Volunteer on this coastal animal conservation project in Mexico. Work with vets, lead
tours of the wildlife centre and collect injured animals from the beach. Animals include; turtles,
birds, parrots and sea lions. This is a wonderful marine animal rescue project.
Description of Project
This project was created by the government as part of an initiative to protect wildlife in cities. The project aims to create an area where tourism and the conservation of an environment can exist together. It has an open air theatre, aquarium and botanical garden.
This project is located in the town of Mazatlan, on the Pacific Coast of Mexico. They have particular conservation initiatives for the following species:
Olive Ridley Turtles and Leatherback Turtles
Brown Pelicans
Pichinchin Ducks
Parrots
Sea lions and sharks.
The marine animal rescue centre also has a wildlife clinic for a variety of injured animals. Volunteers support vets and are involved in the ongoing wildlife conservation programme for birds, felines and sea mammals including pregnant sea lions.
Accommodation / Food / Language / Time Off
Volunteers will stay with a wonderful family in the bustling, traditional old part of Mazatlan. Weekends are normally free. Old Mazatlan is about a mile from new Mazatlan which is full of tourist amenities, bars, supermarkets and beach life.
Summary
Project Code: M17
Main Activity of Project: Marine conservation.
Minimum Period of Stay: One month.
Cost: One month: £1430. Three months: £2965. For full details of our prices please see our costs page.
Volunteer Responsibilities / Activities
Volunteers rotate around the different animal conservation areas during their stay. Volunteers are needed to work in the wildlife centre where they lead tours, inspect the enclosures and carry out alterations to adapt them for new rescued animals. Some animals are domesticated and have been confiscated from private owners. In the clinic volunteers support the vets, help injured birds and marine mammals and are needed to manage newly admitted animals that need veterinary attention. Volunteers also assist in the collection of injured animals from the beach, such as pelicans, ducks and other birds. Volunteers working with the marine animals are needed to prepare food, clean their pools and study the behaviour of the pregnant females during reproduction season.
There is an aviary where volunteers collect the nests of the birds and observe their reproductive behaviour. This takes place from March to September. Volunteers also monitor the eggs and the growth of the offspring during these months.
During the turtle season (May to December) volunteers help release the young, preserve the nests and incubate the eggs. Turtle conservation is an important part of this animal rescue project.
This would be ideal for anyone with an interest in biology, zoology, conservation, veterinary volunteer work and working with wild animals.
You could make a real difference – to others and yourself!
Outreach International need volunteers to work abroad in schools,
hospitals, orphanages, with the disabled, animals and animal rescue, wildlife, physiotherapy, medical projects, sports and on humanitarian and conservation projects in South America, Central America, Africa and Asia, including Ecuador, Mexico,
Costa Rica, Cambodia, Nepal, the Galapagos Islands, Kenya and Sri Lanka. We're always looking for Gap Year students or anyone who wants to take a career break, Summer holiday, Easter or Christmas vacation break or a few months or a year out volunteering
overseas.
