MONTHLY ACHIEVEMENT REPORT, Jalova September 2014

Report title

35 km Costa Rican canal recce for the 2014

Fundraising Challenge!

Objective

To raise money through the Charitable Trust Challenge for the Tortuguero/Jalova national park
rangers

Summary

The GVI Charitable Trust was formed in 2005. We are a non-political, non-religious charity that has
grown to support partners and organisations globally. GVI Jalova is in the process of developing a
brand new charitable trust challenge to raise money for the Jalova rangers based in the southern
end of the Tortuguero national park. This is a physically and mentally demanding adrenaline fueled
challenge not for the faint hearted!

Report

Here at the Jalova research station, based in the southern end of the Tortuguero National Park, we
live in a rural volunteer community surrounded by pristine dense jungle and Caribbean coast line.
It`s a paradise full of thousands of fascinating (and endangered!) species, but who you may ask has
the mammoth task of protecting this wildlife?
The Jalova rangers, based at the Jalova ranger`s station located approximately 20 minutes away
from our base, are solely responsible for protecting the southern end of the Tortuguero National
Park. They patrol on foot and on quad bike during all hours of the day and night, ensuring poachers
are not illegally hunting the endangered, highly valued species found within the park e.g. the green
turtle Chelonia mydas.
These rangers, who we consider our dear friends and colleagues, are low on man power (sometimes
there is only one ranger at the station!) resources and equipment, making their everyday tasks difficult and hard to achieve.
We want the Tortuguero National Park to be effectively protected by our rangers, right? So the
question iswhat are we going to do about it?

The GVI Charitable Trust encourages GVI volunteers to fundraise money for a chosen cause by participating in a physically tough, tiring and thoroughly rewarding CHALLENGE. As you`d probably already guessed, we fundraise for the amazingly hard working and dedicated Jalova rangers.
This year, we wanted an epic, exciting, and adrenaline fuelled challenge for our volunteers that has
never been done before how does a 25 km beach walk, 1 day jungle hike and 35km kayak sound?
To make sure we have all challenge information and logistics planned out, we of course needed to
go and do a recce of the proposed route. 3 lucky staff, Anna (base manager), Blaine (country direc-

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tor) and Renato (head of the turtle project), went and did exactly this for the kayaking route on the
26th of September 2014. Armed with 1 ranger called Edwin, a small boat, GPS, mobile phone, sun
cream, a hat, pen and paper, they managed to collect all information necessary to ensure that this
crazy challenge would be achievable!
The conclusion reached by the recce team is that the challenge (hopefully going to be completed at
the beginning of November 2014) is going to be awesome and that the kayaking section is a highlight
not to be missed by adventure seeking volunteers!! The 35 km canal route meanders its way from
Puerto Lindo, not far from the Nicaraguan border, all the way down to the town of Tortuguero, located in the northern end of the Tortuguero national park. Along the way you`ll see and pass by local
towns and settlements, a huge array of canal bird species, local people going about their everyday
life on the waterways and the wildlife refuge that`s located north of the Tortuguero national park.

The proposed itinerary for the 2014 challenge is outlined below:

Day 1

Day 2

Start out form Jalova base at sunrise and walk the 25 km`s north to Tortuguero town
- Along the way challenge participants will have the possibility of seeing the following species; jaguar, tapir, sloth, howler monkeys, white-faced capuchin monkeys, central American
spider monkeys, eyelash palm pit vipers, frogs and toads, wild pigs, white nosed coati`s and
countless numbers of bird species amongst many other wild animals
Arrive in Tortuguero town approximately 8-12 hours later and enjoy a cold drink and plate of
delicious local cuisine
Spend the night in a lodge in Tortuguero (it might even have HOT water!)

Board a ranger`s boat at sunrise and travel to the kayaking start point of Puerto Lindo
Begin the second day of the challenge by getting in some much needed kayaking practice

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After lunch, begin a jungle trek that winds its way up to the top of a viewpoint from where
you can get stunning views of Nicaragua and the jungle below
Spend the night camping at Isla Brava, a beautiful homestay full of well cultivated gardens
full of mature fruit trees

Day 3

Leave at sunrise and start the 35km kayak all the way back to Toruguero
Along the way volunteers will get the chance to spot numerous canal bird species
10 -12 hours later, kayak into port at Tortuguero
Spend the night relaxing in Tortuguero
Prepare to leave for base (by boat!) the following day

Conclusion
GVI Jalova Charitable Trust Challenge COMING SOON!

Warning: Enter if you`re extreme enough!

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