Tortugas

I want to thank everyone for their excitement and cooperation as we spent a lovely and rewarding weekend together at La Flor Wildlife Refuge.  How wonderful to watch turtles emerge from the water together and look for that special place to lay their eggs.  How wonderful to watch all of you engage with the park staff and help relocate eggs, record nesting, and release turtle babies.  For most of you this was your first exposure to such a natural wonder, and our time together helped you think critically about the differences between global and local conservation of resources. Some of you were able to make new connections to vertebrate physiology, and begin to think deeply about how a vertebrate transforms from living on land to living in the ocean.  I will always remember your thoughtful discussions regarding the purpose for laying more than 100 eggs per female per nesting event, and the amazement in your eyes when I told you that females can lay eggs more than once per season!  Thank you for letting me share my research interest with you and engaging me in conversation that may help me improve the way I think about my work.  I also want to thank you for giving me the encouragement to return to La Flor and work with Marlon, The Park's Director.  I was so concerned that you, as students, may not completely enjoy the rustic conditions of a typical field station but your thoughtful comments, support for learning, and encouragement gave me the strength this morning to visit MARENA and begin the preliminary process for obtaining permission to conduct research here in Nicaragua.  MARENA is Nicaraguas' national administrative organization that is analogous to our "Fish and Wildlife," and issues similar research permits.  I would be very curious to know what your new friends and families here in Nicaragua think about sea turtle conservation, and the governments strong commitment to protecting these wonderful animals.  You are all welcome to visit my lab at WCSU and continue your discussions of ways that your interests can be aligned with my work.  

Sincerely,

Dora