Wildlife Research

Amazon, Guyana

$2795.00

 

The Experience

If you have a fascination for Indigenous culture and would like to help the community and Assist in wildlife research! Join the exciting volunteer program and assist in education development and while you are at it assist with researching the Black Caiman. The indigenous community needs your assistance in school, assist teachers in making school a fun place to be and while at it help research the Black Caiman.

Guyana is a land of giants, unfortunately many of these giants are under threat of extinction due to habitat loss, poaching and pollution. One of these giants, South America's largest Crocodilian species: the Black Caiman has suffered allot due to its prized leather hide highly wanted by poachers. Guyana is one the last strongholds for these giant caiman that can grow over 5 meters in length (16 feet). The Black Caiman research project goal is through research to study these magnificent giants to build up a management plant to help with the species survival!

 

This is Why

  • Venture in to the amazing jungle of South America, world’s last wildlife paradise.
  • Help to save the Amazing Black Caiman through research and study!
  • Assist the teachers in the school & Assist with a variety of tasks to help the Amerindian community
  • Help with sustainable eco-tourism projects at the lodge

 
 
Project Details
  • Key Start Dates
    September - April
  • 4 Weeks: $2795.00 US$
    8 Weeks: $3795.00 US$
  • Volunteer duration
    2, 4 or 8 weeks (other durations available on request)
  • Average Work hours
    8 hours per day, 6 days on 1 day off
  • Number of Volunteers
    2
  • Volunteer accommodation
    Available
  • Housing Type
    Over night hotel in Georgetown private room, Private hammock in a shared village house while in the rainforest!
  • Internet Access
    Yes, when arriving in Georgetown. Some very limited internet access via satellite in the rainforest at the project.
  • Who Are They Looking For?
    Adventurous individuals who have an interest in wildlife and the outdoors and who are able to live in basic conditions while working for a good cause.

Fast Facts: Guyana

Where? Guyana, Amazon

Country Size: 214,970 km2
83,000 sq mi

Population density? 3.5/km2
9.1/sq mi

Country Famous for? Last Frontier, last unspoield rainforest rich in wildlife,  Vaquero's (cowboys), Rupununi Rodeo festival, Unspoiled interior, Amazon jungle, Jaguars, Black Caiman, Giant Otters, Turtles, Harpy Eagles

When to visit: All Year Round.

      • What's Included
        • Placement
          Wildlife Research Amazon & Education
        • Accommodation
          While in transit through Georgetown you will stay in a basic hotel room (1 night), once in the rainforest you will share a village house and sleep in hammocks!
        • Meals
          Your meals will be included while you are hosted by the community, but you will need to help with preparation and occasionally harvesting. During your short stay in Georgetown meals are not included. During your short stopovers in Georgetown, meals are not included.
        • Airport Pick Georgetown + Hotel night

          An employee of the project will pick you up from the airport near Georgetown ( 1 hour) and will transfer you to your hotel where you wil stay for 1 night. The next morning you will be picked up from the hotel and you will be brought to a local domestic airport.
        • Domestic flight (return flight incl) + Airport Pick up

          An employee of the project will pick you up from your hotel in Georgetown and will transfer you to the airport. Included in this package is a domestic flight from Georgetown to Rockview by small airplane (approximately 2 hours flying over seemingly everlasting jungle). You will be picked up by a 4x4 vehicle from the air strip and transferred to the boat landing for your final transfer to the project.
        • Transfer to the project (By Boat)
          By boat you will be transferred to the project, after approximately 3 hours you will reach your destination at the project.
        • Returning home

          After your time at the project has been finished you will be transfer back to Georgetown by boat, 4x4  and domestic flight. At this point you can choose to travel home or to explore more of Guyana. We are of course happy to assist you with this.
        • Work permit
          For volunteering in Guyana a work permit is required as well as premmission needed to visit the Amerindian reserves. This will all be arranged after your arrival (as Guyana has no embassies abroad) and will be HASSLE FREE for you. The fee for this is included in the program cost.
        • Mail and Communications

          It is possible to receive and send mail from the town of Lethem via our Fronteering representative, however the postal service is very variable in such a remote area and the process regularly takes over a month. It is not unheard of never to reach it's destination! There will be internet connection and cell phone reception in both Georgetown and Lethem. There will be internet connection via satellite in the community, but it is worth noting that this can be very slow! There is no mobile phone reception outside of Georgetown and Lethem.
        • Ongoing service
          If there are any problems with your volunteer project we are always there to help you and mediate between yourself and the organization.
        • Tours
          Through FRONTEERING you have the possibility to book tours, Spanish (at nearby Isla Magaritha) and English Courses in Guyana before and/or after you have finished your volunteer project.
        • 24/7 Emergency contact
          If there are any problems during you stay at the project you can reach us 24/7 to assist you.

