River otter volunteer project, Brazil
| country: | Brazil |
| departures: | Departure available year round on Sundays |
| price: | From €420 (7 days) excluding flights. Longer stays can also be arranged. Volunteers are encouraged to stay a minimum of 2 weeks in order to completely understand how the work is done |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
introduction to River otter volunteer project, Brazil
The American River Otter is a mammal that belongs to the weasel family - otters are related to species like weasels, martens and badgers. It is a semi-aquatic animal, agile, crepuscular, curious and shy, at the top of the food chain. Otters can be found in different environments, from rivers, streamlets and fresh water lakes, to estuaries, lagoons, mangroves and coastal islands.
Regrettably they are hunted for their magnificence pelts; however, the effect of hunting is small compared to the negative effects due to pollution and the destruction of their habitat. Factors like these disturb the food chain and restrict shelter areas where these animals nest.
Therefore the River Otter is now listed as endangered specie in Brazil. Volunteers must be wiling to work, as they will be living, breathing and sleeping on a research atmosphere. Luckily the island of Florianopolis is also well known for its natural beauties with wonderful beaches. Volunteers will have the opportunities to go surfing, sailing, scuba diving or exploring the local areas during their time off and on weekends.
Accommodation: Volunteers stay at the research base at remodeled flour Mill located at the Piri Lagoon. Accommodations are simple and as room sharing 2-3 volunteers per room. The base can accommodate a total of 8 volunteers at a time.
Weather depending fieldwork may be done during the day or night in forests, lakes or costal beaches by kayak or trekking. It will include analysis of the Otter’s frequency at the shelters, monitoring of nests, ethological studies and eating habits. Volunteers will also be asked to care for rescued animals and maintain their shelters at the base, file reports, perform lab work, and, if and when necessary, to camp in isolated areas
Schedules are made by the project’s coordinator and posted to volunteers on a weekly basis. It is very difficult to spot otters so careful attention is needed when going out to the field.
A lot of the work is made through registering signs. Expeditions can take from few hours to days depending on schedules.
Regrettably they are hunted for their magnificence pelts; however, the effect of hunting is small compared to the negative effects due to pollution and the destruction of their habitat. Factors like these disturb the food chain and restrict shelter areas where these animals nest.
Therefore the River Otter is now listed as endangered specie in Brazil. Volunteers must be wiling to work, as they will be living, breathing and sleeping on a research atmosphere. Luckily the island of Florianopolis is also well known for its natural beauties with wonderful beaches. Volunteers will have the opportunities to go surfing, sailing, scuba diving or exploring the local areas during their time off and on weekends.
Accommodation: Volunteers stay at the research base at remodeled flour Mill located at the Piri Lagoon. Accommodations are simple and as room sharing 2-3 volunteers per room. The base can accommodate a total of 8 volunteers at a time.
a day in a life of a volunteer
Weather depending fieldwork may be done during the day or night in forests, lakes or costal beaches by kayak or trekking. It will include analysis of the Otter’s frequency at the shelters, monitoring of nests, ethological studies and eating habits. Volunteers will also be asked to care for rescued animals and maintain their shelters at the base, file reports, perform lab work, and, if and when necessary, to camp in isolated areas Schedules are made by the project’s coordinator and posted to volunteers on a weekly basis. It is very difficult to spot otters so careful attention is needed when going out to the field.
A lot of the work is made through registering signs. Expeditions can take from few hours to days depending on schedules.
volunteer travel - what's it all about?
Are you looking for an adventurous trip with a purpose, or on a gap year or career break? If you want to make a difference in some of the world’s most important conservation areas - and in community projects - then volunteer trips are for you! Volunteers tend to have a sense of adventure, and come from a range of different backgrounds and from all over the world. Edward Abbey said 'sentiment without action is the ruin of the soul'.
how this holiday makes a difference
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The objective of this project is of conservation and to increase knowledge among local population to the need to protect the River Otter. The research base has been active in the Piri Lake for over 2 decades and during this time with the help of ecovolunteers, it has found out many interesting and important facts for the conservation of this species.
For example, its has been noticed, for sometime, that the visits of the River Otters to some cliffs at nearby beaches, using it as shelters. This has generated another partnerships and awareness work among the fishermen.  River Otters in beaches is not a common sight but it seems that this group has found some ways to improve their diet and also, to meet other individuals from other places for mating purposes. The Project also works closely with local schools to bring awareness to the need to preserve the fragmented habitat where this beautiful animal lives. With that in mind the “Projeto Pro-Lontrinha” was recently been created to educate the local children and their families. This has brought a new conservation meaning to this side of the island. Local children are now strong advocates for the River Otters as well as their environment and have been strong promoters of the reuse, reduce, recycle theme in their homes and village. |
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