Help protect endangered Jaguars and Pumas on the Yucatan Peninsula

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Program Overview
Life on the Program
Project Details
Volunteer Testimonials

Program Overview

Join our fantastic conservation team on the Yucatan peninsula and help save endangered carnivores. Jaguars, once common in the region, are quickly disappearing. Deforestation, land partitioning, poaching and illegal trade has made them one of the most endangered species in this part of the world.

You will collect critical data to help inform the policies, initiatives and decisions of El Eden Ecological Reserve, a protected area of over 10,000 acres on the northeastern part of the Yucatan peninsula.

You will trek through incredible wetlands, swim in crystal blue waters, and enjoy stunning sunsets from above the canopy in our observation tower… all while living, working and training to help restore the balance of this fragile local ecosystem.

Life on the Program

Days begin early on the project. You will spend much of your time trekking through the forest or wetland area, recording signs of Jaguar, Puma or Ocelot. At the end of the day, we typically enjoy sunset from the 30-foot high observation tower at our base.

While the team hangs out and gets a chance to relax together after work, the station chefs will cook up dinner. Accommodations are in simple, shared cabanas, some built high enough to offer incredible canopy views.

During your time off you can explore some of the amazing attractions near the base like the nearby beaches with their endless clear turquoise water and white sandy beaches. For a little more of an adventure the famous Mayan ruins in Tulum are only 5 hours away!

Project Details

The data collected on this project is focused on increasing knowledge of biodiversity, including jaguar and puma behavior, to help with conservation polices and management plans being set forth at El Eden Reserve and beyond.

Some examples of the work being carried out on this project are:

Installing and using camera traps to record animal behavior
Tracking Jaguar, Puma and Ocelot
Constructing bird monitoring transects
Collecting biodiversity assessment data

How this project makes a difference:

Tourism in the Yucatan has brought a lot of growth. New homes encroach on the native habitat of the once plentiful wildlife in this region.

In conjunction with El Eden, our team has gathered some of the most recent and comprehensive data on jaguars and pumas in this region. This data is critical in helping organisations like El Eden establish policies and create strategies to protect these animals.