Volunteer Information Pack: Apo Island Turtle Research & Conservation 2018
Project: Apo Island Turtle Project Location: Apo Island, the Philippines Starting date: Year-round Cost per month: 450 USD Key requirements: Freediving skills to 7 m, able to work long hours at sea, 21 years old, marine/biology background preferred. About LAMAVE Large Marine Vertebrates Research Institute Philippines (LAMAVE) is independent non-profit non-government organization dedicated to the conservation of marine megafauna and the marine environment in the Philippines. We strive for conservation through scientific research, policy and education. LAMAVE and turtles in the Philippines The Philippines is home to 5 of the 7 species of marine turtles, all of which are listed as Vulnerable, Endangered or Critically Endangered under the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Green, hawksbill, olive Ridley and leatherback turtles can be found across the archipelago, whereas loggerheads remain a mystery though known to occur in the country. LAMAVE has worked with turtles since 2011. Initial work focused on turtle rescue, in particular, responding to stranding reports as well as conducting an Information Education and Communication Campaign in the province of Bohol, to raise awareness on sea turtle biology and conservation. In 2013 LAMAVE started investigating the reliability of using photographs of the facial scutes of individual green turtles (Chelonia mydas) as a form of identification (see photos). Previously, for sea turtles, individual identification has typically relied on the attachment of plastic or metal tags to the flippers, a methodology that normally involves the live capture and handling of the animals, which could result in injury and stress. Over a number of years, our team has photographed the facial scutes of turtles encountered in the Philippines, building a photo-id catalog of known individuals.
Apo Island Turtle Research and Conservation LAMAVE are currently providing support to the Apo Island Protected Landscape and Seascape Management Board, to understand how the turtle population use the protected area. Working in collaboration with the Apo Island Protected Landscape and Seascape Management Board (AIPLS), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the local community, our researchers are collecting daily data on the individual turtles feeding in the islands waters. One technique they are using is photo-identification which allows us to recognise individuals from the pattern of their scutes on the side of their head. These photos allow us to recognise returning turtles as well as new individuals, information that helps us understand the local population and their residency patterns. Why we need you Volunteers are trained to a high standard to collect research data, which contributes to LAMAVEs research and conservation outputs (which can range from scientific publications, to research findings to advise on policy and management of species, tourism and protected areas). Training/what you learn By the end of your time with LAMAVE, you will be very knowledgeable in turtle biology, ecology and research techniques that can be applied to these species. Photo-ID is a great non/minimallyinvasive technique to study a wide array of taxa. You will learn how to do this effectively on turtles, and learn how these data can be used to understand residency patterns, and how these turtles might link up to other areas. You will also learn how to study their behavior though focal follows so that we can get a better understanding of behavior of individual turtles and how humans and turtles interact with one another. During your land days, you will help us input data; manage these datasets, backup, etc.
Daily life/typical Working Day Example of Daily Schedule 6:00-7:00am 7:00-8:00am 10:00-11:00am 12:00-14:30pm 15:00-16:00pm 17:00-18:00pm 18:00pm - Onwards until done with data processing or electricity cut off Breakfast In water research session In water research session Lunch/ Lectures/ Data Input In water / land research session Dinner Data Processing Volunteer Requirements Please ensure you meet the following criteria: * At least 21 years old * Minimum commitment of 3 months * Fluent in English * Able to work independently and as part of a team * Comfortable living in a shared home and in a remote setting with extremely basic amenities * Willing to work long and irregular hours if needed * A degree in marine science, zoology, environmental sciences or related subjects are preferred * Excellent swimming/snorkeling skills and ability to freedive to 7m * Strong interest in turtles, research and conservation
Equipment required Recommended general packing List Mask Snorkel Digital watch Free Diving Fins Leggings and a long sleeve rash vest/ rash suit (for protection from the sun and stingers when in the water) Knee length board shorts (must be worn during surveys) Rash guard (must be worn during surveys) Hat & Sunglasses (polarized if possible) Laptop (this is essential for work) Dry bag Small backpack Phone that is capable of running WhatsApp Thin, long sleeved tops and trousers to protect against biting insects Personal First Aid Kit Torch Travel adapter Sunscreen (not allowed when snorkelling or diving) Insect repellent Casual clothing Swimwear Rain coat Long (smart/jeans) trousers (for formal occasions) Towel Small dry bag/ziplock bag for electrical Waterproof camera (for days off) We strongly recommend to bring all required gear from home rather than buying on arrival. The $450 a month Contribution Being a non-profit organization, we request a contribution of $450 USD per month to help cover the project s costs (accommodation and utilities, three meals a day, daily transport to and from survey sites, a LAMAVE uniform.). Please note that the contribution does not include your transport to and from the placement (flights etc), your visa or leisure activities such as days off, snacks etc.
