Did You Ever Notice How the Things That You Truly Want With All Your Heart Actually Happen?

By Safina Center Fellow Erik Callender

“Hey Erik, guess what? The turtles are hatching!”

Erik Callender watches the first leatherback turtle hatchling of the season get released into the sea. ©Erik Callender

Chalton, the president of Turtle Rescue of Cahuita called me on June 2, 2023 to let me know after nearly three months that this day had arrived.

This was thrilling news! On June 3, 2023 We filmed the first leatherback sea turtle hatchling of the season being released back to the sea. 

Time passes so quickly when you’re filming prehistoric turtles hatching, Macaws flying, and staying out all night to get the best shot of that egg eating snake!

It’s been 6 months since arriving to Costa Rica and it still feel like I am just starting!

The last 3 months have been pretty challenging; arranging film schedules, border runs, and searching for animals in the forest and staying focused. To be totally honest, another challenge that attempted to creep in was self-doubt. However, each time that happened I talked myself out of it and stayed focused, and reminded myself to keep going!

One such moment, I was updating an application for a grant I’d applied for 6 months earlier. In that moment, I decided that I’m gonna stay positive and go for it. We actually got it, and in the same moment, we shot a bonus a piece of footage of one of our secret creatures for our show!

Erik Callender with local guides and the film crew for Menghayati Season 2 in Costa Rica.

With The support of the Safina Center Fellowship funds and Avalon park I've continued the work of completing the show and have completed filming all of the animals we need for the upcoming season of our PBS program Menghayati Season 2.

We also got word that we were selected as a finalist for ART Works Grant to help support a third season! We’ll know about that in October.

For now, this adventure is unfolding in ways I could never have planned. Reflecting on it makes it seem like a dream, and being nearly complete with the production of a second season of our PBS program Menghayati Season 2 reminds me that it’s reality!