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Title | Field Biologist Volunteers, Andean Bear Research, Ecuador |
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Description |
Field biologist volunteers needed to help with tracking bears for a ground-breaking project studying Andean bears (also known as spectacled bears) in the mountains, cloud forests and páramo of northern Ecuador. You’ll help with the collection of camera trap data, scat, hair samples and tracks in the field. South America’s only bear species, Tremarctos ornatus, is classed as “vulnerable” across its range due to habitat loss and illegal hunting, and “endangered” in Ecuador.
This scientific research project is run by biologist and human-Andean bear conflict expert Andres Laguna. We are
Both Andean bears and mountain tapirs are timid, solitary creatures living in dense cloud forests and are rarely seen by humans. Despite being large mammals, little is known about them. Your volunteer work here will extend the world’s understanding of the bears’ ecology and behavior in the hope of saving them from extinction.
This volunteer position is a fantastic opportunity for students or graduates of conservation biology, environmental science, zoology or similar subjects to gain practical field experience. For those wanting a career in conservation biology or wildlife monitoring, volunteering with us will provide valuable experience in field data collection using various different methods. It may even count as a field biology internship for some universities. It’s real research, not a pre-packaged “volunteer experience”, so be prepared for mud, delays, challenges and things not always going as expected, as well as the reward of great views after tough hikes, or sightings of rare and endangered wildlife.
One of the reasons that so little is known about these species in this habitat is the physical difficulty of working on steep slopes, at altitude, in a cloudforest climate. Volunteers must be fit and able to walk at altitude (3,000 to 4,000m.a.s.l.) in sometimes adverse weather conditions in the beautiful, muddy Andes Mountains. “Walk” in this context may also include
For more information see http://www.andeanbear.org/conservation-volunteer.html to download an information pack. Please |