Close Encounters with Costa Rica’s Wildlife: My First Three Months

By Anahí Quiñones

Working with the Wildcats and Sea Turtles in Costa Rica

As I approached the end of my undergraduate career, I found myself asking the same question as many new graduates: What am I going to do with my life? Fortunately, I came across a job posting for an Assistant to the Science Program, working with wild cats in Costa Rica.

Just before graduating from Wildlife Biology at McGill, I applied for the position and immediately booked my flight upon receiving the offer. I’ve always loved traveling, especially exploring the jungle back home in Peru, and I couldn’t wait to discover the wilderness in a new country.

Ocelots and Wildcats and Sea Turtles! Oh, My!

Since arriving here just over three months ago, I have had some extremely rewarding experiences. This is likely because I have been fortunate enough to participate in both the turtle program and the wildcat program. During my first week, I unexpectedly encountered a mother ocelot and her cub, leaving me shaken even as I recovered from the initial shock.

I’ve also had the pleasure of going on patrols and watching mother turtles dig their nests and lay eggs in an incredible trance-like state. Watching mother turtles emerge from the waves seemed almost unreal.

Still, the most gratifying moment I’ve had while working with the sea turtle program is most definitely the release of the first set of hatchlings. There’s something simply magical about watching those tiny turtles race into the ocean, an ocean that has been deemed too dangerous for us to swim in. I held my breath and wished each one of those little creatures luck as they disappeared into the waves.

The People Make the Program

As much as I love the work I do and feel like my time here is coming to an end all too soon, there is one thing I won’t miss: saying goodbye to all the amazing people I’ve met. It’s great that the turtle program receives so many volunteers; the turtle species can definitely use the help.

However, it’s hard to build friendships and have to say goodbye over and over again. There’s no use trying to count the number of people that have passed through over the past three months. I’m sad they’re gone and I miss them, but I’m thankful I at least met all those wonderful people.

To Any Future Volunteers

Be prepared to fall in love with Piro. The people, the jungle… the whole jungle life. Be sure to make every moment count, even as you fight off all the bugs that will give you a warm welcome to the Osa Peninsula.

Photos by Anahí Quiñones