Boomers Abroad

Description

The Cape Verde islands lie like an exquisite jewel necklace scattered in the endless blue of the vast Atlantic Ocean. Positioned off the coast of Western Africa, its culture is a heady mix of Brazilian and Senegalese influences; you will find the hypnotising rhythm of South America infiltrating the French Colonial and Moorish elements, inspired by Dakar's ancient mystique. The waters that surround this serene island archipelago are abundant in marine life, including six of the eight sea turtle species. These placid creatures have followed ocean currents to the shores of the islands for more than 150 million years, the females seeking out the safety of the beaches to lay their precious cargo of eggs in a carefully dug nest. Tragically however, in recent decades thousands of these mothers to be have been slaughtered before they are able to lay, literally crawling into the arms of the poachers. This vital project seeks to provide an action group to patrol beaches, rescue injured turtles, monitor numbers and much more.

* What Will I Be Doing?

Your work on the project will take place mainly from dusk until dawn. It will include a wide range of activities that all contribute to the successful monitoring and protection of six species of sea turtle Leatherback, Green, Olive Ridley, Kemp's Ridley, Loggerhead and Hawksbill. The site has been selected on account of its suitability and high biodiversity value.

The activities that you are participating in include:

* contributing ecological and other information to the national environmental databases
* identification and population assessments of the different species
* establishing the location and excavating nests
* rescuing and rehabilitating injured or sick hatchlings
* day and night beach patrols to prevent the poaching of eggs

Depending on when you join you may find yourself working alongside other committed and highly motivated volunteers who all share a passion for travelling in developing countries and saving endangered life. Your project staff will be experienced and friendly individuals dedicated to turtle preservation.

If this is your first time doing conservation work, don't worry! It will only take a short while for you to feel totally at home on camp and confident with the conservation work. Although the work is intense you'll find that living in such a beautiful and inaccessible environment alongside friends who share your passion for turtle conservation will be the experience of a lifetime!