Skip to main content

Tourists prevent turtles from nesting

Destinations
Sophie Griffiths
18 September 2015

One of the world’s most important nesting sites for turtles has been inundated with tourists, preventing the animals from reaching their nesting spots.

turtles5
Credit: SITRAMINAE

Hundreds of holidaymakers crowded the beach at Ostional Wildlife Refuge in Guanacaste, Costa Rica last week, reportedly standing in the way of the olive ridley sea turtles, causing them to return to the sea without laying their eggs, the Environment Ministry’s Workers Union (SITRAMINAE) said.

Huge numbers of the turtles arrive in the area almost every month, but September and October are the peak months, with tourism companies capitalising on the season and increasing tours to watch the turtles nest.