Conservation and environmental news & publications: Costa Rica
10 Sep 2007
Sea turtles threatened by rising seas
Sea turtles lay their eggs into the beach sand. Many return to the exact beaches that they were hatched to lay the eggs for the next generation of turtles. But sea level rise due to climate change threatens beach habitat. A new study predicts that turtle reproduction will be hard hit. » Read more
20 Mar 2006
Protecting endangered species helps reduce poverty
Saving pandas, gorillas, sea turtles or tigers is not just about stopping an endangered species from going extinct, but also about reducing poverty and improving the lives of local communities, according to a new WWF report. » Read more
29 Nov 2005
Two-headed olive ridley turtle hatchling
Ostional, Costa Rica. 11/29/05. The night of November 20, a two-headed olive ridley sea turtle hatchling (Lepidochelys olivacea) crawled out of its egg and caught the attention of WWF, the global conservation organization. Deformations of this sort can be associated with contaminants, increased temperatures possibly resulting from climate change, or other causes. » Read more
27 Jun 2005
International ban on shark finning adopted
WWF applauds the adoption of an international ban on shark finning by the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC). Finning – the practice of slicing off a shark's fins and discarding the carcass – is driven by the lucrative market for "shark fin soup" and has sparked widespread public outcry. » Read more
27 Jun 2005
Marine Protected Areas - providing a future for fish and people
Marine protected areas (MPAs) offer a range of benefits for fisheries, people and the marine environment. They work by providing safe havens for depleted fish stocks to recover. » Read more
23 Jun 2005
Circle hooks help save sea turtles in Ecuador
Preliminary test results from 115 fishing vessels in Ecuador indicate the use of circle hooks can reduce the number of endangered sea turtles killed in long line fishing operations by as much as 90 per cent. » Read more
26 Apr 2005
WWF sea turtle team places second in outrigger race
Facing rough sea conditions for more than three hours, a WWF outrigger canoe team competed in a paddling race to raise awareness for sea turtle conservation. » Read more
20 Apr 2005
Marine turtles: Facing danger at every turn
The causes of decline and the present and future threats to marine turtles are diverse. Habitat destruction and alteration, overexploitation for meat, hides, eggs and shells, and incidental capture in fisheries pose the greatest therats to marine turtle populations. » Read more
20 Apr 2005
:::Video:::
Tracks: an unsual challenge for marine turtle hatchlings
This 3.5 minute video shows loggerhead hatchlings struggling to pass their way over footprints and tyre tracks on a South African beach. » Read more
19 Apr 2005
Community to save leatherback turtles
WWF is working with a local community in Costa Rica to stop egg poaching of leatherback turtle nests. » Read more
