Turtle conservation on the Greek island of Zakynthos

Vacancy: Turtle conservation on the Greek island of Zakynthos
Company: Global Vision International
Category: Gap year projects (Conservation, Community development, Watersports & diving)

Dates: Turtle work is May to October, placements last 2 to 12 weeks

Cost: 2 Week minimum is $1590 / £815

Description:

Zakynthos, is a beautiful, mountainous Ionian island with 110 km of rocky coastline and turquoise seas. One of the sunniest yet most verdant of the Greek islands, home to 6,000 species of flowers (as opposed to 2,300 in the British Isles), it acts as a stopping off place for migratory birds and harbours 80% of the Mediterranean’s Loggerhead (Caretta caretta) sea turtle nests. This idyllic island has also attracted numerous package tourists and is battling to cope with a huge summer influx of bodies, waste, traffic, noise, litter and pollution. Our NGO partners work alongside the National Marine Park on the protection of a small corner of this island from over-development.

Volunteers help by patrolling beaches, providing tourists with information on turtles and other environmental issues, saving any injured animals, and conducting beach and forest cleans. Our aim is to show how conservation and sustainable tourism can work together benefiting visitors, locals and wildlife alike. A new project raising money to build a Sea Life rehabilitation centre on the island has recently started so volunteers will also be involved in fundraising and promoting this incredibly important work across Europe.

Turtle monitoring occurs from May to October but there are different projects throughout the year. Volunteers can take advantage of the beautiful spring and autumn wildflowers and migrating birds, the presence of Monk Seals (Monachus monachus), olive and grape picking, Greek cooking, music and dancing. All food and accommodation is included in your fee, which will support local families. No formal training is required - you’ll be supervised and trained by the local staff. Knowledge of German and Italian would be useful to communicate with tourists. A driving license is extremely useful. Also included is travel within the project, a weekend trip away, access to the internet and, most importantly, donations to the local NGOs to help support their valuable work.