Sea Turtle Nest Monitoring & Conservation

Role Overview:

Sea turtles in the Galapagos are at high risk during breeding season for a number of reasons: the adults are near the coast at this time, making them vulnerable to being hit by propellers of passing boats, and hatchlings are vulnerable to introduced predators to the island, such as feral cats and pigs.  Volunteers help protect the turtles and provide data that will add to ongoing research and community education efforts to raise awareness and care for these animals. We collaborate with the Galapagos National Park, an established, local organization, to provide an opportunity for IOI to invest in conservation and social development through a local lens, and to give volunteers like you the opportunity to jump right into the heart of the work.

As the turtle nest monitor, you will work directly with Galapagos National Park staff and take critically important nesting baseline data as well as help protect them from poachers. Nesting occurs on the beaches so you will be based on the beach looking for turtles and new nests as well as studying already identified nests. You will work side-by-side with staff to conduct night patrols of the beach, looking for nesting sea turtles and collecting data necessary for conservation of the species. The fact that you show up everyday shows to community members that there is value in conservation.  Tasks will include:

• Identifying species (hawksbill or green).
• Determining nesting patterns.
• Monitoring nest sizes.

Requirements:

• Basic level of Spanish.
• A genuine passion for animal conservation.
• Ability to work independently as well as in a team.
• Flexible schedule that accounts for the day to day needs of working with a local institution.
• Physical ability to work outdoors with potentially high sun, element, and temperature exposure.
• Ability to independently collect and register data.
• Volunteers will be provided what materials they need.

Schedule:

4 hours/day: 6:00AM-8:00AM (first light) and 8:00PM-10:00PM (dark)
(Position can be combined with another position during the day at no extra cost)

Volunteers will have an atypical work schedule because turtle movement happens at first light or just after sunset, so you will have to rise early to begin work.  Arrive at the beach at 6am and work with park staff and other turtle monitors to walk the beach looking for turtles and new nests, study identified nests for size and activity, and over time, write up determined nesting patterns. 

Have the day to explore, adventure, or relax on the beach. Go to lunch in one of the restaurants we partner with - you choose where you want to go, sign in, and at the end of the month, we pick up the tab.  Spend the rest of the afternoon playing volleyball, learning to cook local recipes with your host family (if you choose to stay with one), and watching the sunset from the beach.  Return to work after sunset from 8pm to 10pm.

There is a lot to do in your free time!  You can definitely look up tours in Isabela - there are many snorkel tours, scuba, hiking in the volcano, etc. There are also free things to do like snorkeling at the concha de perla, walking to the muro de lagrimas, various wetlands trails, etc.   It is easy and inexpensive to rent bikes and surfboards. You will quickly and easily make friends here - it is a very community-driven place so people spend a lot of time with others and there is always fun stuff to do. We also have other short volunteer opportunities like environmental education days, helping clear invasive species with the National Park, and more that happen frequently but are just one day/one afternoon activities that we love to have extra help with.