CICI
PNG Turtle Conservation
Alotau, Papua New GuineaVolunteerPosted Feb 25, 2020
Volunteer
About this opportunity
This project is to monitor the sea turtle populations at the Conflict Islands, through the development of a long-term tagging program.
THIS IS NOT A HOLIDAY! Expect to become nocturnal as all field work is conducted in the night as this is when the female turtles come up to nest and when the tagging is done. You will be hands on with the turtles every night that they are found, where your tasks include tagging, relocating eggs and collecting data. Educational presentations will be presented by our in house marine biologists, where you will learn about turtles, biology, and our experimental designs.
You are expected to have a good level of fitness as you are required to do ALOT of beach walking when you are patrolling for turtles. You must be able to work with a very flexible schedule. Turtles work on their own timing and do not wait for us. Some female turtles can take up to 6 attempts to lay a nest which may take 4-5 hours. they also don't care about the weather and will nest in the pouring rain or on nights where it is very hot with no wind, working with nature in the elements is all part of the experience.
A part of the experience is also working in the day in our turtle nursery and hatcheries. Here you will collecting hatchling's, measuring them, doing health checks, feeding, cleaning tanks and doing food prep. All of the data collected, both on night patrols and from the hatchery and nursery needs to be entered on to our computer data base, is what you as a volunteer you will also be participating in.
You will have free time to enjoy yourself, go diving and snorkeling or just relax on the islands. We will also spend a day in a village doing community awareness where you will have access to local tours, sightseeing activities and possibly get a ride in a traditional outrigger sailing kenu. Please ensure to bring small denominations to buy local produce, souvenirs and gifts to help supplement villages.
This program is extremely important as, if we continue along at this rate and nothing is done the hawksbill turtle will be extinct by 2030!!
Typical day
SLEEP IN – light breakfast
Data entry, beach clean up or nursery work
Dive training
Lunch 11:30am
Free time or Data Entry
Dinner 5pm
6pm Night Briefing, planning and scheduling
Patrol Times are very dynamic and needs to be very flexible as we work around when the turtles can nest which is around the tides. The turtles can only nest on or around high tide as the islands are surrounded by shallow fringing reefs.
Free-time activities
You can kayak, snorkel, scuba, stand up paddle board and see the sights on the islands
