Sri Lanka Sea Turtle Conservation

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1 Sri Lanka Sea Turtle Conservation Combine experiencing one of the most enchanting parts of the world with joining a conservation programme making a sincere and practical contribution to the fate of endangered sea turtles. Discover Sri Lanka, a glittering jewel of an island nestled in the aquamarine waters of the Indian Ocean. Help in the conservation and protection of some of the most appealing and fascinating marine creatures found in existence- sea turtles. This is an incredible chance to combine experiencing one of the most enchanting parts of the world, an island that inspired the word 'serendipity' (which means the faculty of making happy and unexpected discoveries), with joining a conservation programme that is making a sincere and practical contribution to the fate of these charming, and sadly threatened marine animals. PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS Experience the mystery of the island of Sri Lanka Explore the coastal environment of this fascinating country Contribute to conservation efforts for a number of species of turtle FAST FACTS Location Activities Transport Sri Lanka Sea turtle conservation, protection and release Egg collection Locating &excavating nests Rescuing &rehabilitating injured or sick hatchlings Scientific monitoring Visitor education Airport pick up

2 Accommodation Homestay WHAT DOES THE PROJECT DO? You will be based at a new exciting and expanding sea turtle conservation and protection centre in Sri Lanka. Marine wildlife faces many challenges, one of the biggest being the unregulated use of marine habitats, which threatens many species, including five species of sea turtle, all highly endangered, that nest along the coastline of Sri Lanka. Having suffered massive overexploitation for eggs, meat and shells, the threats to these beautiful creatures can be attributed to a variety of sources; the extensive development of tourism, the unsustainable harvesting of turtle feeding grounds and the polluting and bleaching of the coral reefs, however the continued exploitation of both turtle meat and eggs throughout the country remains the single biggest threat: surveys have revealed that egg collection rates have been unsustainably high for at least the last 30 years. Despite Sri Lanka being the first country in the world to instigate and establish a wildlife sanctuary, the turtle population has suffered a massive decline that has threatened its existence altogether. As a volunteer you will be working with teams protecting critical nesting sites. WHAT WILL I BE DOING? Introduction week Your first week is designed to give you an opportunity to explore the history and culture of Sri Lanka, and of course Kandy, with visits to local sites of special interest such as nearby markets, sample the local cuisine, familiarise yourself with Sri Lankan customs and meet the local people, as well as hopefully learning some key phrases to help you get by. Following this wonderful opportunity to fully immerse yourself in your new surroundings, your briefings for the volunteer work will begin along with language classes and cooking lessons throughout the week. Work Schedule Your day to day duties will be dependent upon the current focus of the project at the time of your visit but could typically involve turtle egg collection, scientific monitoring and recording, working within the hatchery, feeding and cleaning duties, releasing turtles back into the sea and educating visitors about the project. You could also get the opportunity to learn about marine flora and take part in organised beach clean-ups. Your days will be long but certainly rewarding, working 6am until 5pm, Monday to Friday.

3 WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I ARRIVE? Upon arrival at Colombo Airport you will be greeted by a representative of Frontier-Sri Lanka and driven to your accommodation, where you will be based for the duration of your introduction week. Once acclimatised and settled into the Sri Lankan way of life after your introduction week, you will head to your accommodation near to the project site. Please aim to arrive on the Sunday before your project begins and depart on the Saturday after your project concludes. If you decide to travel outside of these dates then you will be responsible for any associated costs. WHERE WILL I BE STAYING? Your accommodation throughout your placement, both during the introduction week and the work placement itself, will be will be basic, dorm style rooms (single gender) with bathroom and toilet facilities, both in Kandy and at the coast. You will be able to learn about the Sri Lankan culture, improve your language skills and experience the Sri Lankan way of life. Your accommodation will be clean, secure and comfortable, and you will be sharing a room with fellow volunteers and will have access to basic facilities. WHAT WILL I BE EATING? Three meals a day are included in the programme and will be typical of Sri Lanka's cuisine, mainly consisting of boiled or steamed rice served with curry. Curries in Sri Lanka are typically made with meat, fish, vegetable and even fruit, and are made using coconut milk. A typical meal consists of a main curry, as well as several other curries made with vegetable and lentils and served with side dishes such as pickles and chutneys.

4 COSTS 2 weeks US$ 1,295 Extra week US$ 545 DEPARTURE DATES The project begins on the 1st and 3rd Monday of every month, so please aim to arrive on the Sunday before. Programmes end on Saturdays. This project is not available during July and August. The project does not run on public holidays, please check when applying. DURATION From 2 weeks This project is available throughout the Christmas period WHAT'S INCLUDED Before you go Pre-departure support Travel &medical advice &documentation Equipment advice Discounted medical kit Free Frontier t-shirt In-country Accommodation Food Local orientation Project training In-country emergency support 24-hour international HQ back-up AIRPORT INFORMATION Nearest airport(s): Colombo Bandaranaike Apt (CMB) CONTACT INFORMATION

5 Call us on (UK) / (US) Mail us on info@frontier.ac.uk Check out our social media here: Project details were correct at the time this document was generated. Price, dates and other details are subject to change. Please see our website for current details for this project.