Amazon Turtle Conservation Peru

In 1994, a report was published on the human activities taking place in the Peruvian Rainforest since 1979. This report found that there was unsustainable hunting and egg collecting of the Yellow-spotted Amazon River Turtle and the Giant South American turtle. This highlighted the necessity to establish a conservation programme to safeguard the future of the species.

Project Age Limit
Minimum age for participants’ is 18 years, maximum depending on potential participants health.

Programme Requirement
At least an intermediate level of Spanish is required to participate in the programme, to ensure effective use of volunteers’ time. If you feel you could achieve this level with additional Spanish lessons, why not talk to our Latin America Team about attending Spanish language classes prior to the start of the programme?

Programme Information
Turtle meat and eggs traditionally are basic items in the diet of Amazon and Orinoco indigenous tribes. Furthermore, population growth, increased capacity for transport and trade, as well as colonisation of rainforest terrain by Peruvian settlers from Andean regions have increased hunting and egg collection to unsustainable levels.

Volunteer Activities
You will participate in our turtle-conservation project alongside our staff and local community members in the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve, located several days boatride from Iquitos deep in Peru’s northern rainforest. Volunteers will have a significant say in what activities they participate in with the final decision resting on your level of Spanish and motivation. Weekly planning meetings will be held with the management group you are assigned to and the conservation work will also incorporate activities other than Turtle conservation, depending on the need at the time. Other activities include palm tree management, sustainable fishing and youth environmental education. Volunteers on this project are in for an exciting, authentic rainforest experience!

Important Considerations
This project is an authentic jungle project, so volunteers should be fully prepared for an extended stay in the deep tropical rainforest. You need to ensure you have received all necessary vaccinations and bring plenty of insect repellent! You will be full participants in the project and thus will have ample time to interact with local people and observe rainforest species. We will give you full details about what to take before you leave in our pre departure information.

Please also note that, apart from select staff in Lima, all communication will be in Spanish. There are no English speakers in the Iquitos Team.

Orientation
Upon arrival into Lima, you will be given a general orientation to help you get settled in and to familiarise you with the itinerary. Once in Iquitos, you will receive another orientation focusing mainly on the project and reality of jungle life.

Accommodation and Meals
Volunteer accommodation will be camping-style, with cushioned bedrolls in multi-person tents– these will be supplied. Volunteers need to bear in mind that this project is based deep in the jungle. There are few home comforts and access to shops will be very limited.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner will all be prepared in the field, based on the foods, which are available locally. These foods will include fish, fresh fruit and vegetables (when in season), rice, corn, eggs.

Because of the location of this project, it can be very difficult to cater for certain dietary requirements. If you have any questions regarding this, please contact the Latin America Team.

Project Support
Throughout your stay you will have the support and guidance of the coordinator. They will be able to provide you with any help or advice you may need during your stay. In addition to the in-country support, you will have access to a 24 hour emergency contact number should you need to contact one of our UK staff at any time.