Help save sea turtles and wildlife!

What is El Parque Marino Del Pacifico?


El Parque Marino Del Pacifico is an animal marine rehabilitation center that also serves as an educational center for people in Puntarenas, Costa Rica. Puntarenas is a port city located on the west side of the country, boardering the Gulf of Nicoya. The Gulf of Nicoya contains a great amount of biodiversity. Including sea turtles, whales, sharks, dolphins, squid, swordfish, and moonfish. El Parque Marino Del Pacifico was created to protect and rehabilitate these animals who are under constant threat via human interference, whether that be through fishing or pollution.


To preview the official website of El Parque Marino Del Pacifico simply click here. However, be aware that it is all in Spanish. If you have Google Chrome it can automatically translate to English.


What are the goals of the park?

Rehabilitation of Sea Turtles

One of the goals of the park is for sea turtles and other marine life to be rehabilitated to full heath and relased back into the wild. Currently, there are two species of sea turtles being moitored in hopes to be released back into the wild, Hawksbill Turtle (endangered) and the Olive Ridley Turtle (threatened).




Locals to this area often depend heavily on fishing for their sustainability. However, when they do this, the marine animals, specifically sea turtles, are threatened by bycatch. Meaning when the fisherman cast their nets, they often accidently catch sea turtles or sharks, and as a result, these animals will be physically injured. Hopefully they will be found and sent directly to El Parque to be examined. Unfortunately, this is the only way human activity can hurt our ocean life. There is an increasing amount of plastics waste finding its way into the ocean. Sea turtles are confused by plastic because of its appearance and pheromones it gives off and unfortunately, they often eat it. After swallowing plastic, they tend to beach themselves, which results in their death if they are not spotted and sent to El Parque Marino Del Pacifico to be monitored and then rehabilitated.




Rehabilitation of Marine Birds

Another goal of El Parque Marino Del Pacifico is to monitor and release marine bird species back into the wild. Sea birds will often collide with boats thus resulting broken limbs. When wings are broken, this can be devastating for the birds because it can no longer fly. Depending on where the bird is in the ocean (e.g. open ocean vs shore line), this could be fatal. El Parque takes in found injured birds and heals their broken bones. Unfortunately, some birds are beyond help and therefore lose entire wings. They become permanent residents of El Parque and are taken care of for the rest of their days.






The Problem

Though the work El Parque does it vital to the ocean inhabitants, their facilities is heavily underfunded. With a lack of funding, it is very difficult for the park to properly examine animals and restore them back to full strength. For example, El Parque does not have a proper quarantine area to perform surgeries or to house animals sent to the park. Because of this it is more likely that an animal will get an infection following surgery and because quarantine individuals are mixed with the general public, diseases are more easily spread. El Parque also is lacking proper medical equipment, such as x-rays and ultrasounds, making it more difficult to understand what is happening inside the animals without doing invasive surgery, which puts them at a higher infection risk.

As a result, most animals never fully recover. This often results in permanent disabilities or even death.



The Hope

El Parque is an amazing rehabilitation center that is in desperate need of better facilities. With your help, we can create a better future for these marine animals that need all the help they can get. With funding El Parque will be able to purchase the life-saving equipment that their sea turtles, birds, and other marine life are so desperate for. This includes the construction of a quarantine area and purchase of machines, such as x-rays and ultrasound. With these improvements there will be a higher success rate to return animals back to the wild, thus leading to a happier and healthier ecosystem.

Why should you care?

The growing concerns of the environment has lead to a global effort to educate, conserve and to understand our ever changing planet. Species and ecosystems have been negativly affected with the leading causes being habitat loss, climate change, pollution, invasive species and human conflict. With effort and willingness to work together we can help reverese these effects. El Parque Marino Del Pacifcifo is working diligently to help protect engandgered species and educate the public.


Who am I?


Preston M. Thompson-


My name is Preston Thompson and I am studying biology with a specialization towards ecology and conservation at Bowling Green State University. I volunteered at El Parque Marino Del Pacifico for one month over winter break. My primary job was to take care of the animals, including feeding, cleaning and monitoring health. “I thoroughly enjoyed my time volunteering at El Parque, however it was painfully apparently that they were in need of more than just volunteers. That’s why I choose to step up and attempt to help them out. They’re doing excellent work and I believe it’s vital to maintain the Gulf of Nicoya
ecosystem. Without them, a large number of sea turtles, birds, sharks, and other marine life wouldn’t be there today. This is vital for the ecosystem especially considering those who are endangered or threatened. My goal is to help El Parque become a better facility so that they can continue the world class work I know they’re doing. Please help support them”.



With your donation you can help SAVE the lives of sea turtles, birds, and their fellow marine life.

A portion of the funds may be used to cover travel expenses.