Sea turtles are currently facing great threats in the coasts of the Pacific Ocean right now: poaching, pollution, lack of available mating partners, among others. The main objective of this project is diminishing the impact of all of those threats through many activities volunteers perform, so that the different endangered Sea Turtle species that nest in this area will be able to sustainably keep on existing in the area. This project is supported by volunteers, local students and residents, and biologists.
This project is an extremely valuable and enriching experience to any volunteers because it allows them to directly collaborate with the survival of many endangered species, while also acquiring first-hand scientific knowledge, such as turtle nesting habits, scientific data collection methods, identifying different turtle species, among many others. Additionally, you will have the unique chance of immersing yourself in the local Panamanian culture found in the communities you will be staying at.
In the Pacific coast of Panama, turtles tend to nest from mid-June until February. The turtles that nest at this site are:
- Olive Ridley Turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea)
- Hawksbill Turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata)
- Green or black Turtles (Chelonia mydas)
- Leatherback Turtles (Dermochelys olivacea)
This is a particularly important nesting site, as four out of the seven known species of Marine Turtles nest in this area.
As a volunteer, you will be guided by a biologist working as a coordinator during the project; you may expect to perform tasks such as: preparing sand for nurseries, protect female turtles while they lay their eggs, measure turtles, identify the type of turtle species, relocate eggs into the nursery, follow up and take care of eggs within the nursery, release any turtles that hatch to the beach, patrolling nesting areas at night (usually between 22:00 and 00:00), give maintenance to areas where the project is developed (beaches, nursery stations..), giving workshops at local schools and to the general community about the importance of caring for the environment and turtles, among many other tasks that may arise based on specific needs that may arise.
