Nature Travel Specialists

Asia Wildlife Volunteer & Research Travel

JAPAN

POST-DOCTORAL RESEARCHER – We are seeking a post-doctoral researcher
with expertise in radiation studies and wildlife research to lead a
funded project on the effects of the Fukushima nuclear power plant
disaster on the local songbird community. Position is for 1 year
(renewable for an additional year) and candidate will be expected to
begin in late March or early April 2012. He/she will be based out of
IRSN (LRE, Cadarache) in France and annual salary is 25-35 k€ per year.
Ideal prior experience includes research in Chernobyl or on experimental
animal research on radiation in the lab. Candidate will spend several
months in Japan and duties will involve netting/trapping wild songbirds,
taking morphological measurements, blood samples for physiological
testing, and also include opportunities for expanding the research
program in, for example, developmental, behavioral, genetic, and
immunological directions. Please submit cover letter, curriculum vitae,
and names of two references to DR. CHRISTELLE ADAM-GUILLERMIN (EM:
christelle.adam-guillermin AT irsn.fr); review of applications will
begin immediately.      posted jan 24

CHINA

SHOREBIRD FIELD ASSISTANTS needed for study on stopover ecology in
Northeastern China Location: Dandong (Yalujiang River estuary),
Liaoning, China. Duration: March 25- May 25, 2012. Job type: Seasonal.
Application deadline: 28 Feb 2012. Job site: Dandong is a coastal
wetland, a Protected Area, and also an Important Bird Area. It is a
major staging site for tens of thousands of shorebirds (great knots,
bar-tailed godwits, dunlins, etc.) along the East Asian-Australasian
Flyway. Dandong is a hot-spot for migrants and provides an unparalleled
opportunity to witness thousands upon thousands of shorebirds, as well
as other Palearctic/Oriental birds. Job description: We are looking for
TWO volunteers to help conservation scientists monitor and research
shorebirds along the East Asian-Australasian flyway. As a research
assistant, you will work in a group of 5-7 people and assist in the
following tasks: 1) a radio-telemetry study on the movements of great
knots, 2) an assessment of migratory restlessness and orientation of
great knots, and 3) measuring and banding shorebirds. In addition, you
will be able to experience the unique culture of Northern China and
witness first-hand the ancient art of whistling-lures. We will provide
board and lodging for the duration of the study, though the assistants
are responsible for the costs of travel to and from China.
Qualifications: 1) Applicants should be enthusiastic, physically fit,
enjoy travel, and be willing to work long hours in the field. 2)
Applicants should speak English or Mandarin Chinese. To apply: Please
send 1) a cover letter and resume and 2) a letter of recommendation from
a professional to the following email addresses: (EM: zhijunm AT
fudan.edu.cn / zhijun.fudan AT gmail.com).     posted jan 24

VOLUNTEER ASSISTANTS needed for field study of Black-throated tits and Silver-throated tits in China at Beijing Normal University. Location:
Central China. Duration: 1-3 months. Job Description: Two to three volunteer assistants are needed for field study of the breeding behavior of Black-throated tits and Silver-throated tits in the Dongzhai National Nature Reserve, Henan Province, China. We have posted the positions before, but previous recruited assistants gave up coming at the last moment. The project will start in Feb and will last until mid-May.
Volunteers are welcome to join at any time during the project, but those who can spend at least 4 months here are preferred. Main duties include mist-netting and banding birds, searching nest, taking blood samples, behavioral observation, data entry, as well as any other works involved in the field. Assistants will work with students from Beijing Normal University, China and Alabama A&M University, USA. All expenses in China during work period (i.e. housing, foods, and local travels, etc) will be covered, but there is no salary, and the assistants are responsible for their travel to and from China. Volunteers will have opportunities to learn avian field research skills, see many Chinese endemic bird species in the reserve, and experience local Chinese tradition and culture.
Qualifications: Previous experience with birds is preferred, but not necessary. Basic training such as bird banding, behavioral observation, blood sampling, will be provided. Volunteers are expected to have strong interest in birds and animal behavior, physically fit and be willing to work for long and irregular time in the field, and share rooms with others. To apply and inquire, please contact JIANQIANG LI (EM:
lidove.bnu AT gmail.com). Applications should include a cover letter and a resume and we appreciate if the applicants could have 2 recommendation letters directly sent by references to the above email address when applying. Qualifications: Previous experience with birds is preferred, but not necessary. Basic training such as bird banding, behavioral observation, blood sampling, will be provided. Volunteers are expected to have strong interest in birds and animal behavior, physically fit and be willing to work for long and irregular time in the field, and share rooms with others. Number of Openings: 2 - 3      posted jan 16

