This is your chance to join a unique turtle conservation expedition to Western Australia.
Courtesy of its partners Land Rover, Eco Beach, Swarovski Optik, Snowgum & Australia's North West Tourism, Biosphere Expeditions is offering two free places on its turtle expedition to Western Australia. And there’s more: next to the main prize of joining the expedition there is a pair of Swarovski binoculars and a Snowgum voucher to be won.
All you have to do is be prepared for a research expedition and tell us who you are, why we should take you on and what you think you can contribute to the expedition.
Biosphere Expeditions is an award-winning, non-profit-making organisation offering hands-on conservation expeditions as a volunteering adventure with a purpose for everyone. We bridge the gap between scientists at the forefront of conservation in need of funds and helpers, and enthusiastic laypeople, who in their holiday time, through their hands-on assistance and with their expedition contribution want to support them. The Western Australia expedition is only one example out of many, such as wolves & lynx in Slovakia, whales & dolphins on the Azores, snow leopards in the Altai, big cats in Namibia or coral reefs of the Maldives, Oman & Honduras. [
more].
First and second prize: the turtle expedition to Western Australia
This turtle conservation project will take you to Eco Beach resort and the strikingly beautiful coastline of Western Australia to conduct a survey of iconic Australian flatback turtles. You will measure and tag turtles, as well as observe and record data about their nesting behaviour. You will also help to collect DNA samples. This is a very hands-on project working from a remote but very comfortable and modern beach resort with the aim of determining flatback turtle nesting numbers and how far dispersed this genetic population is along the seashore of Western Australia. With Australian flatbacks still listed as ‘Data Deficient” internationally by the IUCN Red List, the actions of this project will go a long way in assisting to fill in the information gaps for this species.
More information about the expedition www.biosphere-expeditions.org/western-australia.
Eco Beach is a beautiful coastline resort, which doubles up as our
expedition base and kindly supports the turtle conservation project by
providing services & logistics for the expedition team.
More www.ecobeach.com.au.
Land Rover supply Biosphere Expeditions with the ultimate expedition vehicle as part of their sustainability program and have been instrumental to the running of many field projects such as the turtle project in Australia, lion & cheetah conservation in Namibia, snow leopard research in the Altai, Arabian leopard studies in Oman, jaguar & puma conservation in Brazil, work on chamois, wolves & bears in Slovakia, and a climate change expedition in the Spanish Pyrenees.
More www.landrover.com.au.
In North West Australia you’ll discover ancient landscapes like no others on Earth. This is the home of the Kimberley and the Pilbara regions. Enter a land of extraordinary contrasts, where the red rocky landscapes of the North West Australian outback meet the bright turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean and the Australian flatback turtle comes to nest on deserted sandy beaches.
More information www.australiasnorthwest.com.
Third prize: Swarovski Optik EL 32 TRAVELER binoculars - for memorable moments
It is the detail, which makes the moment unique and turns an expedition into an unforgettable experience. This is when perfect and light-weight binoculars are essential: absolutely sharp, precise and in diamond-bright, lifelike colors they provide glimpses which would otherwise remain hidden for ever.
More information www.swarovskioptik.com.
Fourth prize: a $200 gift card from Snowgum
Snowgum is Biosphere Expeditions' official gear partner in Australia and began designing and producing Travel & Outdoor clothing and equipment in 1924. Today, you’ll find innovative gear designed by travellers for travellers. Packs, luggage, bags, duffels, space savers, organisers, toiletry bags, locks, security tags, wallets, money belts, plugs & adaptors, ear plugs & eye shades, travel pillows & travel towels….and of course, travel clothes and footwear. Snowgum is Australia’s one stop travel shop!
More information
www.snowgum.com.au
You have two options of putting in an application. Either send us an essay (max. 300 words) or a video clip (max. 1 minute), which you can easily create yourself (for example using the movie setting of your digital camera) and upload to a video sharing site (for example YouTube). If you are not familiar with how to use YouTube, then
have a look at this short guide.
Whichever option you go for, we would like to know from you who you are, why we should take you on and what you think you can contribute to the expedition.
Note that Biosphere Expeditions organises serious research & conservation expeditions, not luxury or sports or party holidays. With this in mind our competitions are no "Pop Idol"-style castings events where you need to sing, dress up or otherwise make a fool out of yourself. We would like to get to know you as much as is possible within the above remit, so just be yourself!
Entry is open to anyone 18 years or over except employees of Biosphere Expeditions their immediate families. There is no cash alternative in whole or part and prizes are not transferable. The judges' decision is final. By participating in the competition, you accept these terms & conditions.
The application deadline is 1 October 2012.
Our corporate partners are crucial in reducing our running and expedition costs (for example by providing Land Rover vehicles and Swarovski binoculars & night sights) so that we can spend the lion's share of two-thirds or more of your expedition contribution directly on the project in hand.
Eco Beach is a beautiful coastline resort, which doubles up as our expedition base and kindly supports the turtle conservation project by providing services & logistics for the expedition team.
In North West Australia you’ll discover ancient landscapes like no others on Earth. This is the home of the Kimberley and the Pilbara regions. Enter a land of extraordinary contrasts, where the red rocky landscapes of the North West Australian outback meet the bright turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean and the Australian flatback turtle comes to nest on deserted sandy beaches.
Land Rover supply Biosphere Expeditions with the ultimate expedition
vehicle as part of their sustainability program and have been
instrumental to the running of many field projects such as the turtle
project in Australia, lion & cheetah conservation in Namibia, snow
leopard research in the Altai, Arabian leopard studies in Oman, jaguar
& puma conservation in Brazil, work on chamois, wolves & bears
in Slovakia, and a climate change expedition in the Spanish Pyrenees.
Swarovski Optik, headquartered in Absam, Tyrol, is part of the Austrian Swarovski Group. Founded in 1949, Swarovski Optik today specializes in the manufacture of precision sports optics and is a world leader in the premium segment of this market. Thanks to a proven track record for unparalleled quality, Swarovski binoculars, telescopes, rifle scopes, range finders, image intensifier and optronic devices are the preferred choice of many professional users and discerning nature watchers around the globe. In 2009 Biosphere Expeditions was delighted to become one of a select few partners in Swarovski Optik's travel & nature sponsorship programme.
Snowgum began designing and producing outdoor clothing and equipment in 1974. For over 34 years their gear has been the essential traveller's companion - from the Himalayas to the Sahara, across the Outback, up the Amazon and down the Nile - visiting every corner of the planet. As they travelled, Snowgum's products evolved. Today, you're as likely to see Snowgum outdoor clothing and equipment on Sydney Harbour daytrippers, London Tube commuters or visitors enjoying the Piazzas of Rome, as on serious trekkers in Nepal or Machu Picchu - their range of Lifestyle Climate Control Clothing is constantly growing to meet the demands of active lifestyles everywhere.
