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Protect Those Who Protect Wildlife

Protect Those Who Protect Wildlife

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This petition has been created by Megan H. and may not represent the views of the Avaaz community.
Megan H.
started this petition to
President Laura Chinchilla; Jose-Joaquin Calvo, Wildlife Manager, MINAET
Jairo Mora Sandoval, a sea turtle conservationist and biology student was brutally tortured and murdered by vicious drug-dealers who were angry at conservationists and Jairo in particular for preventing them from stealing the precious eggs of the Leatherback sea turtle, a species whose populations have plummeted by 95 percent in recent years.

In 2012, a group of thugs tied up and beat conservationists and activists at a hatchery in Playa Moin, on Costa Rica's Caribbean coast. The thugs stole the turtle eggs and terrorized innocent people. These thugs, armed with AK-47s also terrorized Jairo and his coworker Vanessa Lizano in separate incidents.

As a result of all of this, Costa Rican officials sent an elite Costa Rican police task force to accompany volunteers who were safeguarding the turtles. These police were specialized in handling riots, protests, and drug issues. During last year's nesting season, the police protected conservationists and volunteers, thus saving more than 1750 turtle nests.

Then they stopped the protection, and with no one to keep him safe, Jairo was murdered. Understandably, sea turtle protectors are now afraid to help these vulnerable animals since they themselves are now vulnerable.

Please bring the police back. We need them to keep these rare and precious people who protect rare and precious animals safe.
Posted (Updated )