Costa Rica Sea Turtle & Rainforest Ecology - Hull High School

Costa Rica Sea Turtle & Rainforest Ecology - Hull High School HHS will engage in a unique, hands-on science field experience in Costa Rica.

We'll conduct scientific research on sea turtles and rainforest species, engage in conservation work, meet with locals, and return home ready to apply everything we've learned.

All the kiddos finishing up their rainforest canopy zip-lining experience!
05/01/2022

All the kiddos finishing up their rainforest canopy zip-lining experience!

Day 6 was a travel day from Pacuare Reserve to Tirimbina Biological Reserve by foot, boat and bus. Our travel day ended ...
05/01/2022

Day 6 was a travel day from Pacuare Reserve to Tirimbina Biological Reserve by foot, boat and bus. Our travel day ended with a Zip-Line through the canopy of the rainforest...such a FUN day!!

Our last day at Pacuare Reserve included a Monkey Survey, Team-Building and Ecology Activities, and group Field Investig...
05/01/2022

Our last day at Pacuare Reserve included a Monkey Survey, Team-Building and Ecology Activities, and group Field Investigation/Research Projects. Pacuare Reserve is home to 3 different species of monkeys: the White-Faced Capuchin monkey, the Geoffroy’s Spider monkey and the Mantled Howler monkey (who woke us up very early every morning with their incredibly loud, bark-like calls). We didn’t see the howler monkeys very often during our stay, but they made sure we knew we were invading their territory through their constant HOWLS. During the Monkey Survey students worked with a wildlife biologist to collect data on individual monkeys within a troop. When a troop of monkeys was found high up in the canopy, students observed one monkey in the troop and collected data on behavior, physical features, possible gender and age.

Leatherback Sea Turtle Monitoring Program: Words cannot express the unforgettable experience we had working up close a...
04/24/2022

Leatherback Sea Turtle Monitoring Program:
Words cannot express the unforgettable experience we had working up close and personally with endangered leatherback sea turtles. It was an honor and a privilege to be a part of the incredible network of people who work so hard to protect these majestic creatures. This is our story.
“The leatherback sea turtle is the largest turtle in the world and the only species of sea turtle that lack scales and a hard shell. They are named for their tough rubbery skin and have existed in their current form since the age of the dinosaurs. Leatherbacks are highly migratory, some swimming over 10,000 miles a year between nesting and foraging grounds. They are also accomplished divers with the deepest recorded dive reaching nearly 4,000 feet—deeper than most marine mammals” (NOAA).
Pacuare Reserve’s beach is one of the most important nesting sites for endangered leatherback sea turtles. As the mamma turtles come out of the sea to lay their eggs on the beach, they are exposed to many threats including natural predators, habitat loss, climate change and human disturbance while nesting. One of the biggest threats in Costa Rica is the illegal poaching of sea turtle eggs. The beach monitoring program we participated in works to stop the illegal egg trade, educate local communities and conserve sea turtles.
During our stay at Pacuare Reserve, students worked with research assistants for 3 nights to monitor leatherback sea turtles. Groups of 3-4 students worked in 4 hour shifts (8pm-12am, 10pm-2am or 12am-4am) patrolling the beach for nesting mothers. When a turtle was found laying her eggs on the beach, students participated in research methods that included:
*Gathering and counting eggs, then relocating eggs to the hatchery.
*Collecting biometric data - length and width of the shell; circumference of neck.
*Checking for damages or injuries.
*Tagging the turtles with external metallic tags and internal PIT tags (passive integrated transponders).
We witnessed the process of these amazing mothers emerging from the sea, using their flippers to move up the beach, dig their nests, lay their eggs, camouflage their nests and return back to the water. We were all in awe of these massive and truly magnificent animals.
We were not allowed to take pictures of the turtles or the process because sea turtles are very sensitive to any disturbance; but below are pics of leatherback females and the turtle monitoring program that our students participated in (taken from EPI website).

04/17/2022

Pura Vida!!

Explorers and learners by day, turtle census researchers by night. And, meet some of our new furry, and not so furry, fr...
04/17/2022

Explorers and learners by day, turtle census researchers by night. And, meet some of our new furry, and not so furry, friends at Pacuare Reserve.

Heading to Pacuare Reserve to do a little sea turtle conservation research.
04/15/2022

Heading to Pacuare Reserve to do a little sea turtle conservation research.

We made it to Costa Rica. Eleven (11) Hull High School students will work with wildlife biologists to conduct scientific...
04/15/2022

We made it to Costa Rica. Eleven (11) Hull High School students will work with wildlife biologists to conduct scientific investigations and collect data on leatherback sea turtles, sloths, monkeys, and toucans. The data these students collect will inform conservation decisions for years to come.

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