Jaime Restrepo

Jaime is a Colombian researcher and conservationist, with a background in environmental sciences. In 2016, he completed his Master’s degree at the International Institute for Conservation and Wildlife Management from the University of Costa Rica. For his dissertation, Jaime worked on habitat evaluation and density estimations of the critically endangered great green macaw (Ara Ambiguus) in Northeast Costa Rica. After finishing his studies Jaime dedicated his efforts to work on different conservation projects protecting sea turtle nesting habitats in Latin America. He has been involved in monitoring programs studying six of the seven extant sea turtle species. He has experience monitoring mass nesting events “arribadas” of olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) sea turtles. For the past six years Jaime has been working as field research and special project coordinator with the Sea Turtle Conservancy in Tortuguero, Costa Rica; one of the largest rookeries for green turtles (Chelonia mydas) in the world and a place of great relevance in wildlife conservation in the region. Jaime has also collaborated with conservation programs to protect the recovering population of jaguars (Panthera onca) at Tortuguero National Park, looking at the interaction between these felines and the nesting sea turtles. Jaime is an active member of the International Sea Turtle Society; as such, he has taken part on several symposia both presenting his research outcomes and coordinating regional meetings.

Jaime is now a PhD candidate studying at the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences at The University of Queensland, working under the supervision of Dr Daniel Dunn. He will be assessing the post nesting migration of green sea turtles breeding at Tortuguero, Costa Rica. Implementing satellite telemetry monitoring combined with stable isotopes analysis, Jaime aims to study the connectivity and migratory routes between this important sea turtle nesting beach and different foraging grounds across the Caribbean Sea Basin.