Volunteer opportunity in Montserrat, West Indies

A fantastic amphibian project entitled “Enabling Montserrat to save the Critically Endangered mountain chicken”, presented by Durrell, ZSL, Chester zoo, Parken zoo and DOE, Montserrat is offering you a unique opportunity to get involved with pioneering work at the cutting-edge of conservation. Volunteers are urgently needed in the Caribbean and this could be your chance to have an impact and help save a species from extinction.

In Feb 2009 the deadly chytrid fungus was discovered on the island of Montserrat, threatening populations of the already endangered mountain chicken frog. With the fungus already devastating populations in Dominica, the only other island in the world where these frogs are still found, the Mountain Chicken Recovery Programme was called in to rescue a safety net population from Montserrat, to be taken into captivity, to ensure these animals were not lost altogether. With the breeding programme being so successful, we were able to complete a pioneering introduction of this species in the dry season in Jan 2011. As this release was so successful we completed a second release in Jan 2012 and a third in November 2012.

We require the support of two keen volunteers to work alongside our Montserratian field team to continue to radio track and monitor this third set of frogs which were released in November 2012. We are looking for two people who are able to commit to approximately two months starting 28th January 2013 and ending on the 31st March 2013. Please note that the start date is flexible.

Volunteer activities will be focused around intensively tracking and searching for released frogs and taking samples and data in the field. Training will be given in radio tracking, handling of amphibians and bio-secure techniques. Volunteers will also be responsible for the inputting of data and writing blog posts for the website.

Ideally, applicants will have a background in biological sciences, experience of working in the tropics and previous radio tracking experience. However, as the work will be at night and sometimes long hours involved, flexibility, commitment and determination to work, under sometimes uncomfortable or frustrating conditions, combined with good physical fitness and careful attention to data recording are the most important attributes we look for.

Volunteers will need to cover their own flights, vaccinations, personal equipment and insurance but the project will cover in-country costs for basic subsistence and accommodation.

This is the ideal opportunity for someone looking for practical conservation experience working with some of the world's most threatened species. However, the nature of this work requires the volunteer to be focussed and self-motivated. Working hours are long and fieldwork will take place 6 nights per week with one day off. However, as fieldwork is at night, volunteers have the days to rest and relax. Also the opportunity to live and work in a tropical country on real conservation projects will be more than compensation for the right candidates.

If you wish to apply, please contact recruitment@durrell.org

Deadline: 1st February 2013

For more information on the progress of the last release, please see our website: www.mountainchicken.org