ESMERALDA
ESMERALDA’S HISTORY Details of encounters we have had with Esmeralda in previous seasons. Esmeralda was first seen on Dec 17th 2006. This means three of the first four turtles seen this season, all last nested during the same season (2006 / 07). Maybe they will recognize each other? When we first saw Esmeralda she already had a tag. This means that she has also nested before on at least one other beach outside of the National Park. She has probably seen at lot of Costa Rica! Esmeralda is a very big turtle and when she was measured in 2006 she had a carapace length of 150.3 cm and a width of 110.0 cm. She may be even bigger this season! The average number of eggs she has laid per nest in 2006 / 07 was 86, which is incredible. This turtle has the potential to win every award this year. WHAT ESMERALDA HAS BEEN UP TO THIS SEASON Details of encounters we have had with Esmeralda this season. October 23rd - Esmeralda was seen digging a body pit at 23:38. She was never observed nesting. 30 tourists were present. November 4th - Esmeralda was seen emerging from the water at 22:50 and she began laying at 23:32. Her carapace was measured at 152.6 cm long and 111.3 cm wide. She laid 75 eggs. 9 tourists were present to see Esmeralda nesting. November 15th - Esmeralda was seen emerging from the water at 22:21. Her carapace was measured at 154.4 cm long and 114.1 cm wide. Although she laid a nest, we were unable to count her eggs. 30 tourists were present to see Esmeralda nesting. November 26th - Esmeralda was seen covering at 19:20. Her carapace was measured at 155.8 cm long and 110.1 cm wide. Although she laid a nest, we were unable to count her eggs. 30 tourists were present to see Esmeralda nesting. December 5th - Esmeralda was seen emerging from the water at 23:10 and she began laying at 23:57. Her carapace was measured at 153.3 cm long and 110.4 cm wide. She laid 107 eggs. 30 tourists were present to see Esmeralda nesting. December 15th - Esmeralda was seen emerging from the water at 21:30 and she began laying at 22:19. Her carapace was measured at 152.4 cm long and 111.7 cm wide. She laid 84 eggs. 12 tourists were present to see Esmeralda nesting. December 25th - Esmeralda was seen digging a body pit at 19:21 and she began laying at 20:01. Her carapace was measured at 153.0 cm long and 110.0 cm wide. She laid 90 eggs. 30 tourists were present to see Esmeralda nesting. January 3rd - Esmeralda was seen emerging from the water at 23:12 and she began laying at 23:53. Her carapace was measured at 154.3 cm long and 111.5 cm wide. She laid 90 eggs. 10 tourists were present to see Esmeralda nesting. January 5th - Esmeralda’s first nest hatched. This nest was laid on November 4th, which is 62 days ago. 77 hatchlings made it to the sea and 8 eggs did not hatch. January 12th - Esmeralda was seen digging a body pit at 23:22 but she never laid. 30 tourists were present. January 13th - Esmeralda was seen digging a body pit at 21:37 and she began laying at 22:19. Her carapace was measured at 153.3 cm long and 113.9 cm wide. She laid 67 eggs. 30 tourists were present to see Esmeralda nesting. January 15th - Esmeralda’s second nest hatched. This nest was laid on November 15th, which is 61 days ago. 67 hatchlings made it to the sea and 25 eggs did not hatch. January 23th - Esmeralda was seen digging a egg chamber at 19:54 and she began laying at 20:18. Her carapace was measured at 153.9 cm long and 111.1 cm wide. She laid 95 eggs. 30 tourists were present to see Esmeralda nesting. February 4th - Esmeralda’s fourth nest hatched. This nest was laid on December 5th, which is 61 days ago. 63 hatchlings made it to the sea and 16 eggs did not hatch. Febuary 15th - Esmeralda’s fifth nest hatched. This nest was laid on December 15th, which is 60 days ago. 77 hatchlings made it to the sea and 9 eggs did not hatch. Febuary 21st - Esmeralda’s six nest hatched. This nest was laid on December 25th, which is 58 days ago. 48 hatchlings made it to the sea and 23 eggs did not hatch.
COMPETITION STATISTICS These are calculated only using data collected during this season. HATCHLINGS PRODUCED: 332 hatchlings. NESTS LAID: 9 nests. CARAPACE SIZE: Average measurement - 153.7 cm long; 111.5 cm wide. MOST EGGS IN A SINGLE CLUTCH: 107 eggs. TURTLE IMPACT FACTOR: 241 people have seen Esmeralda this season.