Do you think of a baby turtle as a delectable snack?

As hard as it is for us to imagine, the ocean is full of creatures who think exactly that. How do baby sea turtles grow strong enough to survive on their own in an ocean full of predators? 

Well, the truth is that most of them don’t. 

On that happy note, let’s dive in and explore the wonderful world of sea turtles in Costa Rica!

A Dangerous World for Baby Sea Turtles

Mama sea turtles in Costa Rica and around the world don’t tend to their babies. Instead, when the eggs are ready, they deposit them on the shore near the ocean. Baby sea turtles need to breathe and would drown if the eggs were placed underwater. 

How many the mama lays depends on the species but on average they will lay about 110 eggs. They may lay between 2 and 8 times each season. 

If mama sea turtles lay so many eggs, why are sea turtles endangered? 

It is estimated that only about 1 in 1000 baby sea turtles make it to adulthood. That’s crazy when you think about it. That means that only about 1 baby sea turtle out of every 10 nests will become an adult. 

With human conservation efforts, the number of sea turtles has been on the rise. However, there is still only an estimated 800,000 nesting female sea turtles of the most common species, the Olive Ridley. 

The most endangered species is the Kemp’s Ridley which only has about 2,500 nesting females in the world.

Why Do So Many Baby Sea Turtles Die?

Baby sea turtles in Costa Rica and around the world have always faced a number of dangers. After all, their first task after exiting their egg is to trek to the ocean by themselves!

Along the way, many are snatched up by birds that love a delectable baby sea turtle snack. Others are snatched by crabs, and some even die of dehydration.

The ones that make it to the ocean aren’t safe either. The rolling waters are full of creatures that love a sea turtle crunch. 

Add to that the dangers presented by humans and it is no wonder that their numbers have dwindled. 

Over the past 100 years or so, there has been a high demand for turtle meat and eggs, as well as products made from their shells. 

Though it is illegal to harvest turtle eggs, many people in Costa Rica consider them to be a delicacy. This encourages poachers to troll the beaches looking for nests to sell the eggs. 

NEVER buy turtle eggs from anyone or you are contributing to the dangers that face Costa Rican sea turtles every day.

Helping Turtles in Costa Rica

Though there are bad people in the world, there are always good ones ready to counter them. There are many dedicated folks working hard to save the sea turtles in Costa Rica (and other countries around the world).

On Costa Rican beaches, some of these brave souls pay the ultimate price. In 2013, one young conservationist was brutally murdered while out trying to save the turtles. His death brought the sea turtle issue to the public eye and more efforts are underway to help protect them. 

Here in Quepos, a gentleman called Milo works tirelessly to help the turtle population in our waters. He runs an organization called Tortugas de Isla Damas (Turtles of Damas Island) and patrols the beaches looking for turtle nests. 

Once found, he brings the eggs to a special sea turtle garden to bury them and watch over them while the baby turtles incubate. When they hatch, he gathers them up and releases them to make the trek to the ocean. They have to make the trek themselves to develop the muscle strength they need to swim and survive in the ocean. 

This process is designed to give the turtles a better chance at survival and hopefully bolster the number of wild sea turtles in Costa Rica. 

If you are lucky enough to be around when the baby turtles hatch, you can go watch the release. We did this with our kids not too long ago. Because of the uncertain nature of the releases, it is mostly locals who get to see them. 

However, our friends over at Manuel Antonio Spanish School are always in contact with Milo and sometimes take groups of their students to see this special event!

When Do the Turtles Hatch in Costa Rica?

Speaking of hatching events, when are you more likely to see baby turtle releases in Costa Rica? 

Among the various species, turtle nesting happens all year. However, the strongest nesting season in Costa Rica runs from about March to October/November. Baby turtles are born roughly 2 months after the mama sea turtle makes the nest. 

Here in Quepos, the best time to see the turtles being born at Tortugas de Isla Damas is between August and November.

Ready to See Turtles in Costa Rica?

Catching a baby sea turtle release can be tricky, but you can see turtles anytime in Costa Rica at most of the wildlife refuges. These places take care of animals that have been injured or born into captivity and can no longer survive by themselves in the wild. 

Of course, if you catch it at the right moment, you could see a release with Milo here in Quepos. Stay up to date on the latest releases on Tortugas de Isla Damas’ Facebook page!

Curious to learn more about what you need for a visit to Costa Rica? Check out this blog on the best women’s shoes!

Love turtles and traveling? Check out this super roomy travel bag with turtle and camo design in my shop. Full disclosure, the image is of a river turtle, not a sea turtle, but it’s still pretty cool!