Description

Expedition Summary
Help Earthwatch save the world's largest turtle from extinction, working side-by-side with leading scientists and a local conservation group, Nature Seekers.

Expedition Details
Each night under swaying palms and bright tropical stars, your team will patrol sections of the beach with the staff and volunteers of Nature Seekers. In peak season, you may find as many as 150 sea turtles nesting each night. At every encounter, you'll tag, measure, and weigh these turtleswhich can grow as long as 2 meters/6.5 feet and weigh up to 900 kilograms/2000 lbs!--and collect other data crucial for local and worldwide conservation efforts. Since green and hawskbill turtles also nest in the area, you may record some data on them, as well.

After sleeping late in each morning, you can spend your afternoon visiting the howler monkeys in a nearby forest, swimming in the river, hiking the local trails, or bird watching. You will also enjoy getting to know the people of this friendly Caribbean island.

Meals and Accommodations
You'll share double rooms and enjoy the modern conveniences of flush toilets and showers in a large and comfortable guesthouse next to the Nature Seekers office. Hearty home-cooked meals of traditional fare, including Trinidadian chicken and beans in brown sauce, are bountiful and delicious. The guesthouse is a 20-minute ride through the Matura forest from the field site, so keep your eyes open each day to spot owls, fireflies, frogs, and a whole range of jungle wildlife!

About the Research Area
Trinidad is the southernmost island in a chain of islands stretching from Florida to Venezuela. The island is separated from Venezuela by the Gulf of Paria, one of the finest natural harbors in the world. The Gulf of Paria is entered from the north by the Boca del Dragon (Dragons Mouth) and from the south by the Boca de la Sierpe (Serpents Mouth).

Matura is a rural village located in the east-northeast of Trinidad. The area has a thick forest with sandy, gravelly soil. Several rivers and a fishing spot can be found nearby. Matura Beach, a protected area, is 3 miles/4.8 kilometers from the village. It has an array of wildlife, both plants and animal, and a tropical climate. As a small village, Matura is a friendly place and people can wander about freely.

The area has a wealth of intrinsic natural resources and attractions that rank high among the destination sites in Trinidad and Tobago. The beautiful Rio Seco Waterfall is at the end of an amazing two-hour hike through a pristine forest featuring pawi, toucans, orange-winged parrots, red howler monkeys, otters, and many other species. But by far the most popular environmental resource in the area is the nesting activity of the endangered leatherback turtles.

Highlights

This tropical island off the coast of Venezuela is known for its vibrant ethnic diversity and rich cultural events. It is also the site of one of the most important nesting beaches for endangered leatherback turtles, enormous reptiles that can weigh a ton and dive deeper than many whales. Each year, more than 2,000 female leatherbacks haul themselves onto Matura Beach to lay their eggs.

With leatherback populations declining more quickly than any other large animal in modern history, each turtle is precious. You can help an internationally acclaimed community organization, Nature Seekers, patrol this nesting beach and collect information on visiting and (depending on the season) hatching turtles. Take this opportunity to get up close to what's been called "the last living dinosaur, while helping prevent its extinction.

Travel Types

• Eco Tours
• Ecology
• Environmental Studies
• Volunteering
• Photography
• Tours

Qualifications

No experience is necessary - all you will need is enthusiasm and the desire to make a difference. For over 40 years Earthwatch Institute has pioneered the involvement of ordinary people in peer-reviewed scientific research worldwide. By joining an Earthwatch Expedition, you have a unique opportunity to get up-close and personal with some of the world's rarest animals and visit remote and beautiful locations, while directly supporting conservation science. We offer life enhancing experiences in nearly 50 countries each year, with projects for teens, adults, and families.

Languages

• English

Cost in US$:

2,795 USD

Cost Includes:

• Emergency evacuation services
• Excursions
• Food
• Housing
• In-country orientation/Training
• In-country staff support
• Medical insurance
• Medical services
• Pre-departure orientation/Training
• Registration fees
• Written materials abroad
• Written materials pre-departure

Program Fees Include:

Our volunteers not only contribute essential funds that help to cover the cost of the research, but also, through their inspiration and effort, they provide the people power without which many of our vital projects simply couldn't take place. We are a non-profit organization but accommodation, meals, insurance, training and transport in the field are also included in your contribution cost. As a non-profit organization that supports scientific research, your contribution and airfare costs are usually tax-deductible for U.S. citizens.

Experience Required

no

Volunteer Types

Typical Volunteer

Earthwatch expeditions appeal to a variety of people, including students, retirees, families, educators, and anyone seeking an exciting journey that enables them to give back to the environment. Our expeditions have a wide range of activity levels, from hiking intensive to easy expeditions with limited physical activity. There is an Earthwatch expedition out there for everyone!

Age Range

Teen (age 15 - 18) and adult (age 18-90) teams available.

This Program is open to

Worldwide, American, Asian, Australian, Canadian, European, Kiwi and South African Participants. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals.

Typical Living Arrangements

• Guest House

Participants Travel

Independently

Typically Participants Work

in Groups of 8-15

Scholarships are Available

Very limited fellowships may be available, mainly for high-school students and educators. Visit our website for more information.

Application Process Involves

• Other
• Physical Exam/Health Records

Typically The Application Process Time is

Brief

Post Services Include

• Alumni Network

Earthwatch Institute's Mission Statement

Our mission is to inspire connections between people and the environment by engaging them in worldwide scientific field research and education. These efforts will promote the understanding and action necessary for a sustainable environment. Earthwatch enables scientists to pursue research goals and members of the public to gain hands-on experience with science. We believe it is essential that people participate in solving the environmental challenges we face.

Year Founded

1971