Baula Turtle Festival: TLT founders awarded for their dedication to the research and conservation of leatherback turtles

For the 16th year running, the Baula Turtle Festival in the Las Baulas National Marine Park of Guanacaste celebrated the leatherback turtle nesting season. More than 400 people participated in the different activities at the festival that focused on marine litter as a growing problem in our seas that requires a real commitment for its solution. The Festival’s program included many events such as parades, dances, music and environmental education activities that included an excavation of a hatched nest that was open to the public by The Leatherback Trust field biologists.

The festival was very special to The Leatherback Trust as its organizers dedicated the event to our group and awarded our founders, Drs James R. Spotila and Frank V. Paladino for their work and contribution to the conservation of the critically endangered East Pacific Leatherback turtles. The award was presented by the administrator of the National Park, Rotney Piedra, accompanied by the Minister of Environment Carlos Manuel Rodríguez and the Water and Sea Deputy Minister, Haydée Rodríguez.

Dedicatory
The aware was presented by the administrator of the National Park, Rotney Piedra, accompanied by the Minister of Environment Carlos Manuael Rodriguez and the Water and Sea Deputy Minister, Haydee Rodriguez.

Education projects within Las Baulas National Park influence area
Our outreach activities are supported by the Disney Conservation Fund.

From the team.
The Leatherback Trust team congratulates its executives for this recognition and for their experience in the research of leatherback turtles and other sea turtles, whose results were crucial for the creation of the Las Baulas National Marine Park. They also founded The Leatherback Trust and established the Goldring-Gund Marine Biological Station, based in Playa Grande, Costa Rica.

Nest excavation open class
Participants and attendees were urged to be aware of the amount of waste generated and the impacts this has on marine life.

Starting parade in Baulus Fest
Parades, dances, music and environmental education were part of the festival's agenda.

"31 years ago, they courageously made a commitment to the conservation of leatherback turtles in Costa Rica. That first step, loaded with conviction, perseverance and a great effort to generate knowledge, has been a key element for many of us to identify with and love the sea turtles, we grew professionally and even managed to create a National Park. Thank you James R. Spotila and Frank V. Paladino, for helping to keep hope alive for the leatherbacks."

Dedication XVI Leatherback Festival

The president of the Association of Local Guides of Matapalo, Laura Jaén Rosales, also addressed The Leatherback Trust, acknowledging the support they have received since the creation of this group.

Participants and attendees were urged to be aware of the amount of waste generated and the impacts this has on marine life. Throughout 2019, The Leatherback Trust has organized several several clean-up campaigns in Playa Grande, where approximately 180 kg of plastic waste that included bottle caps, plastic straws and other single use plastics was collected and removed. Marine debris, and single use plastic in particular, is a threat to endangered sea turtle populations and other marine life.

The Leatherback Trust is a non-profit environmental organization that works to provide scientific data to inform sound policies to protect turtles, raise awareness and work towards conservation strategies for the long-term protection of the species. Learn different ways to help to support our efforts to protect critically endangered leatherback turtles and other imperiled sea turtle species. Our outreach activities are supported by the Disney Conservation Fund.