In sintesi
- Help with the protection and survival of endangered sea turtles at Galbokka Beach, Sri Lanka.
- Take part in an unforgettable hands-on experience, participating in a nighttime sea turtle patrol.
- Work with Green, Leatherback, Olive Ridley, Loggerhead & Hawksbill Sea Turtles
- Live and work with fellow volunteers, all passionate about marine conservation
Is Sea Turtle Conservation in Sri Lanka right for me?
This project is perfect if you are passionate about nature, the environment, and the ocean. You’ll get the chance to work outdoors, protecting sea turtles and helping with important conservation.
It’s also great if you’re interested in pursuing a career in marine conservation. You’ll gain fantastic hands-on experience.
You’ll spend your volunteering trip with passionate conservation staff, who actively protect and help the local environment through different types of programmes. The best part? You get to tap into their knowledge and experience, using it to learn more about different types of conservation initiatives in Sri Lanka.
You don’t need experience for this project. A willingness to help, learn and explore is all we ask of you! On the first day our centre supervisor will guide you through the whole process and throughout your time at the project our staff will be there to help you.
The project is available all year round, so you can choose the perfect time to travel, fitting your schedule.
So why not travel to a beautiful part of the world this year, make new friends, learn about sea turtles and help protect our oceans?
What kind of work will I do in Sri Lanka?
You’ll pack in a huge number of activities during your stay in Sri Lanka. Expect to do all of the following:
- Work with turtle eggs and hatchlings
- Take part in beach conservation and night patrols
- Run community awareness and education programmes
Here is a breakdown of the work you will do:
Work with turtle hatchlings
Your main role will be to help with the protection of turtle hatchlings. You’ll do all of the following:
- Help bury the sea turtle eggs in a safe, dedicated area to rescue them from poachers.
- Conduct daily checks on the eggs to check their hatching time and help the emerging baby turtles.
- Wash the sea turtle tanks and refill them with seawater.
- Prepare food to feed the turtles.
- Take care of cleaning, feeding and helping turtle hatchlings.
- Hand feed any injured turtles.
We work with a variety of species in Sri Lanka, including Green, Leatherback, Olive Ridley, Loggerhead & Hawksbill Sea Turtles.
Beach Conservation and night patrols
You’ll patrol the beach during the day to look for any pieces of fishing nets, which cause a large number of deaths in sea turtles.
However, it’s at night where the real fun begins! You’ll take part in an unforgettable hands-on experience - joining a sea turtle patrol. On this tour you will go for a night time walk on the beach of Galbokka to look for endangered sea turtles coming ashore to lay their eggs.
It’s crucial to get to the eggs during the night, before poachers and predators. That way, we can ensure their survival.
Community awareness and education
A big part of the work we do involves educational work in the local community. This is very important, because everyone has to play their part if we’re going to preserve the local ecosystem.
You’ll work together with our local experts to make creative presentations for people of all ages. This will cover why coastal conservation is so important and why we need to secure turtle eggs from poachers.
Where in Sri Lanka will I work?
Balapitiya
You’ll be based in Ahungalla – Balapitiya, in the southern province of Sri Lanka. You’ll work at a conservation centre in Galbokka bay which is 10 minutes away from your host family by car.
Balapitiya is known for its beautiful calm beaches and artistic style. There are plenty of outdoor activities and stunning beaches to discover.
A typical day on the Conservation Project in Sri Lanka
You’ll wake up in the home of your host family and enjoy a delicious Sri Lankan style breakfast which will fuel you for the day ahead. We’ll then pick you up and take you to the nearby conservation centre.
Each day is different on the project, with the work changing depending on the season. However, your supervisor will design a schedule each week to make the most of your time.
A typical day will start early, with volunteers and staff gathering at the centre to agree on the plan for the day.
You might start your morning with a beach patrol. You’ll walk together across the sandy local beaches, collecting any litter that could be dangerous for animals.
After lunch at the centre, you’ll spend time tending to the turtle hatchlings. This could include cleaning out their tanks or even feeding them.
You may also need to rest up ahead of a nighttime beach patrol. Here you’ll all go together, looking for nests of newly-laid turtle eggs. You’ll transport them safely back to the centre, where you can prepare them for eventual release back into the ocean.
