Poaching

By: Francesca Doninelli, Alexa Esquivel,

Marcelo Lacayo and Gabriel Valenzuela
Table of Contents
Table of contents
1. Introduction
2. Poaching Around the World and in
1. Introduction
Costa Rica
2. More about Turtles
3.3. Poaching
More About Turtles
in Costa Rica
4.4.5. How
How doesdoes Poaching
Poaching affect CostaAffect
Rica the
Terrible government response to egg Poaching
Food
Chain
In Costa Rica
5.6.7.Terrible
Glossary Government Response
Murdered Costa Rican turtle defender
to Egg
Poaching
8. Conclusionin Costa Rica
6. Murder of a Costa Rican Turtle
Defender
7. Conclusion
8. Glossary
9. References
10. Information
 Introduction
Poaching is the illegal hunting of animals for their body parts.
It also includes turtle eggs, shark fins, feline fur and tusks.
These are examples of what animals suffer as a consequence
for what people do to get money. Humans are responsible for
this activity, not only in Costa Rica but all over the world. This
activity contributes to animal extinction. Human actions have
affected the loss of animal population.

Baby leather back turtle. When

adult grows to be the biggest in the
world.

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 Poaching Around the World and
in Costa Rica
Costa Rica is known for its amazing biodiversity, its incredible beaches
and national parks (protected areas). Yet, now it’s known for one of the
countries with more poaching and drug trafficking problems in Central
America. Around the world poaching has increased 30% since the year
1996. People think poached items like turtle eggs make you prettier,
younger, and stronger. But the only thing they are doing is harming and
decreasing the population of these amazing endangered animals.
Poaching keeps violating conservation zones in Costa Rica’s northern
regions. Monthly they report about 25 to 30 cases of poaching identified
in zones like the Area de Conservación Arenal (protected area).

According to Rodrigo Jimenez director of Area de Conservación Arenal,

they have reported hunters that come from far away places to this zone
to hunt and damage a lot of animal species. Hunters (poachers) use
animals mainly felines to display as personal trophies and exhibit their
fur through photographs or to use as decoration for their homes.
Poaching in Costa Rica is mainly done for food or economic reasons, but
it is also for money to buy drugs. One place that this activity takes place
in is Moín Beach in Limon. This beach is a dangerous place, in 2013 a
murder of a turtle egg conversationalist took place. 2
 More About Turtles
Leatherback turtles are the most affected by egg poaching, this turtle
weighs about 2,000 pounds (when fully grown) and are the biggest
turtles in the world. They have decreased 90% since 1980. Its nesting
season starts in March and ends in July. At Ostional beach at Costa
Rica 300,000 turtles may lay eggs over 8 to 10 days . One female lays
approximately 100 eggs in one day. Female turtles use their flippers to
dig holes and lay the eggs. During breading season they will repeat
this process about 12 times, and two months later the eggs will hatch.

Poachers will sell the eggs for $1 dollar each that means that each nest
they sell they get about $100. Most turtles nest or lay their eggs in
Playa Grande, Playa Ventanas and Playa Langosta. Out of 100 only
some survive, that’s because of climate change, boat traffic, fishing
gear, water pollution, predators and people harvesting their eggs. One
of the worst situations of poaching is that people do it even though
they know it’s a crime. They think they depend on the eggs to feed
their family and supposedly that’s how they earn their money. 3
 How does Poaching Affect
the Food Chain
Poaching is really common around the world. Poaching
affects the food chain or food web. If one aspect in the food
chain changes, the whole food chain is affected. If an animal
goes extinct a lot of other animals may also go extinct, and
the chain reaction will continue. Then the food chain could
decrease or disappear. If we don’t stop poaching maybe we
will go extinct too.

There are other situations that

affect the food chain like global
warming and pollution. Poaching will
eventually affect the food chain and
there is the danger of animals going
extinct. Many poachers kill turtles for
their meat and shells. If the turtles
disappear the predators that eat the
turtles will be affected. If this activity
continues to happen many ocean
animals will be affected in a food
chain reaction.

