Turtle conservation
Project name:
Wildlife Sense
Project purpose:
Turtle conservation
Project activities:
-
animal interaction
-
data collection/analysis
Weekly cost (approx USD):
$
318
Direct benefits you gain:
-
field research skills
-
gain qualification and/or credits
-
remote scenic location
Noteworthy conservation points:
Wild Sun Rescue Center
Accommodation:
Shared apartment
When does the project run?
Facilities:
accommodation included, electricity, cooking facilities, western toilet, hot showers, near-by wifi, local shops
How long can I stay?
Requirements:
Details of the day-to-day life on the project:
How the weekly price is broken down (calculated at more expensive rate): The first two weeks at Wildlife Sense will cost €500, and every week thereafter is €150.
Volunteers pool a predetermined amount weekly and shop at the supermarket. The food share costs €20 - €30 per week and will cover breakfast, a light lunch, and dinner for most of the week. Or if you buy food individually this will cost around €50.
Upon your arrival, you will attend an orientation session where you will be introduced to the field leaders and all other researchers in your team. You will begin taking part in field surveys from the first morning after your arrival, initially with experienced members of your team who will give you the first in-field training. Your first three afternoons and evenings on the project will be packed with training and workshop sessions to get you acquainted with all aspects of our field work and with our supporting keys, guides, and manuals that will be available in the field.
As part of our team, you will survey the beaches of Kefalonia to find and protect sea turtle nests. Our survey teams cycle to the beaches in the early morning, walk along the golden sand looking for fresh turtle nests, then mark, measure, and protect all nests that were laid during the previous night. The primary goal is to protect sea turtle nests against accidental damage and monitor their progress throughout incubation to the hatching stage.
After all healthy hatchlings have left the nests, we conduct nest inventories to assess the fate of every egg and the hatching success of each nest. This helps us continuously improve our conservation methods and maximize the reproductive success of Kefalonia's sea turtle population.
Light pollution and storms are the two primary threats to sea turtle nests in Kefalonia. An important part of your field work will comprise of environmental studies to quantify light pollution and determine its source, and measuring the continuous changes of the nesting beaches and the distance of the water from nests. With this data, our team will be able to assess the risk to each nest and take timely actions to prevent any harm.
Reviews & ratings
Francisco
Volunteer
19 Dec 2021
An amazing project with amazing staff
I work as a travel agent, bringing volunteers to DAKTARI and other projects around the world. After helping a lot of volunteers fulfill their dreams of coming to South Africa, I managed to arrange 2 weeks to spend at the project. What a wonderful time I had starting with the staff who are so friendly and polite, the animals being taken care of as if they were family and the amazing food that was prepared catering to each of the volunteers individual needs. I can only say that if you are looking for an unique and quality experience involving a well thought out educational program and the preservation of native animal species, this is the one for you.
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Daktari Bush School & Wildlife Orphanage
leslie
Volunteer
19 Dec 2021
great experience
i had an enjoyable stay here in DAKTARI. be surrounded by wild animals is a chance and i also loved the teaching part of my stay
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Daktari Bush School & Wildlife Orphanage
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