Overview

This practical internship programme in the midst of Peru’s magnificent Amazon rainforest offers you the opportunity to gain a unique insight in the field of primatology and to gain valuable research experience.

Details

Community disease ecology, wildlife handling, primate communication and space use or sensory ecology – it is up to you which research focus you choose. Experienced scientists instruct and help you and provide you with valuable theoretical and practical knowledge. Surrounded by the Amazon rainforest, you will experience a unique learning adventure.

Community Disease Ecology
This internship programme focuses on species research. As an intern you’ll be involved in identifying primate species, following and observing primate groups and collecting and securing faeces samples. These can provide the most important information on DNA, hormonal balance, nutritional habits and parasitic infestations of an animal.

Wildlife Handling
As part of this programme, individuals from two Peruvian tamarin species are captured once per year, and released back into the wild after completion of research work. Alternatively, you can concentrate on terrestrial mammals and birds of the Amazon – depending on how you want to set your focus. You learn how to handle these animals and gain valuable knowledge of the biology of primates, mammals and birds. You will practice the recording of morphometric data and the collection and processing of numerous samples.

Primate Communication and Habitat Use
As an intern in this programme, you will get involved in researching the geographical distribution and the spatial use as well as the vocal and scent communication system of different Peruvian tamarin species. Experienced scientists will help and instruct you all the time and share with you their valuable theoretical and practical expertise.

Sensory Ecology
This programme’s focus is on the visual faculty of tamarin monkeys. As an intern you will observe and compare the animals’ behaviour, collect data and conduct different experiments. You will also learn how to record the data obtained from your research work, how to conduct data analyses and how to correctly supervise scientific experiments.

Accommodation

After arriving at Puerto Maldonado International Airport you will be picked up and spend the first night in a hostel in the city. The next day you will make your way to your new home and work place: a research station, located at the foot of the Southern Andes in the Amazon rainforest. In the station you’ll find a laboratory, a library, a classroom, a dining room and two dormitories, where you will be accommodated. The dormitories are equipped with bunk beds and have access to shared bathrooms.

You will be provided with three daily meals plus snacks during your stay in the research station. It may happen that you need to stay in Puerto Maldonado for one night after you have left the research station. During this stay in the hostel, breakfast is included whereas lunch and dinner need to be purchased separately.

Gallery

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Dates, Services, Cost

Dates

  • 2019 start dates Community Disease Ecology: 03.06., 17.06., 24.06., 01.07.
  • 2019 start dates Wildlife Handling: 27.05., 03.06., 10.06.
  • 2019 start dates Primate Communication/Habitat Use: 03.06., 17.06., 01.07.
  • 2019 start dates Sensory Ecology: 03 June, 10 June, 17 June, 24 June, 01 July, 08 July 

Services

  • Placement in the internship
  • Assistance with travel arrangements
  • Assistance with selecting travel insurance
  • Assistance with booking flights
  • Pre-departure information pack
  • Airport pick up and drop off
  • Accommodation during the internshp
  • All meals during the internship
  • Course-related equipment
  • Lectures
  • Excursions
  • English-speaking support by long-term experienced staff
  • Certificate
  • 24/7-support throughout the project

Fees

  • Community Disease Ecology – 4 weeks: 1.900 EUR
  • Wildlife Handling – 4 weeks: 1.900 EUR
  • Primate Communication – 6 weeks: 2.725 EUR
  • Sensory Ecology – 3 weeks: 1.500 EUR

Find out more or reserve your place