VOLUNTEER FIELD ASSISTANTS for cuckoo study in China at Hainan Normal University, China. Website: http://www.hainnu.edu.cn Location:
southwestern, central and northern China. Duration: 2-3 months. Job
Type: Volunteer. Number of Openings: 1-3 for each project. Application
Deadline: 10 Mar 2012. Job Description: Volunteer field assistants needed for cuckoo study across north to south-western China. Two projects are available: 1) plaintive cuckoo vs tailorbirds and prinias (from March to May), in Nonggang NR, Guangxi, southwestern China; and 2) common cuckoo vs reed warblers and parrotbills (from May to July), in Dongzhai NR, Henan, central China; in Baiyangdian, Hebei; Zalong NR, Heilongjiang, north China. Duties include searching nest, mist-netting and banding birds, taking blood samples, model egg and dummy experiments and egg spectrometer measurement. Assistants will work with students from Hainan Normal University, China. All expenses in China during work period (i.e. housing, foods, and local travels, etc) will be covered, but there is no salary. Assistants are responsible for their travel to and from China. Qualifications: Previous experience with birds is preferred, but not necessary. Basic training such as model egg and dummy experiments, egg spectrometer measurement will be provided. Volunteers are expected to have strong interest in birds and animal behavior, physically fit and be willing to work for long and irregular time in the field. To apply, please send via email a cover letter and a resume to DR. WEI LIANG (EM: liangw AT hainan.net). We appreciate if the applicants could have 2 recommendation letters directly sent by references to the above email address when applying.     posted jan16

VOLUNTEER ASSISTANTS needed for field study of avian breeding biology in
China. at Alabama A&M University, USA and Beijing Normal University,
China. Location: Central China. Duration: 3-4 months. Job Type:
Volunteer. Number of Openings: 1-3 for each project. Job Description:
VOLUNTEER ASSISTANTS needed for field study of the breeding biology of
birds in central China. Two projects are available: 1) breeding behavior
of Black-throated Tit and Silver-throated Tit (starting on 1st Feb,
until May); and 2) breeding behavior of Hair-crested Drongos and Black
Drongos (from May to Aug). Duties include mist-netting and banding
birds, searching nest, taking blood samples, observing behavior,
radio-tracking, data entry, as well as any other works involved in the
field. The study site is located in the Dongzhai National Nature
Reserve, Henan Province, China. Assistants will work with students from
Beijing Normal University, China and Alabama A&M University, USA. All
expenses in China during work period (i.e. housing, foods, and local
travels, etc) will be covered, but there is no salary, and the
assistants are responsible for their travel to and from China.
Volunteers will have opportunities to learn avian field research skills,
see many Chinese endemic bird species, and experience the Chinese
tradition and culture. Qualifications: Previous experience with birds is
preferred, but not necessary. Basic training such as bird banding,
radio-tracking, will be provided. Volunteers are expected to have strong
interest in birds and animal behavior, physically fit and be willing to
work for long and irregular time in the field, and share rooms with
others. To Apply: To apply, please send via email a cover letter, a
resume and the recommendation letter from at least two references to
JIANQIANG LI (EM: lidove.bnu AT gmail.com) for the tit project and to
LUIS BIANCUCCI (EM: luis.biancucci AT gmail.com) and LEI LV for the
drongo project (EM: lvlei1004 AT 126.com).      posted dec 20

