Ostional Wildlife Refuge

Ostional Wildlife Refuge
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area)
Location within Costa Rica
Location	Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica
Coordinates	9°57′43″N 85°42′43″W / 9.962°N 85.712°W / 9.962; -85.712Coordinates: 9°57′43″N 85°42′43″W / 9.962°N 85.712°W / 9.962; -85.712
Area	85.7 km2 (33.1 sq mi)
Established	1984
Governing body	National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC)

The Ostional Wildlife Refuge is a 85.7 km² (33.1 sq mi)Wildlife refuge of Costa Rica, part of the Tempisque Conservation Area, was originally declared a protected area in 1982, and its status has been changed several times since then, including covering a larger area both on land and out to sea. It was created to protect important nesting beaches of the Olive ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea).

According to the World Wildlife Fund, the Refuge is “one of the two most important areas in the world for nesting of the Olive Ridley turtle.”