You do not need any specific skills for this project, but you must love the outdoors and be happy to live in an isolated rural area with few luxuries. You should also be willing to get involved with the local community. Please note there is no guarantee that you will see any turtles but it is more than likely you will come into contact with them during your placement.
Your role as a volunteer:
As a volunteer you will be required to take part in night patrols but you will have your daytimes free to rest and explore the beautiful area, where you can hike, swim, bird-watch or spend time on the beach along with other outdoor activities.
Description:
Nestled on the beautiful shores of Trinidad's northern coast lies a sleepy fishing village with an extraordinary secret. By day it's just like any other coastal town with boats scattered across the beach, nets laid out to dry on the rocks and fresh fish markets round every corner, but by night it transforms into a wildlife haven for one of the world's most endangered species the Giant Leatherback Turtle. Between the months of May and October thousands of these impressive creatures return to the beach to lay their eggs and this project will give you the perfect opportunity to see them first hand. You'll be spending your evening patrolling the beach, looking for poachers or rebellious tourists without an official guide. This will provide ample opportunities to observe the turtles as they lay their eggs and you'll go home knowing that you have helped to protect them from extinction. With your days free to enjoy the sunshine and your weekends to explore the island, this project will allow you to effectively combine a relaxing beach holiday with a stint of worthwhile volunteering and you can rest assured that it will be an unforgettable experience.
This project is based in Grand Riviere on the North Eastern Coast of Trinidad, a rural village with a population of just 360. The village is in a lush valley, and the locals are employed in vegetable farming and fishing. This Caribbean sea coastline is the ideal breeding ground for giant leatherback turtles, and between March and August every year, thousands of this endangered species come ashore at night to nest and lay their eggs.
Why the project needs volunteers:
Turtle poaching is very common in Trinidad and before the conservation projects started up there was a high poaching rate. Night patrols, currently made up of local people, are needed to ward off poachers. The shifts are gruelling for the volunteers who patrol at night and work during the day. More volunteers are therefore needed to take some of this pressure off the local people, shortening the shifts and providing extra protection for the turtles. ...
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