx. 200m) to provide localization for researchers and park officials. Ranging

from mile zero and 2/8 to mile 18, these mile markers are read in order from north to south.

Mile markers are used for studies on marine turtles nesting as well as jaguar predation

upon those turtles by jaguars the STC and GVI Jalova. This is also the most efficient way for the

rangers of TNP to communicate the exact location of poaching activities.

Nightly patrols during turtle season desperately need these mile markers as electronic

equipment such as GPSs have been shown to disturb sea turtles. For this reason sea turtle

researchers use these markers to know their locations on the beach at night. For GVI these

night surveys cover from mile 18 (Jalova river mouth) until mile 14 (Fig 1). During the morning

GVI also uses these markers to monitor the nesting activities of marine turtles. These markers

are used in GVIs Jaguar Predation of Marine Turtles Study to know camera trap locations

within a 1/8 of a mile assisting in the retrieval of cameras and the data analysis of the project.

Figure 1 1 Map of TNP with areas of interest highlighted. Gently provided by the Jaguar Predation on Marine Turtle project

team.

This February staff and volunteers of GVI Jalova replaced 51 mile markers across three

miles (15-18) of Tortuguero beach. This activity was conducted over two days and 20 different

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members of GVI participated in the mile marker maintenance. After a survey that identified

the markers that needed maintenance, nine volunteers and four staff members of GVI Jalova

Conservation Expedition replaced mile markers between miles 18 and 17 with wooden pieces

pre-selected and painted. On the second time, using the whole team, mile markers for the

other two miles were replaced.

Hoping that the mile markers will last many seasons, GVI Jalova is proud of making part

of the history being involved in the conservation of Tortuguero National Park.

Renato Saragoa Bruno, Turtle Project Leader