Remembering Jairo Mora Sandoval

(March 22, 1987 – May 31, 2013)

Remembering Jairo Mora Sandoval
(March 22, 1987 – May 31, 2013)

13 Years Ago, This Courageous Young Conservationist was Brutally Murdered on Moins Beach in Costa Rica.

Jairo was a young Costa Rican conservationist who was brutally murdered at 26, by poachers, while protecting nesting sea turtles. His death highlighted the dangerous conflicts between poachers and wildlife defenders.

In honor of Jairo’s selfless dedication to sea turtles, I named a vessel after him and launched the sea turtle defense campaign: Operation Jairo.

When Jairo asked the Costa Rica government and the police for protection - they refused. When he was murdered, the government tried to cover it up. I posted a $30,000 reward for the arrest and conviction of his killers which infuriated the government of Costa Rica.

Then Costa Rican President Laura Chinchilla ordered the Costa Rican media to not report on my offer and to not publish any interviews with me. Some did anyway.

Despite the attempt to cover up the murder and because of mounting public pressure, the killers were arrested but released when the prosecution and the police "lost" the evidence.

Renewed public pressure led to new arrests of the same suspects. Some were finally convicted.

The poaching of turtles and their eggs in Costa Rica continues along with shark finning.

We should never forget the sacrifice of this brave young man who gave his life so that sea turtles could live and survive.