Insurance All volunteers are required to have medical insurance. The study sites for the projects are often in remote areas. All medical services in the Philippines need to be paid for by individual volunteers. Costs vary from PHP50 for a consultation at the local hospital to PHP 8000 for a full CTI scan in most hospitals. Volunteers that contract a contagious disease, that may put other volunteers and staff at risk, may be asked to depart from the project study site for health reasons until appropriate health clearance. Health and safety Vaccinations No vaccinations are required to enter the Philippines. However, we suggest we check with a travel doctor before arriving in the Philippines. Dengue Fever Dengue is a viral infection spread by mosquitoes. It's widespread in many parts of the world and does exist in the Philippines. In most people the infection is mild and passes in about a week without causing any lasting problems, but in rare cases it can be very serious and potentially life threatening. There have been known cases of Dengue fever in the Philippines. There's no specific treatment or widely available vaccine for dengue, so it's important to try to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes when visiting an area where the infection is found. All volunteers must pack long sleeve clothes and pyjamas to be worn on placement and apply mosquito repellent. It s your duty to take responsibility for your wellbeing. Food Allergies and Intolerance Please state any food allergies or intolerances in your application email (e.g. celiac, gluten/lactose intolerance, nut allergy). Some food intolerances and allergies are impossible to control and accommodate in the project environment. For your own safety you must inform us in your application of any allergies and their severity. Project meals are prepared and eaten communally. Meals are largely vegetarian, though meat is available weekly. While we respect personal diet preferences, please note that our project sites are unable to support strict vegan diets, this is due to the remoteness, the communal cooking and the limited range of food (namely non animal protein) in many of our sites, making it impossible to have a healthy balanced vegan diet. Non-animal protein (nuts, tofu etc) can be very difficult to
source in many of our project sites and are too expensive to be covered by the project food budget. Visas On entering the country most visitors are allowed to stay in the country for 30 days without applying for a visa, but please check the terms for your nationality. Before the 30 days are over you must travel to an Immigration office to renew your visa. The first renewal lasts for 30 days and costs approximately 3000PHP. If you plan to stay in the country after this visa date, you will need to renew again and will be required to purchase an i-card (a tourist identity card) with your visa. This will cost approximately 6000PHP for the i- card and a 1-month extension. *Please note this information was correct as of the 30th June 2016 and may be subject to change. Rules and regulations Grounds for dismissal Volunteers may be asked to leave the project if they display inappropriate behaviour or attitude that disrupts work, the living environment or portrays a negative image for the organization. Grounds for dismissal can also be as a result of release of sensitive information to media/social media platforms. Dismissal is at the Principal Investigators discretion. The use of drugs during the placement is prohibited and will result in immediate dismissal. Days off Each team member will be given a dedicated day off each week to relax or travel. Days off can be spent taking in the many wonders and unique culture of the Philippines. Holidays and visitors As a volunteer you are contracted to assist LAMAVE for a minimum of 3 month, therefore should you wish to have time to explore the Philippines further (which we strongly advise you do!) please plan time before or after your stay with us, as during the three months placement we do not allow volunteers to take additional days off.
How to apply? Email us a covering letter and a copy of your CV to volunteer@lamave.org Remember to: State the project you are applying for in the email subject e.g. Apo Island Turtle Project State the starting date Tell us why you want to join the team and any other relevant information in your covering letter. State if you are Filipino and applying for one of our Scholarships.