Thank you for visiting my gofundme page!

In May I will be leaving Toronto to spend three months volunteering in Grenada. I will be volunteering with a sea turtle conservation organization and then assisting with a coral reef ecology program. From May 23 to June 31, I will be volunteering with Ocean Spirits during the peak of turtle nesting season. There I will be working as a research assistant to conserve, protect and learn about these incredible creatures, and to gain conservation skills and experience.  From July to August, I will be working on the smaller island of Carriacou, taking part in a reef ecology course with Caribbean Reef Buddy . I will receive professional dive training, participate in reef surveys and monitoring, learn about reef ecology, and continue working with marine turtles.   

Who I am and why I am doing this

I am passionate about ecology, learning about ecosystems, interesting species, and all things within the realm of environmental studies. I graduated from York University with my degree in environmental studies in the summer of 2014. While a student at York I had the wonderful opportunity to take a field course in Costa Rica - an amazing experience! Since then I have been keen to get involved with the conservation of marine turtles, and gain real world experience learning about wildlife conservation. This experience will also help better prepare me as I continue to decide on the path of my future studies. Please donate to make this trip possible!


Leatherback turtles

Leatherbacks are considered an endangered species and are just one of seven marine turtle species in the world. They have a wide distribution and migrate across oceans playing a key role in maintaining the health of marine ecosystems by keeping jellyfish populations in check. While Ocean Spirits works with different marine turtle species including green, hawksbill, loggerhead, and olive ridley turtles, a large part of the work focuses on leatherback turtles. Levera Beach sees upwards of [phone redacted] nesting leatherbacks in a season. It is a regionally significant nesting site for leatherbacks in the Caribbean, and is one of two spots I will be working while in Grenada. Being present at the peak of the season means my contribution will make a real impact on the conservation of leatherbacks and other sea turtles species.

Coral reefs

Carriacou has some of worlds’ most beautiful coral reefs. Like corals reef ecosystems around the globe, those in the Caribbean are increasingly under threat from human caused problems like overfishing, development, and climate change. Acidification of the oceans and the bleaching of coral reefs affects all life on Earth. While with Reef Buddy I will be participating in the monitoring of these sensitive and precious ecosystems, and working to help protect them.

                                                                                    
Why I need your financial support

Environmental research projects like these and the organizations that run them often rely on volunteers like myself. Here is a rough breakdown of the costs:

-          $5,000 (volunteer program fees)
-          $1,500 (airfare)
-          $1,000 (equipment)
-          $1,500 (living expenses)

I have been able to cover most of the expenses thus far. I hope to raise an additional $2,500 through fundraising. As I continue to work, save money, and prepare, your donation towards reaching my goal of $2,500 is greatly appreciated and will go a long way toward making this trip possible.  
 

Why donate and what I will give back
 
Any donation you can make will be helping to support a dream of mine. More importantly your donation will help support the critical work being done to conserve and protect marine turtle species in the Caribbean, most notably the leatherback turtle.

I am taking my GoPro with me and plan on taking lots of photos and video which I want to share with all of you. You’ll get to see tropical forests, wildlife, beaches, underwater footage of reefs, and of course lots of turtles!

There will be more updates to come and I look forward keeping you all posted on events throughout the duration of the trip. 

Thank you for your donation and support, every little bit helps!



Sincerely,
 
Taylor Wiggins
 


Connect with me through facebook: 
https://www.facebook.com/taylor.wiggins.22

Learn more about the organizations I will be working with:
Ocean Spirits
Caribbean Reef Buddy

Related links:
Wider Caribbean Sea Turtle Conservation Network (WIDECAST)
Leatherback Sea Turtle Volunteer Program

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Photo Credit (leatherback turtle):

Kate Rooney
Marine Biologist
Ocean Spirits
Grenada W.I.

Photo Credit (portrait):

NM Livingston
Photographer
Toronto, Canada