Volunteers (Gap Year or Mature Traveller / Volunteer) - Humpback Whales

Muir's Tours
Humpback Whales - Brazil

Volunteers Needed - Humpback Whales

This project on humpback whales is especially worth while if you are interested in whales and marine conservation.
We are based in the stunning beautiful area of Praia do Forte in northern Bahia, Brazil and we provide you with the opportunity to get involved in the long term conservation of the humpback whales. Weather permitting you will spend much of your time out on the sea where you will be looking for whales, collecting data on their behaviour, monitoring their singing and developing the picture identification library.
You also assist in the fields of environmental education and office based administrative tasks, including the entering of new data.
A great opportunity if you desire to work in marine and whale conservation, and our beautiful tropical beaches aren’t bad either.

Where do I go to?

Location: Praia do Forte, a charming former fishing village about 50 miles north of Salvador on the north-eastern coast of Brazil. Here you find some of the most beautiful beaches in Brazil but also there is increasing international tourism resort development that brings restaurants, crafts shops and entertainment facilities etc. Praia do Forte is also home to a famous ecological reserve and turtle project, beware though that the turtles do not show in the same season as the whales.

The Humpback

Humpbacks are well known for their docile behaviour, for their many antics (jumps, head-up displays, pectoral fin slapping, etc.) and for their melodious ‘singing’. Another striking characteristic of this species is the size of the pectoral fins, which are unusually long, reaching around one-third of total body length. Females are slightly larger than males and may reach 16 metres in length, weighing around 40 tons and they may reach speeds of up to 27 kilometres per hour. Humpbacks migrate seasonally between feeding grounds in high latitudes and breeding grounds located in tropical waters. In the Western South Atlantic, the main breeding area for the species is off Bahia State in Brazil. Between July and November, these whales reach the warm, shallow and calm waters to mate and give birth to a single calf, which is born after a gestation period of about 11 months. Wanton slaughter has drastically reduced humpbacks, which numbered 150,000 strong before commercial whaling began. Only some 25,000 individuals remaining today worldwide and they are on the Brazilian List of Endangered Species.

Habitat

Habitat

Humpbacks inhabit all the world’s oceans. The ‘Brazilian’ population forages during the southern summer along Antarctic coasts, but in the period of July to November they have their mating and calving season in the warm, shallow and calm Brazilian coastal waters around the north coast of Salvador.

How do I get there?

You travel independently to Salvador international airport from where it is approximately 50 kilometres to the project location. If you provide your arrival details in time, you will be met by a project representative for a free transfer to the project location.
A maximum of only four volunteers (plus staff) can work here at any one time, at 2 locations. We will help you arrange International flights, if you need help.

Where do I stay?

Where do I stay?
You will stay in a simple hostel. It will be dormitory style (3/4 people per room) with private bathrooms.
Breakfast is included. Lunch and dinner are left up to you; except during the research cruises all meals are provided.

What can I do there?

Volunteer work is split into a number of different categories:

Research / Data Collection
You will assist in all aspects of the data collection which includes collecting information on whale behaviour, picture identification, collecting biopsies and bio-acoustic monitoring.
Through photo-identification - a technique consisting of obtaining and cataloguing pictures of the ventral surface of the whales` tails – we have already identified more than 1800 individuals.

Environmental Education
You will be involved in assisting in the education of local communities – through school groups, individual visits and sometimes presentations.

Whale Watching Cruises
Helping out on these cruises by educating people about the need for whale research and conservation.

Beached / Sick Whales
In the event that there is a beached or an ill whale, volunteers will be expected to help out.

Administration
You will also get a feel for the work that goes on in the Project offices, and assist in general data entry duties.

Ask some questions or ask for an application form .

Requirements

Participation is suitable when you are in good physical condition and generaly fit. You should also be able to work as a team member. No special skills are needed though. All necessary boat facilities / research methodology / whales training will be provided. However, it is required that you can tolerate a rough sea and can walk long distances, are 18 years of age or older, can speak either English or Portuguese.

A biology background, some Spanish / Portuguese and boat experience would all be a bonus.

Minimum participation 2 weeks, maximum participation 4 weeks.
Prices in Euros, GB Pounds or US Dollars

The High Season is a 3 months period 15th July to 15th October, - usually there are humpback whales here and the work is focussed mainly on the whales.

The Low Season is the 9 months period 16th October to 15th June June. There will be no humpback whales and the work is focussed on environmental education amongst other things. As there will be no contact with whales the prices for this season are discounted. But we feel there are plenty of things we can offer to you, on top of course of visiting a beautiful location and getting immersed in the culture accompanied by our team of scientists.

Fees Per Person:
Per first Two Weeks (minimum) €810 (Low) €990 (High)
Per Extra Week (4 weeks in total maximum) €350 (Low) €430 (High)
The costs are linked to the seasonal costs of the area.

The base currency is the Euro and payments in any other currency may involve an adjustment for exchange rates.

Deposit: GBP200 / USD400 on booking.

Balance Due Date: 60 days prior to departure.

What is Included

The cost includes all ground transportation, budget hotels, guide all the time (unless you want some free time) and entrance fees.

What is Excluded

The price allows for joining in Tuxtla and does not include international airfare and departure taxes, any meals, personal insurance, visa fees, vaccination costs, personal clothing and equipment, all items of a personal nature and all drinks.

Airfare (from the UK only)
As a guide, the international airfare should be in the range GBP580 - GBP690 for economy class.

Travel Insurance

Comprehensive personal insurance, including search and rescue is required on this trip. For UK clients we recommend the policies of the British Mountaineering Council, for their expertise in evacuation from remote areas worldwide. Details at www.thebmc.co.uk As Insurance is always provided by a company based in your home country, we are unable to suggest suitable insurance companies unless you reside in the UK.

Ask some questions or ask for an application form.