Period
July 15 to December 15
Location
Hawaii Parque, El Rosario & Pacific Naval Command, Pacific coast of Guatemala
Background Information
The Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Association (ARCAS) is a Guatemalan NGO dedicated to the conservation of Guatemala wildlife and its habitat. In the northern Peten region of the country, it operates one of the largest and most complex animal rescue centers in the Americas, receiving 300-600 confiscated wild animals per year of over 40 species. On the Pacific coast of the country, it operates two of the most productive of the 21+ sea turtle hatcheries as well as carries out very detailed research on olive ridley population trends, in situ studies and studies on ambient conditions on sea turtle nesting beaches.
Duties
During the sea turtle nesting season, ARCAS will be recruiting for volunteers to participate in its two main conservation sites of Hawaii and El Rosario.
• Hawaii is ARCAS’s main sea turtle conservation site, near the village of Hawaii, 7 kms east of Monterrico and home to some of the heaviest nesting of olive ridleys in the country. There, ARCAS also carries out iguana and caiman captive breeding, ecotourism and is establishing a private protected area.
• El Rosario: Situated in the remote fishing village of the same name, 5 kms to the east of Hawaii. An excellent site if you want an authentic Guatemalan experience and want to work on your Spanish
At both these sites, ARCAS is recruiting volunteers and volunteer coordinators/research assistants.
• VOLUNTEERS: Volunteer participate in sea turtle patrols in search of nesting olive ridley and leatherback turtles, record nesting and crawl count data, and take part in community education and sustainable development activities.
• VOLUNTEER COORDINATORS/RESEARCH ASSISTANTS: Coordinate the above activities, ensuring the quality of data collected, organization of extra-curricular volunteer activities, coordination of ecotour groups and community relations.
IN SITU STUDY
In addition to these two sites, ARCAS is managing an in situ sea turtle research project at the Pacific Naval Command, @50kms to the east of Hawaii at the main Pacific port of Puerto Quetzal. This project is for volunteers who are willing to commit to a longer period of time and have some prior experience working with sea turtles, and who have an intermediate level of Spanish. At the CONAPAC, volunteers will be living on the naval base and conducting daily crawl counts, monitoring in situ olive ridley nests and helping to manage the naval base’s hatchery. A minimum commitment of 3 months is needed although food and lodging is included.
Requirements
Volunteers:
*The volunteer must be an independent, self motivated individual with excellent work ethics
*Excellent knowledge of English and Spanish preferable
*Must have a courteous, sensible and respectful personality
*A basic degree in Biology or equivalent preferred (or a student wanting to complete thesis project)
Volunteer Coordinator:
The responsibilities of the Volunteer Coordinator will include coordinating the work of the volunteers with the rest of the ARCAS staff, coordinating the collection of research data and the management of the hatchery.
*The volunteer coordinator must be an independent, self motivated individual with excellent work ethics, and prior sea turtle experience.
*Excellent English and at least intermediate Spanish is necessary.
* Minimum 3 month commitment.
*A basic degree in Biology or equivalent (or a student wanting to complete thesis project)
Benefits/Costs
Contact us for more information
Additional Contact Information
Intl Mail Address: Section 717, PO Box 52-7270, Miami, FL 33152-7270 USA
Street Address: 4 Ave. 2-47, Sector B5, Zona 8 Mixco, San Cristobal, Guatemala City, Guatemala
Telephones: (502)2478-4096(tel/fax) 2480-7270, 5704-2563 (Colum cell)
E-mail: arcas@intelnet.net.gt
Website: www.arcasguatemala.com