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Marine Turtle Newsletter 49:25, © 1990

Marine Turtle Newsletter-Online

Volunteer for Turtles in Greece

The Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece (STPS) announces opportunities for volunteers experienced in conservation work to participate in two types of summer programmes:

  1. "Turtle Monitoring", involving
  1. early morning beach surveys for turtle tracks and potential nests, as well as the reburial of "doomed" nests in beach hatcheries, and
  2. nocturnal beach patrols to observe, measure and tag nesting turtles. Field sites: Zakynthos, Peloponessus (Bay of Lakonikos and Bays of Kyparissia), Rhodes, Crete, Lefkas, Corfu and other areas.
  1. "Public Awareness", primarily on the island of Zakynthos where tourist influx poses a major threat to the sea turtle protection issue. The public awareness work requires good communication skills (English is prerequisite; German and Italian also needed) and experience in public relations.

Both programme types last from May 25 to October 10; volunteers are needed primarily during May 25-June 30 and for the month of September. Minimum working period: 3 weeks. Volunteers will receive on-site training and will be supervised by STPS field directors. Persons who can see potentially rewarding or difficult situations and react accordingly, either taking advantage of them or heading off confrontation, will be preferred. Technically skilled volunteers are needed throughout the season. Volunteers must be over 18 years of age and carry health/medical insurance. They will stay in camping areas where living conditions are very simple; some locations have large group tents, but it is advisable to have your own tent. Volunteers will provide for their food; in some cases cooking facilities are available. Preference for working sites may be included in application, but final allocation will be judged by STPS according to needs or priorities. Please note: THE WORK IS VERY DEMANDING! Details of where to report, what clothing and equipment to bring, etc. will be supplied upon acceptance. If interested, please inquire: Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece, Volunteer Section, P.O. Box 51154, 145 10 Kifissia, Athens, Greece.

Editor's note:Applications for the 1990 field season were due by the end of February 1990. We are sorry that we did not receive this announcement in time for applicants to meet the deadline; however, we hope that interested persons will alert the STPS of their interest in participating in this worthy project in future years. KLE/SAE.