SEA TURTLE VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES IN CABO VERDE

Are you a volunteer looking for a meaningful way to travel, experience new cultures, and contribute to an important cause?
Project Biodiversity needs a sea turtle conservation volunteer like you!

We offer a meaningful adventure working hands-on with wild nesting sea turtles and hatchlings.

If you’re a traveller, this destination offers an affordable travel experience with opportunities to live and work close to world-renowned beaches famous for their gorgeous scenery and shorelines — all while gaining valuable fieldwork experience in marine conservation biology or a related field.

For those looking to kick start their career in conservation or for a meaningful way to visit a new country, our sea turtle conservation programmes could be a chance to gain valuable experience in one the world's largest nesting site for Loggerheads while positively impacting conservation.

SEA TURTLE (NESTING)

SEA TURTLE (HATCHLING)

Our sea turtle conservation projects are based in Santa Maria, a popular tourist destination known for its beaches and water sports. This volunteering opportunity will not only provide you with good experience in conservation techniques but also allow you to make a real difference in the survival of sea turtles.
Take a look at our conservation programmes below!

Sea Turtle Conservation During Nesting Season

Your dedication as a turtle volunteer helps us protect some of the world’s most endangered turtle species and their nesting sites.
During the nesting season, you will have the opportunity to participate, alongside our sea turtle experts, in all aspects of our sea turtle conservation efforts, including night patrols to protect endangered sea turtles and collecting data on nesting sea turtle populations, turtle nest monitoring, hatchling releases, hatchery maintenance, and community outreach.

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Sea Turtle Conservation During Nesting Season

As a volunteer during the nesting season, you’ll be based in our field camp (living in a shared tent with other volunteers), with rest periods in apartments in Santa Maria. Volunteers work six days each week and will have one day/night off to explore the island, enjoy diving, surfing, and other water sports, or just lie on the beach and relax! Living under these conditions can be challenging, extremely tiring, and stressful, but it will also be exciting, sun-filled, and full of adventure!Learn more about the camp by clicking here!

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Sea Turtle Conservation During Nesting Season

• Desire to participate in conservation;
• At least 18 years old and a maximum of 45 years old;
• Must understand written and spoken English or Portuguese;
• Good level of physical fitness;
• High level of energy and flexibility;
• Able to cope with physically challenging conditions (camping, long walks, sleeping on the beach, working late nights, hot weather, insects);
• Ability to work and live with people of different backgrounds and nationalities.
We only take a limited number of volunteers each season, and we are looking for people who want to volunteer with sea turtles during their free time and are prepared for challenging but very fulfilling work.

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Sea Turtle Conservation During Nesting Season

Turtle volunteer contributions cover accommodation, utilities such as water and electricity, and meals during your working period. Meals are not provided on rest days. Please note that water and basic meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) are provided in the camp. Vegans and vegetarians are welcome!

Your contributions also provide critical funds needed to support the project's basic but essential needs, allowing us to patrol the beaches more effectively and ultimately protect more turtles.

One week: €275
Two weeks: €340
Three weeks: €400
€50 for each additional week

Upon your arrival, you will be required to pay a €100 refundable security deposit against loss or damage of project equipment. This €100 security deposit is not part of the volunteering fees and should not be transferred, as it is refundable by the end of your stay if unused.

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Sea Turtle Conservation During Nesting Season

Your participation will allow you to be directly responsible for saving numerous nesting turtles. After your experience with us, you'll be able to spread marine conservation awareness through first-hand knowledge and experience. In addition, your presence as a turtle volunteer in our field camp is a vital morale booster.

Our volunteers also have discounts on some local companies, such as a diving centre and a sustainable tourism company. This is a fun way to spend your time off while making unforgettable memories on Sal Island.

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Sea Turtle Conservation During Hatchling Season

Volunteering during the hatching season is one of the best ways to witness baby sea turtles hatch, help them reach the ocean, take a break, and relax while helping protect Loggerhead sea turtles.

You’ll have the opportunity to:

Stay overnight in our hatchery, monitoring hundreds of sea turtle nests and releasing thousands of baby sea turtles into the ocean.
Help with sea turtle nest excavations.
Collect and maintain data.
Participate in public outreach, promoting environmental awareness.

