Turtles of Uruguay

Placement number:  0107
Location:   Uruguay
Preferred Languages:   Spanish or English
Date: January to March
Requirements: None
Minimum Period: 1 week

Karumbé is a word that means 'turtle' in the Guaraní, the language of the local aboriginal people that used to live on this part of the Uruguayan coastline. The project was started in 1999, is integrated by biologists, biology students, veterinarians, school teachers, fishermen, and researchers. Up to now, Karumbé is the only project that researches and conserves sea turtles in our country.

Currently, our project is part of CID/CEUR environmental NGO that was founded in 1992. It works mainly with projects related to environmental research, education, and social support in Uruguay.

Role of Volunteer

Besides the strict research activities, conservation works are conducted, getting quite in touch with the fishermen community where the field station is settled. Volunteers will be working shoulder to shoulder with the 2 researchers who will be coordinating the fieldwork, getting involved in all tasks involved in the project work. 

Duties: The volunteers will have to help the researchers in the following activities: 

1. Sighting and capture, with nets, juveniles of green turtle, in areas next to the shore. 
2. Once a week, 12-km walk, searching for stranded sea turtles 
3. Help researchers with necropsies of any dead individual 
4. Collect data of the artisanal fishery carried out in this locality, onboard or at port 
5. Get involved in talks and workshops for the community and tourists. 
6. Rehabilitation of sick and weak sea turtles. 
7. Help in the field station duties such us cleaning and cooking

Cost

Volunteers will be expected to subsidise the cost of food and accommodation.  we charge

US$5 for food each day and
US$10 for accommodation each day

Travel

Volunteers are expected to travel to the site by there own using local transport to the specific location.