Support Aly's Sea Turtle Research Internship!

Hi! My name is Aly, and I’ve been accepted into a sea turtle research internship this July in Roatán, Honduras! I’m incredibly excited for this opportunity, and I’m asking for your support to help cover the $3,000 it will cost to participate.

I’ll be working with Loma Linda University professor Dr. Steve Dunbar and his organization, ProTECTOR (Protective Turtle Ecology Center for Training, Outreach, and Research) Inc., helping observe and record the behavior of hawksbill sea turtles through scuba diving and fieldwork. The funds will go toward my plane tickets, travel insurance, and the program itself, which includes food, lodging, and scuba diving expenses.

Though I’m currently a history and education major, I’ve always had a passion for working with animals. In middle school, I created a vision board detailing my dream of becoming a zoologist and later became interested in marine biology as well as being a veterinarian. Over time, I ended up pursuing a different area of interest and focused my efforts there. However, my old passion was reignited last summer while working at the Camp Kulaqua Zoo and Nature Center, and now I’m eager to explore new ways I can contribute to wildlife conservation.

This internship is a rare chance for me to combine my personal passions with meaningful, hands-on experience. Participating in this project may open doors for me to incorporate wildlife conservation into my career path, an opportunity I'd never thought I'd have. Any amount you’re able to donate or share is deeply appreciated and brings me one step closer to this unforgettable adventure.

Thank you so much for your support, I'm so grateful for you!

Love,

Aly Lopes