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Sea Turtle Conservation During Hatchling Season

• Desire to participate in our sea turtle conservation program;
• At least 18 years old and a maximum of 45 years old;
• Must understand written and spoken English;
• Good level of physical fitness;
• High level of energy and flexibility;
• Able to cope with physically challenging conditions (sleeping on the beach, long walks, working late nights, hot weather, insects);
• Ability to work and live with people of different backgrounds and nationalities.

APPLY NOW

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Sea Turtle Conservation During Hatchling Season

This programme requires sea turtle conservation volunteers to contribute funds toward their stay and the overall maintenance of our organisation.
Volunteer fees cover accommodation and utilities, with funds supporting essential project operations.

One week: €220
Two weeks: €270
Three weeks: €320
€50 for each additional week

Upon arrival, volunteers will be required to pay a €100 refundable security deposit against loss or damage of project equipment. This €100 security deposit is not part of the volunteering fees and should not be transferred, as it is refundable by the end of your stay if it is not used.

APPLY NOW

DOWNLOAD BROCHURE

Sea Turtle Conservation During Hatchling Season

Your participation will allow you to be directly responsible for saving numerous hatchlings. After your experience with us, you'll be able to spread awareness through first-hand knowledge. In addition, your presence as a turtle volunteer in our team is a vital morale booster for the project, team, and local community.

Our volunteers also have discounts on some local companies, such as a diving centre and a sustainable tourism company. This is a fun way to spend your time off while making unforgettable memories on Sal Island.

APPLY NOW

DOWNLOAD BROCHURE

Sea Turtle Conservation During Hatchling Season

As a volunteer during the hatching season, you’ll be based in our field camp (living in a shared tent with other volunteers), with rest periods in apartments in Santa Maria. Volunteers work six days each week and will have one day/night off to explore the island, enjoy diving, surfing, and other water sports, or just lie on the beach and relax! Living under these conditions can be challenging, extremely tiring, and stressful, but it will also be exciting, sun-filled, and full of adventure!Learn more about the camp by clicking here!

APPLY NOW

DOWNLOAD BROCHURE

Threats to Sea Turtle Populations

The marine and coastal environment is becoming increasingly threatening to the already endangered sea turtle species. This is concerning since most sea turtles are listed as vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The nesting population of loggerhead turtles in Cabo Verde are also listed as an endangered species unlike other populations around the world.

Turtle Species You Can Find on Sal Island

We are fortunate to have five out of seven sea turtle species in the waters around Cabo Verde:

Loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta)
Green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas)
Hawksbill sea turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata)
Leatherback sea turtles (Dermochelys coriacea)
Olive ridley sea turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea)

While these five endangered sea turtle species primarily nest here, you can spot sea turtles year-round, even after the sea turtle season ends in early December. Sal’s coral reefs are renowned for turtle sightings and are frequently seen during snorkelling trips.

Our Conservation Programmes and Work

A cornerstone of our mission is marine conservation and wildlife conservation programmes that tackle critical environmental issues affecting Sal Island’s marine animals, wildlife, and ecosystems.

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Monitoring Seabirds

Our bird monitoring team on Sal Island studies over seven bird species to gain deeper insights into their roles within the island’s marine ecosystem.

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Sustainable Fisheries

Through the Guardians of the Sea initiative and engaging fishmongers, we have seen a large increase in sustainable fishing across the three fishing communities of Sal. Through outreach and building relationships, we have the support of fishermen who help monitor and protect marine megafauna

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Protection of Key Habitats

Since we began in 2015, Project Biodiversity has focused on directly protecting sea turtles. It has expanded to include multiple initiatives to preserve and restore coastal habitats. These projects include co-management of Protected Areas, restoring dune habitats and preserving endangered plants.

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Still Have Questions?
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GET IN TOUCH

Help us save turtles by joining our sea turtle conservation programme!

Volunteer with sea turtles this year! Join us for a transformative conservation volunteering experience and make a tangible impact. Participating in one or more of our programs will directly contribute to efforts to protect sea turtles and their habitats.
Together, we can protect and save sea turtles in Sal, ensuring a brighter future for these magnificent creatures.
Get involved today and help us protect sea turtles for generations to come!

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