Kido Foundation Nesting Sea Turtle Monitoring & Tagging project
Focus: Marine Conservation and Marine Biology.
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Project Description
Kido Foundation Nesting Sea Turtle Monitoring & Tagging project is based at Kido Ecological Station in Carriacou Island, Grenada, West Indies and is part of the Wider Caribbean Sea Turtle Conservation Network (WIDECAST).
The aim of the project is to conserve the two critically endangered species of sea turtles (Leatherback and Hawksbill) nesting in Carriacou, by protecting their nests through night and early morning beach monitoring
The project may include Rescue-Tag-Release operations of Hawksbill, Green Turtles and Leatherbacks caught by fishermen in coastal waters (March - April).
The tagging of the turtles has the aim to identify each individual and create a record of each turtle nesting and foraging activity. The recorded data is shared every year with WIDECAST and the fisheries department of Grenada.
The close encounter with sea turtles is an amazing experience, like meeting a prehistoric animal. In fact these creatures lived at the same time as dinosaurs, 100 million years ago. They survived the glacial era, yet today they may not survive the destruction of their species and habitat caused by humans, unless we actively protect them. Helping mother turtles to nest safely and protecting their nests and hatchlings is essential for their population to survive the odds against them and for maintaining the balance of the marine ecosystem.
Volunteer Information
Costs & Benefits
Requirements
Contact information
Project Summary
Volunteers will monitor turtles nesting on 3 different beaches on the Island, helping to reduce illegal poaching activities of turtles and eggs (March - August)
This activity requires night patrolling on foot from 8 pm to 5 am, 5 nights a week, working with local guides or research assistants, helping with tagging post-nesting turtles, carapace measuring and other data collection, disguising nests against poaching activities, egg counting and mapping nest location. Volunteers will also monitor hatching activities and participate in nest excavation for survival-rate data collection.
One hour of daytime beach survey on foot or by kayak may be added to the daily schedule.
Together with other volunteers you will make a difference not only for sea turtles, but also for the local communities. This project trains and employs local guides and promotes turtle conservation awareness in local schools.
The minimum stay for a volunteer is one month (30 days).
The cost for each volunteer is 15 US$ per day.
Payment of the first month is due on arrival and it is non-refundable.
If the volunteer’s stay is less than 30 days the total cost remains at 450 US$
Payments are due one month in advance for the following months.
The cost includes housing, electricity and cooking gas.
Food is purchased and cooked by volunteers.
Any other expenses, such as flights or other transportation costs are covered by the volunteers.
Volunteers are required to speak English and to have their own travel insurance.
Volunteers should have a keen and genuine interest in conservation and ecology and have love and respect for all animals, wild and domestic.
Volunteers must be good swimmers, physically fit to walk long distances on soft, sandy beaches and nature trails, working in any weather conditions.
Flexibility to adapt to changing schedules as required & able to adapt to work nightshifts and sleep during the day and be willing to work under instructions as a team member.
Kido Foundation
c/o Kido Ecological Station
Sanctuary
Carriacou
Grenada
West Indies
Phone: 473 - 443 7936
Email: kido-ywf@caribsurf.com
Website : http://kidoplanet.com/volunteers/
Location: Grenada, West Indies
Average cost per day: $15
Focus: Marine Conservation
Skills needed:Aged 18 and over, see requirements
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