4
 Terrible Government Response to
Illegal Poaching in Costa Rica
The government of Costa Rica has given little attention to turtle
egg poaching. Costa Rica’s people have started to protest against egg
poaching. The Costa Rican community is mad because the taking care
of the turtles has been left up to youngsters who take their time and
go protect turtles at the beaches. One of the main problems is the
police’s absence in the saving of the turtles. These eggs are sold on
the street and in local bars. Authorities don’t even have better
weapons than the poachers. Police need good weapons because
poachers are dangerous and sometimes are on drugs.

Another problem is that turtle egg protecting centers should have more
security because poachers watch the protectors and where the eggs go.
One time about 1,500 eggs were stolen from an egg protecting center.
Some people suggest to the government to make Moín Beach (the most
poached beach in Costa Rica) a National Park so it gets more attention
and protection from the government. This should not be only for Moín
Beach, it should be for many other beaches and places that are poached.
The government has acted very poorly in helping turtle egg poaching.
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 Murder of a Costa Rican
Turtle Defender

On May 30, 2015 the murder of Jairo

Mora Sandoval took place in Moín
Beach located in Limon, Costa Rica.
Jairo was attached to the back of a
Suzuki car and dragged all over the
beach until suffocated to death. That
night Jairo was accompanied by 3
girls from the U.S.A and 1 Spanish girl
who were kidnapped and taken to a
small wood shed next to that beach.
The day after the incident Jairo’s body
was found attached next to the
abandoned car. The girls were lucky
enough to escape. Some people say
the police “accidentally” burned the
shed with its evidence.
This incident brought shock to
people around the world. A man
trying to defend nature gets this
consequence and people don’t do
anything about it. Now some
tourists are scared to even visit this
dangerous beach. Fortunately,
many people take this as a
reminder to fight for our country
and our biodiversity.

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 Conclusion
We could help to stop poaching and the
extinction of a lot of animals. But for this
we need to work together. We can help by
teaching others about the importance of
stopping poaching. This way people in the
future won’t poach any animals and a lot
of animals won’t be in danger. If poaching
continues, turtles in Costa Rica will
become extinct. Help the world and
animals. Don’t poach!

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 Glossary
Absence: the state of being away from a place or person

Authorities: the power or right to give orders, make decisions,

and enforce obedience

biodiversity: The variety of living things in the world or in a

particular habitat or ecosystem

Conservatives: a person who is averse to change and holds to

traditional values and attitudes, typically in relation to politics

consider: think carefully about (something), typically before

making a decision

Decreased: make or become smaller or fewer in size, amount, or

degree

decreasing: make or become smaller or fewer in size, amount,

intensity or degree
endangered: seriously at risk of extinction

Extinct: Doesn’t exist anymore

Food chain: Organisms that depend on the next source of food.

Harvesting: gathering (a crop) as a harvest

increased: become or make greater in size, amount, or degree

murder: the unlawful premeditated killing of one human being by

another

National Park: a scenic or historically important area of

countryside protected by the federal government for the
enjoyment of the general public or the preservation of wildlife

Poach: illegal hunting

Protest: a statement or action expressing disapproval of or

objection to something

violating: break or fail to comply with (a rule or formal agreement)

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 References
http://education.seattlepi.com/happens-something-food-chain-goes-
extinct-4656.html

https://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/06/130617-costa-rica-
environmentalist-murder-leatherback-turtle-eggs-poaching/

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/illegal-sea-turtle-egg-poaching-rise-
costa-rica/

https://news.co.cr/costa-rica-attracts-million-sea-turtles-nesting/35500/

http://www.animals24-7.org/2016/04/07/four-poachers-get-life-for-killing-costa-
rican-sea-turtle-defender/

http://abcnews.go.com/International/sea-turtle-eggs-turned-remote-costa-rican-
beach/story?id=34766848

http://earthwatch.org/Expeditions/Costa-Rican-Sea-Turtles

https://www.govisitcostarica.co.cr/travelInfo/conservation/marine-turtles-
endangered-species.asp

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https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0iHwcTl-gvA