Jairo Mora Sandoval, an activist for the Wider Caribbean Sea Turtle Conservation Network (WIDECAST), was brutally murdered in Costa Rica while monitoring turtle nests. He was kidnapped by an armed gang on Thursday, May 30, and found “bound, badly beaten, and shot in the head” on Friday.
Four foreign volunteers — all women — who were with Mora on nest patrol were abducted the night of the attack, and survived. One of Mora’s colleagues, Vanessa Lizano, told BBC News that they had received “many threats” from traffickers.
It was him they wanted, because he was the one who was always looking after the nests.
She said that turtle egg smugglers can make $300 per day.
Todd Steiner, a wildlife biologist and executive director of Turtle Island Restoration Network, is calling for justice.
Jairo’s murderers must be brought to justice so that sea turtle activists around Costa Rica and the world know that this will never be tolerated. The whole world is watching to make sure the Costa Rican government brings these thugs to justice and makes sea turtle nesting beaches safe for conservationists to do their work.
The Center for Biological Diversity announced that a $10,000 reward is being offered for information on the murder of Jairo Mora Sandoval. Contact PorJairoMoraSandoval[at]gmail[dot]com with information on the crime.
The Jairo Mora Sandoval Reward Fund is growing and is currently being supported by the following organizations:
- Turtle Island Restoration Network
- Center for Biological Diversity
- Wider Caribbean Sea Turtle Network
- See Turtles
- LivBlue
- Ocean Revolution
- PRETOMA
- Sea Turtle Conservancy
- Humane Society of the United States
- The Leatherback Trust
If your organization would like to contribute to the fund, contact Todd Steiner at tsteiner[at]tirn[dot]net or (415) 663 8590 x 103. Individuals wishing to contribute to the fund can do so at seaturtles.org/donateforjustice. There is also a petition demanding justice at seaturtles.org/turtlejustice.
The illegal killing of sea turtles and taking their eggs, is a leading factor driving sea turtles toward extinction. For example, TRAFFIC Southeast Asia reported on June 3 that 6,500 marine turtle eggs were seized in Sabah, Malaysia.
Marine turtles, including the leatherback sea turtles that nest on the beach Mora monitored, are protected by several laws, including Costa Rica’s Marine Turtle Population Law of 2002 and the U.S. Endangered Species Act.
Rhishja Cota
I am the founder of Annamiticus and I have been researching and writing about wildlife trafficking issues since 2009. I also founded World Pangolin Day in 2012. I am the author of USAID Wildlife Asia's Pangolin Species Identification Guide: A Rapid Assessment Tool for Field and Desk. I co-facilitated and was a presenter at the USAID Wildlife Asia Pangolin Care Workshop. At the 4th Regional Dialogue on Combating Trafficking of Wild Fauna and Flora, I facilitated the species roundtables on pangolins. I have trekked with forest rangers in Cambodia, journeyed to the streets of Hanoi to research the illegal wildlife trade, and to the rainforests of Sumatra and Java to document the world’s rarest rhinos. At CITES meetings, I collaborate with colleagues from around the world to lobby in favor of protecting endangered species. I hosted the Behind the Schemes podcast and am the author of the book Murder, Myths & Medicine. I enjoy music, desert gardening, herping, reading, creating, and walking with my dogs. Check out my t-shirts and stickers at snoots + teefers.