Volunteer with Turtles


Volunteering with turtles is a truly unforgettable experience and it also helps to secure these marine animals with a future for years to come. Turtle volunteers are essential because all of the seven species of sea turtle are all listed as either vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered and without action, soon enough this damage will be irreversible. 

Sea turtles already don't have it easy, as hatchling survival rates are so low due to baby turtles being ideal prey for many predators both on land and in the sea, but the biggest threats that turtles face are due to human activity. These threats include hunting, overfishing, climate change and pollution - we are sure many of you will have seen videos on social media of endless turtles caught in nets or swimming amongst large amounts of rubbish. However, by joining one of our turtle volunteer programs, you can help to protect the animals from these threats!

Our turtle volunteer projects are located in some of the most beautiful places on earth, from dazzling Costa Rica to pristine Sri Lanka. By volunteering with turtles with The Great Projects, you could be in with a chance of caring for the turtles by collecting and protecting eggs, maintaining tanks and night patrols on the beach! 

Turtles desperately need some positive intervention, so secure a place to volunteer with turtles today!

Projects Do More

Turtle Articles

Help Keep Our Oceans Clean This Mother Ocean Day!

Help Keep Our Oceans Clean This Mother Ocean Day!

Happy Mother Ocean Day! This awareness day is a time to...

How The Perhentian Islands Marine Project Keeps Their Coasts Clear

How The Perhentian Islands Marine Project Keeps Their Coasts Clear

Check out all the hard work of those at the Perhentian...

Update From The Great Turtle Project - Check Out The Moment A Mother Green Turtle Laid Her Eggs On The Shore!

Update From The Great Turtle Project - Check Out The Moment A Mother Green Turtle Laid Her Eggs On The Shore!

Staff and volunteers at The Great Turtle Project have been...

Katie's Review Of The Maldives Whale Shark Research Project- Saving Turtles, Swimming With Whale Sharks, And Meeting New Friends!

Katie's Review Of The Maldives Whale Shark Research Project- Saving Turtles, Swimming With Whale Sharks, And Meeting New Friends!

Back in 2017, Katie volunteered on the Maldives Whale Shark...

Turtles At A Glance

ENDANGERED STATUS
Vulnerable
NUMBER REMAINING IN THE WILD
Varies Across Species - 30,000 Leatherback Sea Turtles Remain
ENDEMIC REGION
Oceans All Around The World

How Endangered Are Turtles

There are 7 different species of turtle, all of which are listed as either vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered. The most endangered species of sea turtle is the Kemp's Ridley. Whilst population numbers are difficult to calculate, it is said that less than 10,000 kemp ridley turtles remain.  

10,000 may seem like a lot, but when you consider that more than 100,000 nested on the shores in a single day back in the 1940s, the extent of their decline in such a short space of time should be a serious concern for all. Therefore, having people volunteer with turtles is one of the only hopes of providing them with a future. 

Threats Turtles Are Facing

Sea turtles face a variety of different threats, and while some of them are natural, many are due to human activity and something must be done. You can help when you volunteer with turtles.

  • Climate change - the climate of the sand in which mother turtles will lay their eggs determines the sex of the hatchling. If there is not a good balance between males and females, there will not be enough turtles to reproduce for future generations.
  • Overharvesting - there is still a huge demand for turtle egg soup in many countries, and all too often eggs are snatched from their nests in order to fuel this trade.
Fast Facts
  • Despite that turtles can be found in oceans all over the world, mother turtles will return to the same place they were born to nest their own eggs!
  • The largest species of sea turtle is the leatherback turtle. On average, they weigh in between 250 - 700 kg!
  • Turtles have been around for much longer than humans, as studies show they existed during the time of the dinosaurs!
  • The shell of a sea turtle is actually part of its skeleton, made up of 50 bones including its spine and rib cage.
Where you can go
Contact Info
UK Office
The Great Traveller Ltd,
3 Dairy Yard
Star Street
Ware, Hertfordshire
SG12 7DX
United Kingdom

Opening hours:
   Mon-Fri 8:30am–5:30pm
   Sat 10am-4pm

T: +44(0) 208 885 4987