Webmaster's note: This report was updated on May 10, with images that had originally been damaged during transmission from Costa Rica.

We started this morning around 9 and headed south on the beach. We saw three recent nesting sites. We didn't find any recent strandings from which to collect specimens, however.

At around mile 4 3/8, we came upon about 50 dead leatherback hatchlings. Unfortunately these little guys emerged from the nest too late in the day and couldn't withstand the heat. We covered the nest so that any remaining hatchlings might survive later in the evening should they make another attempt to emerge.

We also observed three old egg chambers (right) which were exposed due to weathering. After covering about 5 ½ miles, we made it back to the field station in time for a late lunch.

Upon our return, Catalina, the turtle tagging research coordinator, advised us of three recent jaguar kills around mile 15, 12 and 8. We hope to collect at these sites tomorrow.

Although it is rainy season, we seem to be in a drought here. It is very hot and dry. So we will set out much earlier over the next few days.

Regards to all,
The turtle gang.

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