TY - JOUR AU - James, Robert AU - Melero, David PY - 2015/04/01 Y2 - 2024/03/28 TI - Nesting and conservation of the Olive Ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) in playa Drake, Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica (2006-2012). JF - Revista de Biología Tropical JA - Rev. Biol. Trop. VL - 63 IS - S1 SE - Articles DO - 10.15517/rbt.v63i1.23099 UR - https://revistas.ucr.ac.cr/index.php/rbt/article/view/23099 SP - 117–129 AB - <p>The nesting of the Olive Ridley (<em>Lepidochelys olivacea</em>) 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.</p><div> </div> ER -