See the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExJ-ml0GH94

Volunteers are needed to work with juvenile green turtles

Period: January 1st - April 30th 2009

Location: Cerro Verde,Uruguay. (Satellite Map)

Background Information:

Karumbé has been monitoring this foraging and developmental area of juvenile green turtles (Chelonia mydas) for more than 9 years. In this site the volunteers will carry out research and conservation activities, getting quite in touch with the fishermen community where the field station is settled. Volunteers will be working shoulder to shoulder with the 2 researchers who will be coordinating the fieldwork, getting involved in all tasks included in the project work.

It is not necessary to speak Spanish; however we encourage candidates to know at least the basics.

Site Information: Cerro Verde is a landscape of protected area (Bañados del Este and Coastal Fringe - Biosphere Reserves). In this particular case the green turtle can be considered effective 'umbrellas' for broader biodiversity. Cerro Verde comprises high diversity of fauna and plant communities including relict vegetation, marine mammals (as fransiscana dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, sea lions) and seabirds. This area has just been included in the recently created National System of Protected Areas (SNAP) as the first Coastal-Marine Protected Area. Thus it is a priority to increase the research in order to succeed in preserving the biodiversity and allows developing a management plan according to the reality and needs of this marine ecosystems.

Duties:

The volunteers will conduct the following activities:
1. Sighting and capturing, with nets, juveniles of green turtle, in areas next to the shore.
2. Walks (10-20 km.), searching for stranded sea turtles.
3. Help researchers with necropsies of any dead individual.
4. Collect data of the artisanal fishery carried out in this locality.
5. Get involved in talks and workshops for the community and tourists.
6. Rehabilitation of sick and weak sea turtles.
7. Help in the field station duties such us cleaning and cooking.

Requirements: Candidates should have (a)
1.Willingness to work with nature in a remote place, surrounded by beautiful landscapes.
2. Good physical conditions: know how to swim and be able to walk long distances on loose sand.
3. Willingness to get to know a different culture, getting involved into conservation activities with this fishing community.
4. It is not necessary previous experience in handling sea turtles, training will be given as soon as arrived in the field station.

Benefits/Costs: The cost of this volunteer work, which includes accommodation (tent) and 3 meals a day, is 350 pesos (approx. 18 U$S/12 EUR).

Additional Contact Information: Biol. Mariana Rios, Volunteers Coordinator.
If interested ask for the volunteer's instructive at: maririos34@... 

Karumbé, Av.Giannattasio Km. 30.5 esq. Roma, El Pinar, Canelones, Uruguay.
Cel - 099583778 , +598 99583778