Your project will be divided into the following ways:

Search for and move turtle nests to a protected area

Coastal erosion and poaching are currently the biggest threats facing turtles today. Once a turtle has laid eggs, poachers dig up the eggs to sell at local markets. To protect the nests, we do beach patrols every night. 

When we find a nest, we move it to a safe location at the ecological center we work with. This is a protected area, and the eggs incubate in peace here. Once the eggs hatch, we release hatchlings into the ocean. 

Ensure turtles tanks are clean and maintained

The ecological center we work with has permission from the government to keep turtles, especially those who have been injured and cannot be released back into the wild. They need your help to look after all the turtles living here. You’ll help clean the tanks, and make sure turtles are fed and cared for. Each turtle is also weighed and measured once a month. 

Biodiversity studies

Every week, you’ll spend time in the Palo Verde estuary and El Chupadero lagoon. Here, you’ll monitor the presence and condition of the local wildlife. We do this in various ways. We:  

• Maintain a register through direct observation and trap cameras for night surveillance
• Monitor and collect data on the state of nearby mangrove forests
• Grow mangrove seedlings in a greenhouse
• Reforest areas where the mangrove forest has been damaged or removed

Working with mangroves is especially important, because they: 

• Provide a habitat for marine life
• Protect coastlines from soil erosion
• Help in the fight against climate change
•  We need your help to plant as many as possible! 

Educational and environmental outreaches

Education is a big part of the conservation work we do in Mexico. We work directly with the ecological center to raise awareness in local communities. We emphasize the importance of looking after the environment and animals, and preserving them for future generations. You’ll help us with this work by visiting schools and running awareness campaigns in nearby communities. 

Community beach clean-ups

Reducing litter in our oceans is vital for keeping marine life safe. Rubbish, particularly non-biodegradable plastic, is hazardous. The sea turtles that nest here can get caught in the discarded plastic. Or, they may mistake it for food, which can hurt and even kill them. You’ll participate in regular beach clean-ups to remove as much rubbish as possible.