Ilena Zanella | Protecting Sharks in Costa Rica

Nov 9, 2020  10:00 - 10:45

(GMT -5:00) Eastern Time

Event URL:  https://www.exploringbytheseat.com/lesson/ilena-zanella-protecting-sharks-costa-rica/
Hosted by: Exploring By The Seat of Your Pants

Ilena is marine biologist and Magister Scientiae in Wildlife Management and Conservation from Institute for Wildlife Conservation and Management (ICONVIS), Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica. She is the co-founder and the Executive Director of Mision Tiburon, a Costa Rica NGO whose goal is to promote research, management and conservation of sharks and marine life in our oceans. Mision Tiburon (Shark Mission) was officially established on May 15th, 2009 by young conservationists, who are concerned about the drastic decline of shark populations around the world. Ilena has more than 10 years working in marine conservation, has been involved not only in research projects, but also in educational and training programs focused on coastal communities and Government officials. With her partner Andres Lopez, she led a shark conservation project in Golfo Dulce, which reached the creation of the Scalloped Hammerhead Shark Sanctuary Golfo Dulce, the first Sanctuary dedicated to sharks in Costa Rica. In 2019 she was nominated as Blue Spot Champion by the international organization Mission Blue and in May 2019 she had been honored by the Whitley Award from Her Royal HighnessThe Princess Royal Anne.