Pacuare Reserve has been working for 34 years on Leatherback Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) protection and collecting data on the nesting tendencies, population status and nest survival. In Central America Caribbean (Pacuare Reserve nesting beach included), the colony of Leatherbacks is one of the four bigger remaining in the world together to Surinam, Gabon and Trinidad (Troëng et al., 2004).  The program for conservation and research on Sea turtles (PCITM, for its acronym in Spanish) also monitors Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) and Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas.)

The 6 km (3,72 miles) of seashore are walked by the researchers’ assistants, volunteers and groups of students every night during the nesting season and during the time the eggs are hatching (from the end of February up to October) during their visit to the reserve. Each night, they walk the beach in three different turns from 8pm up to 4am for reptile monitoring.

Also, during the morning, there is a counting to check if new activities are needed or if hatchlings have emerged. The censuses are performed in groups from the research stations one in the North and other in the South.

Research assistants are trained at the beginning of the season with theory and practices to warranty standardized collection of data. During the season there are different sessions to check protocol achievement and to correct differences between the stations. Security guards are also present guarding the two ends of the beach to protect people and nesting process.