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 conservation team on the Yucatan peninsula to help save endangered carnivores. Our project collects 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.

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

Life on the Program

Work starts early on the project. Most of the time you will be trekking through the forest or wetland area, and 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.

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

During your time off you can explore some of the amazing things that are near our base like nearby beaches with the 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.

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

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

How this program 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 organizations like El Eden establish policies and create strategies to protect these animals.