I recently received an email update with news from La Tortuga Feliz, an organization in Costa Rica which the Volunteer Logue originally mentioned here. They are continuing their sea turtle conservation efforts, and now have six horses to facilitate the patrolling of the beaches; they will soon have two more as two horses have recently given birth. Local staff and volunteers have discovered that a high-ranking local municipality official seems to be engaging in poaching and have started the process of contacting the appropriate legal bodies as well as the press.

The work of La Tortuga Feliz, which is supported by the World Wildlife Fund, in general is dedicated to preserving sea turtles and improving living conditions for local inhabitants.

The rare sea turtles serve as an attraction for eco tourists, and in addition to the local economy benefiting from this eco tourism income, La Tortuga Feliz employs local inhabitants as staff and hopes that the project can serve as a means to generate income and remove the economic necessity of poaching the turtle eggs.

International volunteers participate in patrolling the beaches together with local inhabitants, taking part in agricultural activities, and, in the off-season, preventing illegal fishing and hunting as well as helping with construction. There is a one-time donation of $20, which goes towards transportation, as well as a daily fee of $12.50 (this goes towards food costs, the salaries of locals who work for the organization, and future investment in the project); accommodation is included. For more information check out the homepage of La Tortuga Feliz.