Description
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Overview
Any Sea turtle volunteer would enjoy in such conservation efforts, that started here in this part of Latin America in 2004. It was when the initiator established a volunteer program for the protection of the sea turtles. Such conservation approach was unique and still has a special attention of various organisations around the world. The most notable from them is the WWF (World Wildlife Fund). In 2011, sea turtle conservation activities were handed over to an organisation you would volunteer with. This Caribbean Coast turtle volunteer program comprises an important beach monitoring and a hatchery operation. Furthermore, it offers environmental education and outreach program to raise the awareness about sea turtle conservation. Last but not least also to involve local Costa Rican communities.
Why volunteer for the sea turtles? How would a volunteer ‘help the world’ in protecting sea turtles in Costa Rica?
Sea turtles are over 100 million years old. They travel through the oceans and are not limited by the state borders. Thus, all the nations living around a certain ocean area need to act together in a sustainable manner to protect these marine animals. Why are sea turtles important? They keep the sea in an ecological balance and thus the ecosystem healthy. Not long ago a survival of the sea turtles, where you are possibly going to volunteer for, was at risk due to the poachers. The perfect news is – turtle poachers are now helping in the protection (see below)!
If Sea Turtles In Costa Rica…
If a sea turtles will not be able to survive, this might have negative consequences on humans in the future. It is essential to make a combined action of marine professionals, Sea turtle volunteers and local communities. Costa Rica is very lush, green and mountainous, and has one of the most beautiful nature. This Sea turtle volunteer project will inspire you making a notable contribution to the conservation. At the same time you will experience a special volunteer adventure and a lifelong memory. To see a similar project, check out this Sea Turtle project! Come along to this valuable sea turtle volunteer project.[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner content_placement=”middle” el_id=”project-cta-green-color-white” css=”.vc_custom_1507287329245{margin-top: 50px !important;margin-bottom: 50px !important;background-color: #02ab4c !important;border-radius: 10px !important;}”][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text]
Get advice for the sea turtle conservation.
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Location:
Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica
Duration:
1 week to 12 weeks
Airport of Arrival:
San Jose (SJO), Costa Rica
Volunteer Contribution:
Data collection and protection of the Leatherback Sea Turtles, Green Sea Turtles and Hawksbill Sea Turtles.
Age:
18 – 70 for the Sea Turtle Volunteer
# of Volunteers:
30 International volunteers (e.g. USA, Canada, Denmark, UK)
Languages spoken:
English, Spanish
Essential info:
You can pay also in USD. After applying you will receive an email. Then please follow the guidelines about the price conversion.
What is included?
Airport Transfers:
Volunteers will make their own way, via public transport, to and from Bataan, where they will be collected.
Accommodations:
Shared room in beach huts, in the research station
Food:
All inclusive; vegetarian, vegan also available; typical food of Costa Rica.
Insurance:
Sea turtle volunteer must provide her/his own comprehensive travel health insurance with all relevant coverage.
Essential info:
To be added.
Other:
Optional excursions:
Due to the remote location of the project no excursions are available
Support:
24h emergency support and local in-country sea turtle conservation team
Not included:
Flights, personal expenses, transport to and from the airport, transport to and from Bataan.[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner content_placement=”middle” css=”.vc_custom_1507287746302{margin-top: 50px !important;margin-bottom: 50px !important;background-color: #157a7c !important;border-radius: 10px !important;}” el_id=”project-cta-blue-color-white”][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text]
Get live chat to have the best volunteer adventure in Costa Rica.
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Minimum Conditions:
- Minimum age: 18
- Participant must be in good physical condition
- Language: basic English, Spanish
- Interest: enthusiastic, team player, willing to help in turtle conservation;
- No vaccines are needed
- No police Background check is needed
The country is extremely safe, however precautions must be taken with your personal belongings.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-camera-retro” add_icon=”true” title=”Photos” tab_id=”photos”][vc_gallery type=”image_grid” images=”268,269,270,271,272,273,274,275,276,277,278,279,280,281,282,284,285,286,287,288,289″][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-comments” add_icon=”true” title=”Reviews” tab_id=”testimonials”][vc_column_text][testimonials ids=”506,513,514″ paging=false][/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-map-marker” add_icon=”true” title=”Location” tab_id=”location”][vc_column_text]
Location
The location of the Sea turtle volunteer Project is located in the north of the Caribbean province. The beach is part of the 50km coastline stretching between Tortuguero National Park towards South of Costa Rica. The project is very remote, and access is only by the boat through the canals of Tortuguero.
Within the area we can find tropical rainforest, mangroves and rivers, which are home for a lot of exotic animals like monkeys, sloths, crocodiles and a numerous variety of birds and insects.[/vc_column_text][vc_gmaps link=”#E-8_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” size=””][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-question” add_icon=”true” title=”About” tab_id=”about”][vc_column_text]
About
All has to work together! This Sea turtle volunteer – Conservation in Costa Rica works together with the local community. Former poachers are now trained for the sea turtle conservation and work together with volunteers to protect these critically endangered marine animals. This important marine project executes night and day beach patrols and operates a hatchery. Not only the work but solely taking part of each Sea Turtle Volunteer plays an important role in enabling a conservation as the incoming fees represent the income for the local inhabitants. The volunteer organisation strives to increase the alternative livelihoods for coastal communities versus poaching and hunting turtles and to achieve a sustainable sea turtle management.
