Aquatic Conservation Internship: Sundarbans - based in Bangladesh

ZSL is working with the Wildlife Trust of Bangladesh to conserve one of the world’s largest remaining populations of tigers along with its home in the Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest. ZSL is part of the Sundarbans Tiger Project (STP), which started as a scientific research project but has since grown into a holistic conservation programme. ZSL staff helped create the Bangladesh Tiger Action Plan which addresses a full range of tiger conservation issues from tiger and prey poaching to woodcutting, using holistic solutions combining law enforcement, education and livelihood initiatives. The Sundarbans Tiger Project is located in the mangrove forest lies on the delta of the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna rivers on the Bay of Bengal. The area is home to one of the largest surviving single populations of tigers in the world.
The Aquatic Conservation Intern will provide field and office support to our Aquatic Conservation Scientist and local research team in conducting a six month pilot project to collect baseline research and scope a longer term aquatic conservation programme focused on mangroves and fisheries in the Sundarbans. This will help implement one of the objectives of the Tiger Action Plan, to maintain sufficient habitat to support the Sundarbans tiger and prey populations.

The person must be available to start the project at the end of September, arriving in Bangladesh at the beginning of October and is a six month contract. The project will primarily be based at the ZSL project office in Khulna, Bangladesh, with extensive field visits and periods at the main ZSL office in Dhaka. The internship includes a return flight from London to Bangladesh, visa costs, local field costs and an honorarium that equates to a local salary.

Please send a CV and covering letter by email to hr@zsl.org or by post to HR Department, ZSL, Regent’s Park, London NW1 4RY.

Closing date: Monday 12th September 2011 with interviews held the week of the 19th September