Stand out from other candidates by working in some of the world's rarest habitats on research projects designed by Madagascar National Parks AND get career training from Conservation Careers!

An exceptional career starts with an exceptional internship. Travel to the last remaining primeval rainforest on the island of Nosy Be, home to rare, critically endangered species. Here, you’ll learn how real conservationists manage issues such as illegal logging and poaching and start to master wildlife conservation techniques that’ll set you up for a lifetime of success in the field.

In a competitive world, to get the job you want, you have to stand out. So why not start in one of the most outstanding places on Earth, Madagascar. This is a conservation internship for those who are a little different, because Madagascar is a little different. Most of the species on the island can only be found here. This includes the famous lemur, the most endangered mammal on earth.

You’ll be working to conserve the sole remaining rainforest on Nosy Be island and its at-risk inhabitants in the protected area of Lokobe National Park. Some of the precious species that call this singular old-growth rainforest home are the critically endangered Nosy Be mouse lemur, also known as the Claire’s mouse lemur, one of the smallest primates in the world.

Through population census and biodiversity surveys, you’ll help to gather data on these threatened species. Your work will also help to establish the baseline biodiversity of the forest.

Some of the most significant threats to wildlife in the area are deforestation and poaching. You’ll be learning from local conservationists how they prevent both and get involved where you can. You might discuss with them how they work against illegal logging or how they protect the panther chameleon, an animal frequently poached for the international pet trade. There might also be a chance to support indigenous plant nurseries and help work to establish new populations of traditional medicinal plants.

Highlights

• Conduct cutting-edge research: Kick-start your conservation career by joining a world-class research team as they collect data on several rare and critically endangered species.
• Find beautiful biodiversity: Immerse yourself in three diverse, species-rich ecosystems – rainforest, ocean and tropical coast – in one location.
• Get hands-on experience: Get broad exposure to a variety of conservation fieldwork projects and training opportunities to grow your skills.
• Contribute to vital research: Support a team of scientists and academics with ongoing, cutting-edge research that gets published and makes an impact.
• Work for real partners: Work on a real project for a conservation partner to address critical environmental issues in the area.
• Stand out from the crowd: Participate in practical training sessions to develop your leadership skills and receive guidance from experienced mentors.
• Advance your career: Gain international experience, receive four recognised qualifications and get a LinkedIn reference to boost your CV.
• Live in remote habitats: Travel off the beaten track to live and work on a research station in the wild. Get exclusive access to protected species and unique ecosystems.

Our Award-winning Partner

Conservation Careers has teamed up with an award-winning, mission-driven organisation with a team of passionate experts across the globe who will make your experience a truly unforgettable one.

Founded in 1998, they run programs in 26 locations, in 22 countries around the world, each aligned to the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals as well as the objectives of local partners. They welcome participants from all around the world and help facilitate their development into global citizens. This is how they achieve their mission of building a global network of people united by their passion to make a difference.

Their commitment to running high-quality sustainable development and experiential education programs has earned them recognition from numerous organizations such as Panthera, the Seychelles Parks & Gardens Authority, as well as Stanford, NYU, Duke, and Ohio State.

If you register your interest below, you’ll put you in touch with our partner to take the booking and to plan your trip!

Explore all our Conservation Careers Internship opportunities.

Life On Base

Our base is located on Nosy Be island – also known as the “Perfumed Island” because of its ylang-ylang plantations, which give off a beautiful floral scent during their flowering season. This island is also renowned for its extinct volcanoes, ancient rainforests and an abundance of rare and incredible species that cannot be found anywhere else in the world, such as the Nosy Be panther chameleon, the Hawks’ sportive lemur and the Madagascan fish eagle. Nosy Be means “big island” in the local Malagasy language, and is located off the northwestern coast of Madagascar.

Fieldwork on the conservation project includes trekking through the Lokobe National Park, (a strict reserve), looking for signs of critically endangered lemurs and the great variety of bird, reptile, amphibian and butterfly species that call this rainforest habitat home. Forest surveys are conducted in the morning or at night. You can catch spectacular sunsets and sunrises over the Indian Ocean. There are bound to be many priceless photo opportunities during the course of your program.

If you choose to complete a community development program, you will assist with teaching the English language – supporting the younger students with the language, as well as assisting with their grasp of environmental education. That will take place in the mornings. English is a vital skill for people to learn as it’s highly sought after in the local job market and tourism industry.

Activities

Some of the example typical activities you could participate in on this program include:

• Fieldwork training: Identify species, conduct surveys and population assessments, assess threats to terrestrial ecosystems, and track ecosystem-level processes.
• Lead biodiversity surveys: Learn to track wildlife and conduct lemur, bird, reptile and biodiversity surveys.
• Contribute to project work: Enter data into citizen science databases, and lead environmental education and community outreach workshops on various environmental topics.
• Leadership training: Learn how to plan and set team goals, create supportive team environments, and reflect on your own leadership style.
• Leadership responsibilities: Take on additional responsibilities such as entering data, writing reports and summaries, and updating species lists and fieldwork checklists.
• Personal project: Work on an individual project that aligns with your personal interests.
• Mentorship: Meet weekly in a small group with other interns and an experienced mentor to receive project guidance and feedback on your leadership style.

Skills

• Data collection
• Data entry
• Population ecology
• Species identification
• Survey research
• Wildlife conservation
• Leadership
• Project management
• Critical thinking
• Creativity
• Resiliency
• Time management
• Volunteering
• Cultural awareness
• Interpersonal skills
• Communication
• Teamwork
• Easily adaptable