Turtles

Sea turtle conservation volunteering
Eco-volontaire lists carefully selected volunteer projects dedicated to the protection of sea turtles, run by local NGOs, associations or specialised volunteering agencies that we have vetted for their ethics and their real impact on biodiversity. Six of the seven sea turtle species are threatened, mainly by poaching, fishing nets, plastic pollution and the loss of nesting beaches.
What you can do:
– Costa Rica: patrol nesting beaches, protect nests and release hatchlings on the Osa Peninsula, at Punta Mala and Playa Hermosa.
– Mexico: fight poaching with local communities at Chacahua and Ventanilla, on the Oaxaca coast.
– Asia: protect sea turtles on the beaches of Galle in Sri Lanka, on a quiet island in Thailand, or by kayak from a Malaysian village.
– Australia: care for injured sea turtles at a rehabilitation centre.
– Europe: help protect the sea turtles and dolphins of the Adriatic Sea in Italy.
– Canada: care for native freshwater turtles at a rehabilitation centre near Toronto.
Our approach: volunteers follow the guidance of local scientists and conservationists. No handling of turtles for photos, and hatchling releases follow strict protocols.
Who it’s for: most projects are open to volunteers aged 18 and over, some from 16. Summer camps in Costa Rica and Bali are designed for teenagers. No scientific background is needed.
Languages: English on all projects, plus the local language and, for some projects, French.
How it works: contact the partner organisation directly through Eco-volontaire, free of charge. You book with them at their own price: using Eco-volontaire adds nothing to what you pay.