Main threats to the Sea Turtles in Costa Rica
The main threats for the sea turtles in this part of Costa Rica are: egg poaching and hunting nesting turtles. This certainly causes a population decline. Especially in the Caribbean, the consumption of sea turtle meat and eggs or the utilisation of turtle shell for jewellery production is rooted in long-lived local traditions. There remains a strong belief that sea turtle eggs serve as aphrodisiac.
On the other hand – sea turtles face the negative effects of global warming, contamination, habitat loss due to the beach erosion, entanglement in fishing gear and trash. Through the involvement of local inhabitants of this isolated and small community, the sea turtle project provides a unique opportunity for volunteers to experience a community-based Costa Rican conservation. It also offers a legal and sustainable revenue for community members. The data taken from nesting females improves our understanding of their behavior and helps coordinating conservation efforts worldwide.
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Most of the nesting activities are of the Leatherback Sea Turtle. Nevertheless, also Green Sea Turtles and Hawksbill Sea Turtles are coming to the beach and lay their eggs. All sea turtles species are listed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. A Green Sea Turtle at this location is ranked as “Vulnerable” and the Leatherback and Hawksbill Sea Turtle as “Critically Endangered”. Therefore your sea turtle volunteer conservation position will not only help to sea turtles but also to a local community! Have a look also on this similar project. Exciting, isn’t it?[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-compass” add_icon=”true” title=”Orientation” tab_id=”orientation”][vc_column_text]
Orientation
Before travelling to the project each Sea turtle volunteer will receive orientation in the offices in San Jose. During the orientation, the team leads will explain the volunteer work roles, explain why volunteers are so desired and give helpful tips to ensure a safe and enjoyable volunteer experience.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-user-plus” add_icon=”true” title=”Contribution” tab_id=”contribution”][vc_column_text]
Contribution
Night shifts! Together with others, Sea turtle volunteer will help to researchers and patrol the beach from 8:00 pm to 4:00 am. The timetable will be organised in different shifts and sectors of the beach, between March and October. It will take at least 4 hours to patrol the beach effectively. If a nesting turtle is found, the eggs will be collected and relocated into a hatchery. The turtle work will be done following an official protocol. The later involves tagging, taking biometry and other important data of the turtle. Former poachers, now trained in conservation techniques, and the trained Sea Turtle Volunteers carry out the important work. Together they are responsible for guarding the nests at the hatchery and releasing the baby turtles.
Not only the Sea Turtles…
Not only for the sea turtles – volunteers are involved also in the daily tasks, like cleaning, gardening, kitchen work, painting, maintaining, beach cleaning etc., depending on the season and the needs. Woho – lot of exciting things that we sometimes even neglect to do at home!
A typical day
Typical Day: You will volunteer about 6 – 8 hours per day, 6 days out of 7.
After breakfast, each volunteer will receive a briefing from the previous night’s activities. After that, you will participate in the volunteer activities around the station. This could be maintenance, hatchery construction, cleaning, painting or beach cleaning. It all depends on the needs. After lunch, you will have time to relax.
In the afternoon we will continue with our volunteer activities.
Dinner will be served in the evening and you will prepare for your night shift. Patrols take place from 7 pm though until 4 am – so you will be put on a 4 hour shift during this time.
Hatchery monitoring takes place 24 hours per day – so if you do not go on a patrol you will be put on a hatchery shift.
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A similar project…
A similar project in Costa Rica is here >>[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section i_type=”entypo” i_icon_entypo=”entypo-icon entypo-icon-signal” add_icon=”true” title=”Living set-up” tab_id=”living-set-up”][vc_column_text]
Living set-up
Accommodation:
There are cosy 6 shared beach cabins where volunteers will sleep. Each cabin is equipped with bunk beds and can sleep 6 – 8 people. The shared bathroom and shower block is separate. The property is very open and just meters from the beach.
There is a kitchen, office for staff and a common area for the sea turtle volunteers, with hammocks and reading material.
Food:
Three meals a day are included (meals are mostly vegetarian). Meals will be prepared and served for volunteers, unless there are very few volunteers, in which case everyone will prepare and serve meals together.
Our Sea Turtle Volunteers must wash their own dishes.
Meals are mostly vegetarian and typical dishes include Costa Rican food, rice, black beans, plantains, salads, vegetables, pasta and soups. There are no amenities around, so volunteers must take their own snacks.
Tea and coffee are available all day.
Alcoholic drinks are not permitted whilst participating in the project.
Internet:
There is no WiFi or internet connection at the project
Laundry:
Volunteers can hand wash clothes. A detergent is available.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-suitcase” add_icon=”true” title=”Travel focus” tab_id=”travel-focus”][vc_column_text]
Travel focus
This is a beautiful area on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica and has a lot of wildlife. It is common to see sloths, white faced and howler monkeys and many species of birds. Our work takes place at night on the beach – even when it rains, we must patrol the beach.
We are studying three different species of sea turtles, of which two are critically endangered – which is our biggest highlight!
In your free time, with no volunteering for the project, you are free to organize your own activities, such as morning exercises on the beach or taking a walk through the small community.
Swimming in the ocean is not recommended due to strong tides and rip currents.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][/vc_tta_tabs][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row el_id=”project-cta-blue-color-white” css=”.vc_custom_1512544798759{margin-top: 50px !important;margin-bottom: 50px !important;background-color: #157a7c !important;border-radius: 10px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text]
Apply now and secure yourself a place in this amazing volunteer project.
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