Astra Efforts in Biodiversity and Wildlife Conservation

In the summer of 2024, I had the opportunity to join a biodiversity and wildlife conservation program in Costa Rica on behalf of Astra Biosciences Group. The focus of this program was to spread environmental and conservation awareness and work with local Costa Ricans to improve wildlife conservation efforts. A crucial part of conservation efforts is education and understanding Costa Rican culture in order to better communicate and emphasize the importance of conservation and protecting the wildlife and natural resources. This trip offered firsthand experience with working to protect endangered species, taking care of animals in rehabilitation centers, and teaching local children English and the importance of taking care of the environment around them.

We started off the trip at Pacuare Reserve, a nature reserve under the Ecology Project International (EPI) known for its sea turtle conservation program. The main goal of the Pacuare Reserve was to preserve endangered sea turtles and ensure the successful laying and hatching of sea turtle eggs. As a way to increase the likelihood of sea turtles laying their eggs, we needed to clean the beach up by picking up micro-plastics and moving large pieces of driftwood. Sea turtles are very sensitive creatures, so if they detect the presence of any obstacles in their path, they will stop their egg laying process and return back to the ocean. We volunteered at the recycling center at the reserve, where we sorted trash into different piles such as soft plastic, hard plastic, paper, metal, glass, and general trash. The purpose of this was to see what could be reused and recycled, and what needed to be thrown away in a landfill. This is beneficial to the community and the environment because it reduces the amount of plastics and other recyclable items from entering landfills.

Every night, we were tasked with going on the Night Senses, which consisted of us patrolling the beach for four hours, searching for any turtles or hatchlings. The time and work there allowed me to see just how important conservation is to both the wildlife and the people living there. The local Costa Ricans that dedicate their entire lives to preserving the animals and the nature set an example and a model for all of us to follow. Everyone is very well-versed in their craft and their clear passion for helping the environment and bettering the world is inspirational.

Back in San Jose, the capital city of Costa Rica, we focused on going to wildlife rescue centers and the local daycare to teach children English. At the wildlife rescue center, we contributed by helping the staff clean cages, prepare meals, clear the ground of debris, and performing enrichment activities for the animals. Every day, the staff and volunteers at the wildlife centers clean the cages and changing out the animals' water and food bowls. After cleaning the cages, we refilled their water bowls and added nutrients and vitamins to their water. We also performed enrichment for the animals, which consisted of adding new branches and greenery to their cages and playing with the friendly animals. Seeing the animals pacing around made me see the importance of the work we were doing and why enrichment was extremely beneficial for the animals. The wildlife rescue center mainly housed animals that were once a part of illegal exotic pet trading, so because of how the animals were treated, most were unable to be released back into the wild.

Working with the kids at the daycare was an enjoyable experience because they were full of energy and were very eager to learn and spend time with us. We worked with many different ages, but my group mainly focused on teaching the youngest kids there. We played games that were related to English in order to try and help them remember. It was challenging at first because of the language barrier, so we could not properly explain how to play a certain game or what we wanted them to do. However, as time passed, we learned that theres more than one way to communicate and speaking is not always necessary. The kids had a lot of fun playing different games, and we had fun playing games with them. Feeling the positive energy and listening to the kids laugh made me feel really good and allowed me to see the impact I was making on them.

This experience has been extremely rewarding and insightful, and it has expanded my knowledge and understanding of the world around me. This trip has pushed my personal growth, leadership, and created a wider sense of awareness about the importance of conservation and my ecological impact. As a teammate and a leader, I learned the importance of delegation and how support can completely change your mindset. After coming back from this trip, my goal is to spread awareness in my own community and hold the people around me accountable to also conserve and live a more sustainable and eco friendly life. I am extremely grateful to the staff and advisors in Costa Rica for giving me this opportunity to learn and help out.