News

In a sad and disturbing turn of events, Costa Rican leatherback turtle conservationist Jairo Mora Sandoval was bound, shot in the head, and left on a Costa Rican beach. Many believe it to be the work of drug traffickers who trade drugs to addicted poachers and who have recently  been threatening conservationists in the area.

Although Costa Rica is generally a safe country, the region near the city of Limón has a reputation for crime. Drug traffickers in the area have hampered turtle conservationists’ efforts by supporting the habits of drug-addicted fishermen and threatening officials who enforce environmental laws.

In April, Sandoval and other conservationists published an article in the Costa Rican newspaper La Nación that emphasized the connection between poaching and drug trafficking. For this and for drawing more police attention to the once deserted beaches in the area, many believe Sandoval was the victim of drug traffickers.

Read more here.