Ulithi Sea Turtles

Description:

The Oceanic Society has been working with the community of Falalop on Ulithi Atoll since 2004 and has sponsored the Ulithi Sea Turtle Project since 2007.  Ulithi Atoll  is home to several "Turtle Islands" including a cluster of three uninhabited islands: Loosiep, Bulbul, and Yeew, and a cluster of two islands: Gielop and Iar, which may represent the largest green turtle rookery in Micronesia with approximately 1,000 turtles.

On this hands-on monitoring project, in the company of the field researcher, you patrol the beaches at night and again in the early morning to assess turtle nesting activity. Specific tasks include collecting biological data, measuring turtle length and width, checking flippers for external tags, as well as helping with recovery efforts such as rescuing hatchlings stuck in collapsed nests. 

Our project site on Loosiep compliments the work being done by community members of Gielop.  We receive training on Falalop,  and then visit the field sites including the active monitoring project on Gielop.  Towards the end of the week we transfer to the rugged field camp on Loosiep where we spend 2-3 nights in a primitive tented camp as a base for our nightly monitoring activites.

We will also have time for bird watching and snorkeling. The reef  in front of our Falalop resort is excellent for snorkeling and  just a few flipper kicks  off the beach.  .

Participants stay in the comfortable Ulithi Adventure Resort the first half of the week, and then transfer to the primitive tented camp on Loosiep to conduct our actual sea turtle surveys.  Group members  will have the opportunity to meet with community members and learn  about cultural traditions and local crafts.

Itinerary:

Day 1-2:

Honolulu/Yap.

Day 3:

Morning island tour.  Afternoon snorkeling.

Day 4:

Yap/Ulithi. Fly to Falalop .  Afternoon briefing and beach snorkel.  Overnight at Ulithi Adventure Resort.

Day 5:

Familiaization day trip to Loosiep.  Island walk to learn about the bird life, snorkel, and conduct "day run" of sea turtle beach nest surveys.  Overnight at Ulithi Adventure Resort.

Day 6:

Day trip to visit the five-year old Gielop community based sea turtle monitoring project.  Meet with community members.  Return to Ulithi Adventure Resort.

Day 7,8,9:

Sea turtle monitoring and camping on Loosiep.  We sleep on the ground in tents with cat box style bathroom.  In the day time we check sea turtle nests and crawls.  At night, we count and measure nesting turtles.

Day 10:  Return to Falalop and meet with community members. Overnight in Ulithi Adventure Resort.

Day 11:  Morning beach snorkel.  Afternoon flight to Yap.  Overnight in resort.

Day 12:  Fly home.

Optional Extensions: