We are looking for short-term volunteers with interests in conservation biology. Volunteers should be hard working, responsible, very enthusiastic and patient. The candidates should be prepared to work independently in the field, at high temperatures (28-32ºC with high humidity), and thus previous experience with fieldwork, preferably with birds, tortoises or turtles, is valuable. You must also be able to get along well with others and be fairly fit, able to walk 2 km over moderate terrain and have some previous wildlife monitoring experience. Bird ringing and bird identification skills are a plus.
The volunteers will get involved in all the activities of the Environmental Department, from fieldwork to data entry. The current main priorities and activities are:
- Eradication of the Indian Myna (Acridotheres tristis).
- Marking and monitoring of the Aldabra Giant Tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea) population.
- Marking and monitoring of the Green (Chelonia midas) and Hawksbill Sea Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) populations.
- Banding and monitoring of the reintroduced Seychelles White-eye (Zosterops modestus).
- Banding, monitoring and rehabilitation of the seabird populations, mainly the Wedge-tailed Shearwater (Puffinus pacificus) and the White-tailed Tropicbird (Phaeton lepturus).
- Habitat assessment prior to the reintroduction of the Seychelles Magpie Robin (Copsychus sechellarum).
- Monitoring of the migrant bird species that occur in the island.
- Rehabilitation of the endemic vegetation of North Island, paying special attention to the Takamaka forest.
- Digitalize the field fauna and flora database of North Island.
North Island will cover accommodation and food, as well as transfers from Mahé to North Island. Volunteers must pay for their transportation to Seychelles.
Minimum stay of 6 weeks, but volunteers staying longer will be preferred. Bachelor or Biology students will be given preference.
To apply please send an email to Dr. Javier Cotín – JavierC@north-island.com
Please apply by sending an email containing your Curriculum Vitae (with recent photo), a letter of interest explaining why you want to join our team as well as contact information of at least two references and the range of dates when you will be available and how long you can participate. For example you may say something like “any 60 day period between June and October 2013”. Please keep in mind that the working language at North Island is English, so an acceptable level is required.