        What's not included: International flights, Insurance

        Package Price:
        4 Weeks: $2795.00 US$
        8 Weeks: $3795.00 US$

    • RESPONSIBILITIES

      This great experience will take you to the jungles of Amazonia, sat upon some of the oldest geological formations in the world. This is where Sir Walter Raleigh searched for El Dorado, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle dreamt up the stories of “The Lost World.” It is some of the most pristine and untouched primary jungle in the world and it’s under siege! Loggers can’t wait to cut down its precious tropical hardwood while miners can’t wait to cut down the forest to mine underneath it for diamonds and other precious materials. Without the jungle all its wildlife and the way of life of the Amerindians as they have lived for thousands of years will be lost! If this is not yet enough, another threat has risen in recent years. Since the last few years the world's biggest criminal enterprise after drugs has become the trafficking and trading of wildlife species. Wild Animals around the world are being sold for the ever growing exotic pet, luxury items and medicine markets putting many species directly at risk. Climate change might be big issue, but what many people unfortunately not realize is that the loss of biodiversity around the globe (extinction of species) is a far greater and more immediate issue. Together with the Amerindian Communities Fronteering has started efforts to research local wildlife species and educating the local communities through a wildlife club run together with Amerindian youngsters.
      Main project tasks you can get involved in:

      • Enviromental Research
      • Educating the public
      • Wildife Monitoring & Research
      • Building wildlife viewing hides
      • Mapping of reserves
      • Looking for poaching signs
      • Making Wildlife and forest trails
      • And many other projects to benefit its wildlife

      During this volunteer experience you will stay in hammocks and have the opportunity to be immersed in local life. Learn from these fascinating people about ancient legends, the medicinal properties of rare flora and extraordinary wildlife facts and sightings that you will find nowhere else. We concentrate on things that work, not that look fancy. This is the real stuff! Are you ready for a true adventure to learn about new cultures and live amongst a vast variety wildlife while saving the Amazon jungle and it’s people?

      • TASKS AND DUTIES

        For a minimum of 2 weeks you will volunteer in the area of Rewa where the Amerindian village of the Mukushi is located. With this project you will get to chance to help with wildlife monitoring and educational programs. The outcome of the results will be put to use for education, preservation and eco-tourism efforts. For example, in order to build a wildlife spotting hide to watch/study wildlife first you need to find out which location would be right to view wildlife and which wildlife can been seen in this area.
        As  part of the program you will research and monitor  specific species of animals to help local researchers, by counting and documenting animals, finding, tracks, claw marks, animals droppings and through more Sophisticated methods like setting camera traps..

  • Requirements, Guidelines & Policies
    • Experience in teaching, wildlife research or construction can be a plus!
    • Strong work ethics are required: reliable, responsible, honest, good sense of humor and dependable.
    • You must be physically and mentally fit. 
    • 18 years of age or older
    • Must love animals/outdoors
    • Make sure to contact your local health organization to inquire about the needed/recommended vaccinations and medicine.
  • Volunteer Benefits
    • Visit one of the last wildlife havens in the world
    • Work with the fascinating Makushi people, indigenous to this area of Guyanas
    • Live in one of the last pristine areas of rainforest in the world
    • Learn  jungle survival skills
    • Have the great opportunity to see rare wildlife species like: Giant river otters, Harpy Eagles, Black Caiman and the largest fresh water fish: The Arapaima
  • Fast Facts
    • Project location
      Central and southern Jungle of Guyana
    • Area Famous For
      Amazon Jungle, Wildlife viewing, Amerindian tribes, Iwokrama forest reserve, kaieteur falls
    • When to visit
      All Year Round
    • Wildlife viewing
      Some of the best in the world, however spotting wildlife can be difficult at first, Harpy Eagle - Largest eagle in the world, Arapaima - Largest fresh water fish in the world, Jaguar - Biggest cat in the Americas,
      giant Otter - largest otter in the world, capybara - Largest rodent in the world, anaconda - The largest snake in the world, bushmaster - World's largest viper
  • Accommodation

    While in transit through Georgetown you will stay in a basic hotel room (1 night), once in the rainforest you will share a village house and sleep in hammocks!

    Things to bring from home

    • Hiking Shoes
    • Rain gear
    • Anti Mosquito repellent + after bite
    • Sunglasses
    • Hat/cap to protect yourself from the sun
    • Suncream
    • Complete Kitlist will be provided after applying or on request

    Meals

    During your stay in Georgetown Meals are not included, while being in the jungle food will be included. Each project member will be involved in the food preparation.

    Location

    The Amerindian Community is located in one of the most unspoiled rainforest regions left in this world. It has an estimated 200 species of mammals, 500 of birds, 420 of fish and 150 species of amphibians. Close to 30% of the mammals are listed under the International Convention on the Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). This sounds great, but if they aren't protected properly, which means maintaining their environment, then they will not survive. Local people are the forest and animal’s best chance of protection from those outside who wish to rob the forest for profit; they just need a little help.

Testimonials coming soon!

 

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