Once you’re done for the day, you’re free to relax and explore. We run regular social events for our volunteers, which is a wonderful way to make new friends and get to know the local staff. You can find out more about the local way of life, spending the evening with your host family. Try out the nearby restaurants, spend some time on the beach, or check out the tourist sites and local landmarks.
What is the goal of Marine Conservation work in Sri Lanka?
The main goal of this project is to ensure the protection and survival of endangered sea turtles and preserve the local ecosystem.
All species of sea turtles are listed as threatened or endangered in Sri Lanka. We aim to provide data and insights that help with the protection of these incredible creatures.
Here’s just one example of why this work is crucial: different populations of Green turtles around the world are likely to have different migratory paths. If Green turtles in one geographic area go extinct, it may be impossible to replace them with turtles from another area. This is because the new arrivals will lack the inherited instructions needed to navigate within and from their new homes.
The work you do - such as protecting the sea turtle eggs and helping the emerging baby turtles - contributes directly to preventing these problems.
Piani di gestione
Nei Management Plans definiamo gli obiettivi dei nostri progetti. Questo è uno strumento importante per pianificare correttamente il lavoro dei nostri volontari. Inoltre, ci aiutano a misurare e valutare l'impatto e i risultati raggiunti ogni anno.
Grazie ai Management Plans possiamo migliorare i nostri progetti ogni giorno. Questo significa che, come volontario, entrerai a far parte di un programma che ha un un impatto reale dove è più necessario. Scopri di più sui nostri Management Plan.
Misurare il nostro impatto
Ogni anno, definiamo degli obiettivi specifici per ogni progetto e ci impegnamo per avere un impatto sostenibile e a lungo termine in ogni Paese. Ogni volontario e stagista contribuisce al raggiungimento di questi obiettivi, indipendentemente dalla durata del loro progetto.
Per documentare i progressi e i risultati raggiunti, elaboriamo un report annuale chiamato Global Impact Report. Scopri di più sui risultati raggiunti dai volontari, stagisti e dallo Staff di Projects Abroad. Leggi l'ultimo report.
Vitto e alloggio
Vivrai con una famiglia locale nei di Sri Lanka. Ti accoglieranno a casa loro e saranno felici di condividere con te la loro cultura e di scoprire la tua. Crediamo che questo sia il modo migliore per immergerti nella cultura dello Sri Lanka e vivere un'esperienza veramente unica.
Cerchiamo sempre di accomodare due o più volontari o stagisti nella stessa famiglia. La tua stanza sarà modesta, ma confortevole, pulita e sicura.
La quota del programma include tre pasti al giorno.
Attività nel tempo libero
Lo Sri Lanka è famoso per la sua diversità dei suoi paesaggi. Dalle spiagge alle giungle tropicali, c'è qualcosa per tutti in questo vibrante Paese.
Il vivace Pettah Market è assolutamente da vedere. Potrai conversare con i venditori, acquistare prodotti fatti a mano e goderti l'atmosfera che ti circonda. Per un arricchimento culturale, potrai passare un pomeriggio al Museo Nazionale di Colombo. Il tempio buddista di Gangaramaya è da non perdere, con la sua vasta collezione di artefatti.
La città di Galle è un porto marittimo con una forte eredità olandese e molti edifici antichi coloniali da esplorare. Potrai anche avventurarti nell'entroterra per fare escursioni sulle colline, nuotare nelle fresche cascate e visitare le tradizionali città.
I parchi nazionali dello Sri Lanka includono safari dove è possibile avvistare animali selvatici come leopardi e elefanti. Ci sono anche riserve della foresta pluviale piene zeppe di biodiversità tropicale dove potrai fare bird watching.
Condividerai questa esperienza unica con molti altri volontari. Ciò significa che potrai viaggiare da solo o trascorrere il tempo libero con i tuoi nuovi amici.
Sicurezza e supporto del nostro staff
La tua sicurezza è la nostra priorità. Adottiamo diverse procedure per darti il supporto di cui hai bisogno e per farti vivere il tuo viaggio all'estero senza pensieri. Lo Staff di Projects Abroad sarà sempre disponibile, 24 ore su 24, e ti aiuterà ad ambientarti a casa e all'interno del progetto. In caso di necessità, potrai contattarlo in qualsiasi momento.
Scopri di più sul Supporto e Sicurezza.
Not quite what you’re looking for?
Take a look at the following pages where you'll find collections of similar projects:
Enquire Now
I nostri accreditamenti
