Volunteers are needed to work with juvenile green turtles in Uruguay

Contact: Mariana Rios email: maririos34@gmail.com
WWW Link: www.geocities.com/karumbe1999 or www.karumbe.org

Period: January 1st – March 31st 2007

Locations: Cerro Verde and Valizas/Cabo Polonio (Rocha - Uruguay).

Background Information: Karumbé project has been monitoring these
two foraging and developmental areas of juvenile green turtles
(Chelonia mydas) for more than 6 years. In these sites the
volunteers will carry out research and conservation activities,
getting quite in touch with the fishermen community where the field
stations are settled. Volunteers will be working shoulder to
shoulder with the 2 researchers who will be coordinating the
fieldwork, getting involved in all tasks included in the project
work.

It is not necessary to speak Spanish; however we encourage
candidates to know at least the basics.

Site Information: Cerro Verde and Valizas is a landscapes of
protected areas (Bañados del Este and Coastal Fringe - Biosphere
Reserves). In this particular case the green turtle can be
considered effective 'umbrellas' for broader biodiversity. Cerro
Verde and Valizas comprises high diversity of fauna and plant
communities including relict vegetation, marine mammals (as
Fransiscana dolphins, Bottlenose dolphins) and seabirds. Thus it
must be considered a priority area for protection and included in
future management plans for the conservation of these marine
ecosystems.
Valizas/Cabo Polonio where we can find a huge extension of sand
dunes, one of the most important of South America. This coastal area
is composed by an insular system which hosts the largest sea lions
population of Latin America.

Duties: The volunteers will conduct the following activities:
1. Sighting and capturing, with nets, juveniles of green turtle, in
areas next to the shore.
2. Walks (10-20 km.), searching for stranded sea turtles.
3. Help researchers with necropsies of any dead individual.
4. Collect data of the artisanal fishery carried out in this
locality.

5. Get involved in talks and workshops for the community and
tourists.
6. Rehabilitation of sick and weak sea turtles.
7. Help in the field station duties such us cleaning and cooking.

Requirements: Candidates should have (a)
1.Willingness to work with nature in a remote place, surrounded by
beautiful landscapes.

2. Good physical conditions: know how to swim and be able to walk
long distances on loose sand.

3. Willingness to get to know a different culture, getting involved
into conservation activities with this fishing community.


4. It is not necessary previous experience in handling sea turtles,
training will be given as soon as arrived in the field station.

Benefits/Costs: The cost of this volunteer work, which includes
accommodation and 3 meals a day, is U$S 15 (12 euros).

Volunteers must pay their own travel expenses to Montevideo-Uruguay
and the trip to the field station.

For more information contact:

Mariana Rios, Field Coordinator
If interested ask for the volunteer's instructive at
maririos34@gmail.com or karumbemail@gmail.com

Karumbé Project, Giannattasio km 30,500
Cel - 099917811 – Canelones - Uruguay.