Wildlife in Costa Rica, The Olive Ridley
The Olive Ridley
The Olive Ridley, which is the smallest of the marine turtle species, is named after H.N. Ridley who first reported seen these beautiful turtles in Brazil. Their average weight is between 70 and 100 pounds and they measure about two feet long. Variations in size occur region to region, the largest Olive Ridleys can be found on the Pacific coast of Mexico. The adults are dark gray-green color and most of the young turtles are charcoal gray. Costa Rica car rental.
Olive Ridleys feed on crustaceans, fish, mollusks and sometimes jellyfish. Studies have found out that they might exhibit cannibalistic tendencies when food is scarce. Their life span is estimated between 50-60 years in the wild.
Olive Ridley turtles inhabit tropical and subtropical waters of the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans, ranging from Baja California south to Chile, and along the east coast of India. They nest almost exclusively in the northern Indian Ocean (on the Coromandel Coast and Sri Lanka) and in Mexico, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica.
Olive Ridleys are most common at Ostional Wildlife Refuge, which hosts mass nesting periods between June and December. They are also common in Playa Nancite in Santa Rosa National Park, from August through November with peaks in September and October. Other nesting sites include Playa Junquillal (July-November), Ballena National Marine Park (May and September), Playa Hermosa Wildlife Refuge (June-November; peak September-November), Camaronal Wildlife Refuge (year-round), Corcovado National Park (August-October; peak in September and October), and Playa Grande (November-March). Car rental Costa Rica.
The Olive Ridley nests twice a season and deposits an average of 100 eggs per nest. The eggs incubate for 52-58 days. Scientists have found out that eggs that incubate at 87.8-89.6º F produce only females, while eggs that mature at 84.2-86º F result only in males. After the incubation period, hatchlings emerge and make their way to sea.
Unfortunately the eggs have predators such as caimans, coatis, raccoons and coyotes, which can devour the eggs. When they survive these predators, several hatchlings may die on their way to the beach since wildlife such as vultures, crabs and iguanas can eat them. Once they get to the waters they may encounter other predators such as sharks, fish, and crocodiles. Once the turtles become adults, they don’t have many predators.
The U.S. Federal Endangered Species Act lists Olive Ridley turtles as a threatened species. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and Natural Resources classifies them as critically endangered.
Humans are considered the greatest worldwide threat to these marine turtles. 15 years ago Costa Rica started the Egg Harvest Project (EHP). This is a program that is sponsored by the government and it has increased the successful hatching of turtles in Ostional Wildlife Refuge by some 20% over the last decade. Efforts in the conservation have to continue in order to keep the nesting sites protected. Rent a car in Costa Rica.