Sea Turtle Conservation Volunteer Positions in Todos Santos

Three species of endangered Sea Turtles nest on the beaches of Todos Santos: Olive Ridley, the critically endangered Leatherback, and occasionally the Black sea turtle.  Our volunteers relocate these sea turtle nests to special incubation areas on the beach to ensure their survival.  Volunteers then supervise the incubation areas, are trained in nest escavation, and hatchling release.

Olive Ridley nests are moved into an open-air corral where they are protected from coyotes, racoons and various predatory birds. Volunteers are trained in collecting data on nesting sea turtles, nest relocation, incubation supervision, nest excavation, and hatchling releases. Early morning patrols are run on ATV's, evenings are spent releasing Hatchlings, and days can be spent supervising the incubation area, helping with beach clean-ups, designing publicity, or simply relaxing.  There are lots of beautiful beaches to explore in the area, as well as a culture-rich downtown full of shopping, dining, and art galleries. 

During Leatherback season, sand temperatures are too low to allow natural incubation.  For this reason, we construct an Incubation Greenhouse.   All nests are relocated to the Incubation Greenhouse where sand temperatures are monitored to ensure incubation.  The greenhouse has successfully produced healthy Leatherback, Olive Ridley and Black hatchlings, when natural incubation is impossible during cold winter months. . The greenhouse, which can raise the temperature up to six degrees celcius, is an important conservation strategy for the recovery of the Pacific Leatherback and Black sea turtles.

Volunteers can expect to work various shifts depending on the month of participation ( Nest Relocation Patrols: 4am- 8am,  Incubation Supervision: 8am- 4pm, and Nest Escavation & Hatchling Release: 4pm- 8pm). You may work as little as four hours each day, or up to 12 hours if you desire. Volunteer accommodations are available in comfortable casitas with La Sirena Eco Adventures. The Casitas are conveniently located between the beach and centro and are the starting and ending point of the nightly patrols. Volunteers staying in the casitas can be woken up and taken to the nesting site if a turtle is on the beach during your night off.

Volunteer forms can be downloaded below, and returned to by email to Tortugueros Las Playitas. Experience is not a requirement, all applicants are accepted provided there is space.   There is currently space for Volunteers during January - March 2012, and we will have Leatherback hatchlings during that time!!!

Download Volunteer Form

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