Sea turtles have survived on Earth for more than 100 million years, yet today their future hangs in the balance. Six of the seven sea turtle species are threatened by extinction due to human impacts including fisheries bycatch, coastal development, plastic pollution, and the consumption of sea turtles and their eggs.

Rincon de San Josecito Beach, Costa Rica is where I will be volunteering. The programme offers volunteers the chance to protect the turtles on a beautiful, pristine and remote wilderness paradise. It is the home to over 100 turtles per season. Without volunteers, the project would not have been as successful as it has been up to now.

By going out to volunteer, not only will I be actively saving sea turtles, but I will also be relocating eggs to the hatchery, monitoring nests and baby turtles within the hatchery, performing night surveys on the beach to find nesting turtles and help protect them from illegal extraction and predators, and maintaining the surrounding beaches to help to minimise the amount of plastic that is being washed away into the ocean.

I can not think of a better, more rewarding way to spend 3 weeks. I would be very appreciative of any donations, as I will be required to pay for my own flights and travel insurance, and as I am a student I will not be able to fund it alone. Every little donation really will help, and will be gratefully received.

Thank you 🐢