Volunteer Program with Manatees, Dolphins and other Endangered Species in Beautiful Places in Colombia!

  Colombia

Bogota

Durations of Program: 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks and 9-12 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 5-8 weeks
Dates: all year round

Description: At the moment Omacha Foundation offers 3 volunteer programs where you can take part:
* The Amazon program (in the amazing region of the Amazon!)
* The Caribbean program (where you can help with the conservation of manatees, dolphins and other species)
* The Orinoco program (take care of animals like otters, jaguars, river dolphins.

All these programs take place in different cities and municipalities of Colombia.

In general,
- you will be provided by training in techniques and methodologies to estimate river dolphin abundance by using of GPS, photo-identification, autopsies and collection of biological material.
- Support the researchers in field collecting information and biological material besides learning skills of study for the species and eventually first aids for fauna.
- Establish use of habitats, abundance and behaviour of these species.
- Tracking and follow-up of mammals, interaction with species like manatees, dolphins, fishes, birds among others. Use of GPS.
- Help out in general at the stations,
- Interaction with other species such as manatees, turtles, fishes, birds and insects
- Supporting the work with local indigenous communities
- Routes around the distribution areas of the species like rivers, tubes, marshes, swamps, sea and nearby zones of tourist interest.
- Complementary activities: Knowledge of the popular culture, music and folklore of the Region, crafts, superstition and beliefs.

Learn, Help and Have fun! For more info, please contact us.

Highlights:
* Amazon Program

What do we do?
The Omacha Foundation centre in the Amazon region is located in the municipality of Puerto Narino and it has a laboratory where we classified and keep all the biological material for further research. In this centre we also provide educational and informative campaigns to the communities, so we can generate a sense of belonging and care of their environment and especially for the aquatic fauna.

Since 1987, the Foundation Omacha has been making a continuous monitoring of threatened species such as river dolphins Inia geoffrensis and Sotalia fluviatilis, manatees Trichechus inunguis, otters Lontra longicaudis, turtles Podocnemis expansa, P. unifilis, P. sextuberculata, Caymans Melanusuchus niger, Pirarucu Arapaima gigas among others, in search of their conservation.

What will I do?
- Help monitoring populations of dolphins Inia geoffrensis (River dolphin) and Sotalia fluviatilis.
- Establish use of habitats, abundance and behaviour of these species.
- You will be provided by training in techniques and methodologies to estimate river dolphin abundance by using of GPS, photo-identification, autopsies and collection of biological material.
- Help out in general at the station
- Support the data gathering of alligator Melanusuchus niger through night-time monitoring and interviews with fishermen.
- Interaction with other species such as manatees, turtles, fishes, birds and insects
- Supporting the work with local indigenous communities such as Ticunas, Cocamas and Yaguasal on issues related with of improving production of handicrafts, eco-tourism and fishing agreements.

* Caribbean Program

What do we do?
One of the main objectives of the Caribbean centre is create a conscience of conservation and managing of the aquatic ecosystems for the fishermen's communities, focused principally in the manatee Trichechus manatus manatus and the otter Lontra longicaudis. We determine the frequency of use of the areas where there was identified the presence of the manatee and the otter in the zone, in order to determine sensitive areas for the species.

We also have been doing studies on coastal dolphins Tursiops truncatus and Sotalia guianensis, to evaluate their distribution, use of habitat and their behavior in the Gulf. Also, in the region of the low Sinu, department of Cordoba, we developed the Plan of Managing and Conservation of the manatee Trichechus manatus and the otter Lontra longicaudis, in order to achieve the managing and the conservation of these species in the zone.

What will I do?
- Support the researchers in field collecting information and biological material besides learning skills of study for the species and eventually first aids for fauna.
- Tracking and follow-up of mammals, interaction with species like manatees, dolphins, fishes, birds among others. Use of GPS.
- Help in educational activities like workshops, programs and campaigns directed for the children, young men (women) and adults.
- Design and execute programs of environmental education.
- Support the work with local communities (interviews, participative workshops for fishermen, ranchers, farmers and indigenous
- Help out in general at the station.
- Routes around the distribution areas of the species like rivers, tubes, marshes, swamps, sea and nearby zones of tourist interest.
Complementary activities: Knowledge of the popular culture, music and folklore of the Caribbean Region, crafts, superstition and beliefs.

* Orinoco Program

What do we do?
The Foundation Omacha initiated since 1992 a series of projects in the rivers Arauca, Orinoco, Meta and Bita. Since 1996 we have been making researches in a constant way, at the biological research station of Port Carreno (Bojonawi Natural Reserve), department of the Vichada, limited by Venezuela.

In the Orinoquia, we are making studies on river dolphins Inia geoffrensis, however the enormous potential of the zone has allowed the research of other species as giant otters or water dogs Pteronura brasiliensis, caymans Cayman crocodilus, turtles Podocnemis expansa and manatees Trichechus manatus, to determine their) abundance, distribution, use of the habitat and behaviour. We also develop characterizations of fish's populations with commercial and handcrafted use.

What will I do?
- Help in the collection of information about the fauna of the region
- Support the initiatives of sectors that look for a major harmony with their environment.
- Help out in general at the station.
- Collaborate with the conservation of wetlands and with the strengthening of environmental projects.

Qualifications: We don't discriminate based on age, religion or any other characteristic. We simply hope to have enthusiastic volunteers who would like to have some experience in research, who would like to learn about manatees, dolphins, otters and other endangered species and their environment, who want to improve Spanish, experience a new culture and be ready to take on any tasks that may be required.

Minimum Education: High School

Cost in US$: 700 USD/month

Experience Required: no

Age Range: from 18 to 60

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel to Colombia Independently

Typically Participants Work Independently Or in Groups

Application Process Involves:

• Online Application plus Application Assessment
• Resume

Fundacion Omacha's Mission Statement: We are a not governmental, non-profit-making organization dedicated to the research and conservation of natural resources emphatically in aquatic ecosystems. Our work is based on the integration of biological knowledge generated by our researchers, on integration by the cultural knowledge of the local communities (aborigens, colonists). The majority of the species with which we work are in category of Threat. If you have a passion for animals you're probably keen to protect their habitats too, and this opportunity gives you experience of both. We don't discriminate based on age, religion or any other characteristic. We simply hope to have enthusiastic volunteers who would like to have some experience in the field, want to improve Spanish, experience a new culture and be ready to take on any tasks that may be required. Your volunteer work will support the knowledge of endangered species and the action for sustainable use and conservation of the aquatic ecosystems and its associated biodiversity.

Year Founded: 1988