Want to save the world? Start by volunteering with sea turtles! Photo by davidd, on Flickr
Sea turtle conservations have been in existence since the late 1950s. Every year thousands of volunteers from all over the world spend months patrolling beaches to help with conservation efforts. But why is everyone so obsessed with sea turtles when there are many other animals in danger of extinction? And if sea turtles are so important, how can you get involved?
You can find sea turtle conservancy and other volunteer opportunities at GoAbroad.com, but before signing up, take a look at why you're needed and what you'll be doing:
The Key to Healthy Ecosystems
Sea turtles are believed to have first inhabited the earth 65 million years ago. The migrating, feeding and nesting habits of these ancient creatures have become a crucial part of the earth's marine and coastal ecosystems. Sea turtles can be seen as the birds and bees of the sea; they assist with the flow of the ecosystem, allowing food chains to continue functioning as they do. Sea turtles improve the productivity and nutrient value of sea grass and prevent sponge beds from overpowering coral. They also help spread nutrients, from increasing recycled nutrients by breaking apart sea shells to carrying organisms on their backs for fish to feed on. If you want to learn more about how sea turtles maintain healthy ecosystems, click here.
What's Threatening Sea Turtles
Baby sea turtle by Thangaraj Kumaravel, on flickr
If turtles have been around for so long, why do they need help now? Unfortunately, the same species attempting to save sea turtles are also their biggest threat. Yep, blame the humans. Currently, three out of the seven species of sea turtles are critically endangered, two are endangered and one is considered vulnerable. Many sea turtles are accidentally caught in fishing nets and drown. Others are killed and sold on the black market for their meat and eggs. Garbage and beach development are two more human-created threats that are pushing sea turtles toward extinction.
What Volunteers Can Do
Enough with the depressing guilt trip. You never personally went up to a sea turtle and threw trash at it, but you can personally help with conservation efforts. If you're interested in wildlife conservation, volunteering on a sea turtle conservancy is the perfect opportunity for you to visit a new country and gain experience working with wildlife (and help turtles, of course!). Most volunteer programs don't require any experience or special education to volunteer with sea turtles; you'll be trained on site. Volunteers spend most of their time on the beach, usually at night, collecting data on sea turtles. If they're not on the beach, they can be found observing baby turtles at the local hatchery.
Take a look at more of what you could do if you decide to volunteer:
- Collect data for conservation efforts (measure, weigh and tag turtles)
- Help build a turtle hatchery
- Count eggs
- Take eggs to the local hatchery to be incubated
- Observe eggs and young sea turtles in the hatchery
- Release young sea turtles into the wild
- Create a public awareness campaign to educate locals
- Enter the ocean and identify adult turtles
- Help with general hatchery maintenance
How to Get Involved
If volunteering with sea turtles is something that interests you, go to GoAbroad.com to find verified programs you can volunteer with! GoAbroad lists sea turtle conservation opportunities in Costa Rica, Ecuador, Bali, and Malaysia, just to name a few! The duration of most programs ranges from one week to several months. Once you find a program that interests you, visit their website and learn how to apply!
Does sea turtle conservancy interest you? Tell us why in the comments below!
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