From mid-March to the end of September we run our Turtle Programme, which attracts volunteers and school groups from around the world.

Under the supervision of our marine biologist, the beach is patrolled every night by small groups of volunteers, a guide and our beach guards. Each turtle we meet is tagged (if not already tagged), measured and examined for any special features or signs of injury.

If the turtle has already laid, we try to disguise the nest from poachers. If she has still to lay, we may collect the eggs in a bag while she lays and then place them in an artificial nest which we dig nearby and which can be more easily camouflaged from poachers. We also do this when the turtle has chosen to lay too near the sea as seawater will kill the eggs by making the shell non-porous.

Leatherbacks nest about seven times during the nesting season at intervals of about 10 days. They lay about 80 fertile eggs in each nest.

A lone leatherback hatchling finds its way to the sea

Tagging is an important part of the beach work. The tags are placed in both right and left rear flipper, each one bearing a number and a return address in case the tag is found. In this way we can tell when a turtle is returning to our beach or if it has been tagged on another beach.

At the end of the season we, and other turtle projects, send all the tag numbers and information to a centre in the US where it is stored and used for learning more about the turtles' nesting and migratory habits.

When the nests hatch about two months after laying, we monitor the hatching success and dig out the nests for any stragglers.

All our visitors can participate in the beach work, helping to measure a turtle or read a tag or count the eggs as they fall.

The patrolling of the beach takes place in groups throughout the night, with each group always accompanied by a guide or biologist. A typical patrol may take from three to five hours, depending on the number of turtles coming to nest. The beach guards patrol the beach all night.

Turtle Volunteers helping to clear the beach

Guests and Turtle Volunteers play volleyball in the shade

Turtle Volunteers sharing a meal

An Environment class at Pacuare Reserve for local Turtle Volunteers

This project is listed on the Green Volunteers website. Please click here to link to this site Green Volunteers: working with animals, wildlife and nature conservation volunteering Database