Giant Leatherback Turtle Conservation in Trinidad

  Trinidad & Tobago

Description: Nestled on the beautiful shores of Trinidad's northern coast lies a sleepy fishing village with an extraordinary secret. By day it's just like any other coastal town with boats scattered across the beach, nets laid out to dry on the rocks and fresh fish markets round every corner, but by night it transforms into a wildlife haven for one of the world's most endangered species - the Giant Leatherback Turtle. Between May and October, thousands of these impressive creatures return to the beach to lay their eggs and this project will give you the perfect opportunity to see them first hand. You'll be spending your evening patrolling the beach, looking for poachers or rebellious tourists without an official guide. This will provide ample opportunities to observe the turtles as they lay their eggs and you'll go home knowing that you have helped to protect them from extinction. With your days free to enjoy the sunshine and your weekends to explore the island, this project will allow you to effectively combine a relaxing beach holiday with a stint of worthwhile volunteering and you can rest assured that it will be an unforgettable experience.

Highlights: Project details:
This project is based in Grand Riviere on the North Eastern Coast of Trinidad, a rural village with a population of just 360. The village is in a lush valley, and the locals are employed in vegetable farming and fishing. This Caribbean sea coastline is the ideal breeding ground for giant leatherback turtles, and between March and August every year, thousands of this endangered species come ashore at night to nest and lay their eggs.

Why the project needs volunteers:
Turtle poaching is very common in Trinidad and before the conservation projects started up there was a high poaching rate. Night patrols, currently made up of local people, are needed to ward off poachers. The shifts are gruelling for the volunteers who patrol at night and work during the day. More volunteers are therefore needed to take some of this pressure off the local people, shortening the shifts and providing extra protection for the turtles.

Your role as a volunteer:
As a volunteer you will be required to take part in night patrols but you will have your daytimes free to rest and explore the beautiful area, where you can hike, swim, bird-watch or spend time on the beach along with other outdoor activities.

Where the project is based:
You will be located in Grand Riviere on the Caribbean coast of Trinidad. You will either be staying in a homestay or at a small guesthouse, dependent on the number of volunteers travelling at any given time. This is a small, remote village and you will not have access to internet or international telephone (unless you buy a cheap mobile) but will be able to arrange excursions around the island and to larger towns on your days off.

Please book your flight to arrive into Trinidad (airport code POS) on the advertised arrival date to ensure your airport pickup. Alternatively, speak to your Desk Advisor for advice on flying into Tobago (TAB) and transferring to Trinidad.

Qualifications: What kind of skills you need to go on this type of project:
You do not need any specific skills for this project, but you must love the outdoors and be happy to live in an isolated rural area with few luxuries. You should also be willing to get involved with the local community. Please note there is no guarantee that you will see any turtles but it is more than likely you will come into contact with them during your placement.

Cost in US$: $ 1,726.05

Experience Required: no

This Program is open to World Wide Participants.

Participants Travel to Trinidad & Tobago Independently

Typically Participants Work Independently

Post Services Include:

• Alumni Network

i-to-i Meaningful Travel's Mission Statement: Founded in 1994, i-to-i is an award-winning organization providing unique opportunities for you to travel, work and live abroad. Thousands of travelers aged 18 to 80 have joined our volunteer vacations and over 15,000 have learned to Teach English as a Foreign Language through our tailor-made TEFL courses. With over 300 projects on 4 continents, you can join the worldwide i-to-i volunteer community on an extended adventure in areas such as teaching, community development, sports coaching, conservation, building or internships in tourism, marketing, journalism, or health.

Year Founded: 1994