Work alongside experts documenting and studying flora and fauna of the Peruvian Amazon
This is an exciting opportunity for young biologists and biology students to work in a team of experts monitoring the animal and plant life of the Peruvian Amazon. You’ll live and work in the El Sira Communal Reserve helping to support the conservation of biodiversity in the area.
The main focus of this organization is conservation of the Amazon Rainforest, however they take a multifaceted approach to this goal. They believe the best way to make an enduring progress in rainforest conservation is by working with local communities to develop sustainable practices and create alternative job opportunities that don’t rely on destruction of the Amazon. So, as well as monitoring threatened species and their habitats, they document biodiversity and gather materials that can be used in educational programs.
As an intern, you’ll work alongside national and international professional biologists monitoring endangered species. Your working field is about an eight-hour trek into the jungle. There, you’ll use camera traps and other wildlife observation methods to gather information on a variety of wildlife. In this way, you’ll help gather information and further knowledge on 54 species of mammals, 203 species of birds,105 species of reptiles, 111 species of bony fish, and 190 species of plants.
ORGANIZATION
This is a conservation-focused NGO based on the outskirts of the Peruvian Amazon working to protect the rainforest through youth empowerment and community development. They have a series of goals aimed to reduce poverty and drive sustainable development in the local region including improving education for children for the area, teaching English skills, and creating infrastructure for tourism. They believe that by building skills and creating new job opportunities, they can curtail activities that harm the rainforest and incentivize its conservation.
TASKS & REQUIREMENTS
You’ll be working monitoring physical and biological variables affecting the preservation of threatened species and protected habitats. Interns will have the opportunity to work in two different reserves, trekking deep into the jungle with a team of porters allowing you to focus entirely on your work.
What you’ll do
- Conducting surveys on mammals, birds, reptiles, and plantlife
- Measuring physical variables affecting habitats
- Monitoring habitats
- Setting and collecting camera traps
- Capturing video and photographic images of flora and fauna
- Writing reports
- Corroborating findings for educational materials
Requirements
- Must be studying towards or have completed a degree in biology, biotechnology, environmental studies, zoology, botany, or a related field
- A deep passion for conservation, and specifically rainforest conservation
- Strong written communication
- Photography skills
- Intermediate Spanish language skills recommended
- Survival and navigation skills
- Ideally first aid training
- Willingness to live and work in challenging conditions of the rainforest
WHERE YOU’LL STAY
You’ll be based in Puerto Inca in the Huánuco region of Peru. This is an area of stunning natural beauty situated along the Sira Mountains in the Amazon Rainforest and bisected by the Pachitea River. The majority of the population lives off farming but deep within the jungle native communities still upholding their customs and traditions can be found too. As well as its extraordinary biodiversity, the area is famed for a number of geological and archaeological sites you can visit during your internship.
Interns stay in rural huts right in the mitts of the rainforest, surrounded by nature. You’ll have an eco-toilet, shower, and cooking facilities where you can cook for yourself. During free weekends, you can stay in one of the cabins in Puerto Inca. You will also go out on field trips further away from field camp, where you will spend the night in a tent (bringing your own tent is not a must but recommended). When you are in Puerto Inca, you will have access to WIFI, but there is no internet access in the field. This is very basic accommodation with limited resources, so this program is best suited to interns accustomed to a more stripped back way of life.
DATES & RATES
Internship start on a Monday and it’s recommended to arrive on weekends, so you can explore Puerto Incas before you start your internship on Monday. Start and end dates are flexible and will be discussed with you during the selection process.
What you’ll pay (2023 rates)
3-6 months USD 3,150
Longer stays are possible at an additional fee for every extra month.
What you are paying for:
- Careful matchmaking. It takes time to find the right internship for each person, and we take this process very seriously.
- Initial interview with one of our team to gauge your skills, interests, and desired learning outcomes.
- Shared accommodation in one of the huts in the rainforest with access eco-toilet, shower, and cooking facilities. During field trips further out, you will stay in a tent (provided for by the organization, but it’s highly recommended you bring your own tent).
- When you are in Puerto Inca, you will stay in one of the cabins where you will have access to WIFI, but there is no internet access in the field!
- Transfer from/to the airport of Pucallpa or bus station (ride from Pucallpa to Puerto
Inca takes 3 hours approximately) - Assistance with your visa arrangement & other preparations
- An orientation program with your supervisor
- Supervision and support during your internship
- Regular check-ins and feedback from your supervisor
- Activities: five trips to different spots in the rainforest including camping trip as well as fruit picking and an artisanal making chocolate workshop
- Access to workshops with a focus on career development
- Troubleshooting if needed
- A reference letter at the end of your internship
Excludes:
- Flights
- Visa, medical and travel insurance costs for the duration of your placement – must include cover for repatriation
- Daily transport
- Meals
- Drinks, snacks, and items of personal nature (f.e. curios, gifts, clothing)
- Costs for additional excursions or activities
QUICK FACTS
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Puerto Inca, Peru |
 |
Conservation NGO |
 |
Data capture, Reporting, Surveys, Camera traps |
 |
Min. 3-6 months |
 |
From USD 3,150 |
INTERNSHIP HIGHLIGHTS
- Gain international experience in conservation work
- Make close contact with the wildlife of the Peruvian Amazon
- Develop skills with wildlife monitoring techniques and equipment
- Build in depth knowledge of Amazon and its preservation
- Live and work in the Amazon Rainforest
3-6 MONTHS USD 3,150
HOW TO APPLY
If you’re ready to apply for this internship, here’s what to do:
APPLY
Fill in the application form (it will show in a new screen) which includes sharing your CV to us
SPEAK WITH AN ADVISOR
We’ll set up a call with you to go through your application.
INTERNSHIP MATCHING
If we feel it’s a good match, we’ll set up a call between you and the supervisor for this internship.
PAYMENT
If everyone’s happy, we’ll provisionally confirm your placement! We’ll then send you the invoice for the deposit, getting started with the booking process and all the info you need.
CONFIRMATION
Only once we receive payment of the deposit your placement will be confirmed.
NEED TO MAKE AN ENQUIRY FIRST?
Or if you’d just like to ask us some questions about this internship first, just fill in the contact form below. We’ll be happy to assist!
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