The Sea Turtle conservation project was created with the purpose of protecting the female sea turtles, their nests and hatchlings laid along beaches on the Pacific and Caribbean coasts of Costa Rica against poachers and natural and introduced predators, using a man-made shelter called a "vivero". At the same time the project team collects enough information about the nesting activity of the turtles so it can be used to improve the next season’s techniques and be shared with the community and local and regional authorities with the goal of building awareness about conservation. The sea turtle conservation program is a scientific based conservation activity in which volunteers try to increase the amount of sea turtle hatchlings to give higher survival possibilities to these beautiful reptiles. The Sea Turtle projects were created with this conservation purpose and help to protect conservation areas essential to preserving sea turtles and their associated ecosystems. Sea turtles are a wonderful legacy from prehistoric times and our goal is to help them to survive.
The greater the number of volunteers, the more hatchlings can be saved, so there can never be enough people involved in this valuable project to bring this beautiful creature back from it’s endangered status.
At this placement you will work with staff in a range of projects. As a volunteer you will be involved in data gathering and monitoring, night patrols and beach clearing. The projects move to the areas where the turtles are nesting through the year ensuring constant, year round work is carried out.
This project is great for those who love the outdoors, and are interested in conservation and wildlife. There will be many active hands-on activities which will require loads of enthusiasm and energy especially for long nights of patrolling. You will be in close contact with the turtles and volunteers must be comfortable with this.
