Hi All, In order to continue with our work and research we are looking for willing volunteers who want to gain valuable hands on conservation experience, to come to Mauritius and work with our researchers on current projects. Help would be collecting data both on the sea, on our boat, and on land conducting surveys, data entry, equipment maintenance as well as a variety of office based activities. The Mauritius Marine Conservation Society (MMCS) is a non-government organization that has worked for 30 years to safeguard the marine environment of Mauritius through education. The MMCS takes action to sensitize the local population to the importance of marine biodiversity, focusing on the protection of marine mammals and coral reefs. One of the objectives of the MMCS is to promote the need for marine conservation in Mauritius through the creation of marine parks. This is done through ongoing research activities. You could be involved in: 1. Monitoring the behavior, ecology and population of the local cetaceans including spinner and bottlenose dolphins, sperm whales and humpback whales 2. the behaviour of dolphin watching boats 3. turtle monitoring 4. cetacean diversity studies 5. surveying tourists and operators 6. Working with schools to promote environmental awareness 7. Creating educational games and presentations for information evenings in an effort to gain support for sustainable marine eco-tourism. 8. fundraising events Volunteers will be accommodated in a furnished house in Black River (GPS 20° 21.77'S, 57°21.48'E). It is about 750m from a shopping centre that has a well stocked supermarket and the beach is about 100m away. Accommodation, bedding, laundry facilities and equipment is all provided but food is the volunteers responsibility (allow approx £40-60/week). Volunteers will be expected to contribute to housework, cleaning etc. Openings for volunteers are available immediately. Charges are AUS$405/GBP£200/€250 per week, with an additional fee of £50 to organize airport transfers, staying a minimum of 2 weeks (and a maximum of 8 weeks, because of Government stipulation). Please Note volunteer programme will not operate over the Christmas new year period. For more info on volunteering and application forms, contact: Imogen Webster Principle Research Officer (PhD candidate) iwebster@mmcs-ngo.org