During this internship you have the opportunity to explore one of the most remote regions of the Costa Rican rainforest on the Caribbean Coast and play a vital role in the development and management of the long-term wildlife conservation of the Tortuguero National Park. You will work upon vital conservation projects, including conducting marine turtle monitoring and conservation, jaguar predation and abundance research, canal bird monitoring, and mammal camera trapping. Working alongside a dedicated staff supervisor to ensure you maximize your placement, cultural and learning activities, this internship allows you to make a real difference to conservation while also gaining invaluable hands on practical experience in a variety of fields including project management and team leadership.

How this program makes a difference:

GVI continue to increase knowledge of jaguars and their predation of marine turtles, through active management have achieved massive reductions in marine turtle nest poaching, and help monitor populations of birds, marine turtles and large mammals. In the past year we have presented work at the highest level to conferences around the world, including the Mesoamerican Society of Biology and Conservation, the International Sea Turtle Symposium and the congress of the Society of Conservation Biology. Together with increasing the scientific knowledge of the area, GVI Costa Rica have been invited to act in consultation with MINAET over their latest management plan for the Wildlife Refuge and to present information to other researchers and University groups. Our community work aims at furthering our direct Proposal for Recruitment for GVI Costa Rica conservation efforts and our National Scholarship Program has helped several nationals gain employment in ecotourism and conservation.

Highlights:

• Getting the chance to go on this unique adventure in a Costa Rican National Park
• Enjoying life at the research station
• Learning about the wildlife and their habitat
• Seeing unique wildlife in marine and coastal rainforest environments, including turtles, monkeys, neo-tropical birds and amphibians
• Exploring the area by boat and canoe, including remote Caribbean beaches, joining the research team to undertake turtle nesting surveys and monitor nesting sites
• Participating on jaguar surveys
• Setting up and checking camera traps
• Interacting with the local community on the GVI community education programs

Qualifications:

No special training or qualifications are required as you will receive training in the field.

For more information on this program, please visit our website:

www.gviusa.com/internships/central-america/costa-rica/environmental-internship-costa%20rica/home