Malaysia

Ecoteer House - Perhentian Community & Conservation Project - Price RM264 for 2days upto RM664 for 1 week.
The Perhentian Islands are well renowned as the most beautiful islands in Peninsular Malaysia and consequently have become a haven for backpackers and travellers alike. The increase of tourists has seen a decline in the health of the coral reefs fringing the islands and the dilution of the villagers Malay culture.
AIM
to increase environmental and cultural awareness amongst the villagers and tourists.
OBJECTIVES
1) To assist the economy of the village through encouraging cultural services offered by the villagers.
2) To provide relevant after-school clubs and activities for the children of Perhentian.
3) To act as an example of responsible living to the Perhentian villagers.
4) To initiate environmental and cultural events in the village, for villagers and tourists to join together during ’Gotong Royong’ events.
5) To help the people in need in the village.
6) To act in harmony with the village and to act on the wishes of the villagehead and headmaster.
The Ecoteer House Project is increasing environmental awareness of the villagers by hosting a weekly Environmental club for the school children and starting in 2012 a weekly village clean up where the villagers and tourists are encouraged to join in.
In 2012 an English club will be run at the primary school to help improve the creative writing of the children. We are also proposing a weekly Eco-Snorkel club for the school children as well but this has not been confirmed.
Perhentian literately means a stopover and has been home to fishermen folk for over a century with tourists only visiting in significant numbers since 2000. Many of the fishermen now work as water taxi boatmen and snorkel guides whereas the women work as maids. The villagers have lots to share with us about island life and they are keen to learn from us too. The project is being guided by the village head and headmaster to ensure mutually beneficial outcomes and that we work hand-in-hand with the villagers.
This project is truely unique in Malaysia as you get to experience the beach and sea of the islands as well as the culture of the villagers this is a true island experience that shouldn’t be missed.
Tourists can come for as many days as they like - please visit our website at
http://ecoteerresponsibletravel.com/holiday/malaysianaturetravel/perhentiancommunityholiday/. Posted Sep 23.

Teach in Borneo
Volunteer Borneo and up hold the right that every child has access to basic primary education. This is the background statement that underpins Ecoteer Responsible Travels partner in Borneo. Our partner is a small and humble society but has far reaching impacts on the society in Borneo. Malaysia is a fast progressing nation with big improvements in living conditions and better education for its people. But many children living in the remote areas of Borneo still do not have access to schools, such as the children of Indonesian or filippino plantation workers in Sabah, mainly because of distance, poverty and/or legal status. Teach English and other subjects with us on our volunteer Borneo program and really help make a difference to the future of the children of Borneo.
The network of schools run by our partner is providing basic primary education for more than 9,000 children on the Palm Oil Plantations throughout Sabah. They have over 120 learning centres with 220 teachers. They are doing a great job but are presently the only NGO doing this work for the plantation children. It was estimated in April 2010 that 40,000 children live in palm oil plantations and do not receive basic primary education. When you look at the scale of the problem you soon see that they need your help.
The Volunteer Borneo and Teach English experience enables the children to benefit from English teaching from native speakers. An added benefit of the Volunteer Borneo program is that the children have to speak English to the volunteers, facilitating the childrens development and confidence in using English.
The Volunteer Borneo program has also introduced afternoon activities for the children increasing contact time between the volunteers and the children further facilitating the childrens confidence in English.

Please visit - http://ecoteerresponsibletravel.com/holiday/malaysianaturetravel/teachenglish/ Posted Sep 23.

Indonesia

Volunteer opportunities are available at several Indonesian animal rehabilitation facilities. Some of the programs include strictly sanctuary care, at others volunteers will be involved in rehabilitation, release and post release monitoring. Some of the programs are PPS Bali Rescue & Rehabilitation Centre, Suaka Elan, PPS Tasikoki Wildlife Rescue Centre and PPS Jogya Rescue Centre. Tasikoki accepts volunteers all year round and is focused on sanctuary care, however there are two releases of brahaminy kites coming up in the next month and the rehabilitation of a white bellied sea eagle. Jogya is strictly sanctuary care at the moment and has set dates for which the programs run. Suaka Elan is releasing a raptor and PPS Bali are releasing two Hornbills in November so volunteer programs would run during that time. Volunteering involves a 3 week stay where volunteers would do sanctuary care, release preparation, go on the release, and do post release monitoring. Volunteers may stay longer than 3 weeks if they wished to do more monitoring, post release, and the monitoring is possible. These programs are paid volunteer placements, the fees are about $300 per week, but vary from project to project. There is more information on our Indonesia Volunteer Opportunities page or Contact: Alexis Chavez, Volunteer Coordinator, Orangutan Outreach/ Tasikoki Wildlife Rescue Centre North Sulawesi, Indonesia. Email: volunteerATtasikoki.org. Phone: 62 81340871009. (Note Sulawesi time is about 12 hours ahead of US time.) www.tasikoki.org.

Orangutan Foundation International has volunteer opportunities available for active individuals who want to get their hands dirty and help save one of the earth's most bio-diverse areas.

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