Conservation Volunteers
Conservation volunteers
with the
Andean Bear Project are vital to our work in researching the bears.
As a conservation
volunteer, you will help us to collect radio telemetry data about the
bears´ location. This data will be
analysed to help understand more about the space the bears need so that
we can produce a management plan to help reduce conflict between bears
and local landowners and farmers.
The data collection work
involves the conservation volunteers walking along set routes in the
mountains and cloud
forest, stopping at designated listening stations to listen with an
antenna for radio
signals from Andean bears that we have fitted with radio collars.
Volunteers are
also
involved in collecting hair samples for genetic analysis, maintaing
paths and perhaps even helping to capture a bear.
Conservation volunteers
stay in the "bear house", a shared house in the beautiful Intag region
of Ecuador where we
work. Volunteer accommodation is basic but comfortable with
fantastic views of the mountain scenery. There are usually
hummingbirds outside the window and you can probably see about 20
species of birds just from the kitchen doorstep. Volunteers
may help in our organic vegetable plot.
Volunteers with an
interest in
wildlife conservation will find volunteering on the project a rewarding
experience and it is not necessary to be a biologist or ecologist to
apply. Some volunteers looking for a career in
conservation
biology
or wanting to work as a wildlife technician have used their volunteer
placement with us to gain field experience and some universities will
count it as a
biology internship.
Prospective volunteers
must be at
least 19 years
of age, in good health and fit enough to be able to walk at altitude in
the Andes
Mountains. No experience is necessary and you do not need to
speak Spanish to participate as a conservation volunteer.
For more information
about being a conservation volunteer on the project and instructions on
how to apply, download the
Volunteer
Information Pack 2010 or the Volunteer
Information Pack 2011. Questions about volunteering
might be answered in the Volunteering
FAQs, if not then feel free to
contact us at the email address listed in the Volunteer Information
Pack. Look through photographs
from previous volunteers for
more inspiration.
Conservation volunteer
opportunities are available all
year round, subject to availability - see the Volunteer
Opportunities
Calendar for an idea of vacancies currently
available.
Andean
Bear Conservation Project: Conservation Volunteers
Opportunities for volunteers to help with environmental and wildlife
conservation in the field in Ecuador
