Eco-volunteering with turtles

Sea turtles around the world

Sea turtles are marine reptiles belonging to the Cheloniidae and Dermochelyidae families. They live in the ocean, but return to land to lay their eggs. In fact, sea turtles return to the beaches where they were born to lay their eggs. Females dig a nest in the sand, lay their eggs, then cover them with sand. After incubation, which varies according to species, the baby turtles emerge from the nest and head out to sea.

Seven species of sea turtle worldwide

There are seven species of sea turtle in the world. The best-known species are the green, loggerhead, hawksbill, leatherback, olive ridley, flatback and Kemp's ridley turtles. Sea turtles are often observed in the warm waters of tropical and subtropical regions. Unfortunately, sea turtles are endangered. Sea turtles face many threats, including habitat loss due to beach urbanization, marine pollution, poaching and climate change. Numerous organizations around the world are working to protect them. Efforts are being made to protect nesting beaches, set up marine protected areas and reduce plastic pollution in the oceans. Associations are also promoting sustainable fishing practices to minimize turtle bycatch.Sea turtles are crucial to the balance of marine ecosystems. Their conservation is important for maintaining marine biodiversity and the integrity of coastal ecosystems.

Volunteer programs to protect marine turtles

There are many turtle protection volunteer opportunities around the world. Here are the main activities of organizations that have set up ecovolunteering and ecotourism trips to protect sea turtles.

• Turtle nest protection: Many organizations work on coastal beaches to protect sea turtle nests. Volunteers can help monitor beaches at night, locate nests, mark them and protect eggs from predators.
• Care of injured or sick turtles: Sea turtle rehabilitation centers often welcome volunteers to help care for injured or sick turtles. This can involve cleaning enclosures, preparing food and monitoring turtle health.
• Research programs: Scientists need ecovolunteers to help them conduct research studies on turtle populations. This can include tagging and tracking turtles to collect data on their migrations and behavior.
• Awareness-raising and education: Some organizations need people to raise public awareness of turtle protection. This can include taking part in educational programs in schools or creating teaching materials.
• Conservation work: You may be asked to take part in conservation projects aimed at preserving turtle habitat, such as coastal zone restoration.

On this page, Cap sur l'Ecovolontariat offers you a selection of ecovolunteering programs focused on turtles. So you can find the mission that's right for you!