Primate Behaviour Research Internship with Howlers

Fundación Para La Tierra is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of fragile habitats in Paraguay. Our vision is to change the course of Paraguayan environmentalism by inspiring people to appreciate the value of nature. We are working together with the Paraguayan government, local community members, national and international NGOs, and national and international volunteers and interns to protect Paraguay’s unique environment.

Para La Tierra achieves this mission through three primary programs: Scientific Research, Community Engagement, and Environmental Education.

Based in Paraguay, the ‘heart of South America,’ we are the country’s only year-round research station. Over the past 12 years, we have published over 130 peer-reviewed articles and discovered more than 10 new species. Along the way, over 500 interns have helped contribute to the better understanding of Paraguay’s understudied habitats.

About the Primate Behaviour Research Internship position:

Para La Tierra is searching for talented and hardworking research interns to join our team in Paraguay for 3 to 6 months. Our internship program provides young biologists an opportunity to step out of the classroom and into the field, gaining hands-on experience running a research project of their own design. With its basis in Pilar, the centre of the Ñeembucú Wetland System, our research station offers an incredible opportunity to study the highly adaptable arboreal black and gold howler monkeys in a variety of different habitats, from riparian forests to the city parks.

As tropical forests continue to disappear, it is increasingly important to understand how wild animals can survive alongside human populations. Para La Tierra is interested in understanding how the primates are affected by the urban environment of the city of Pilar, how their behaviour varies from that of the groups located outside the city, and what can be done to better protect the wild animals from the negative effects of the near constant human-wildlife interaction. The focus of the study will be completely defined by the intern’s own interests. Previous interns have studied: Parasitology, Human-Wildlife Interactions, Acoustic Behaviour, Social Structure, and Dietary Diversity.

Before arriving, our interns are challenged to come up with a research topic, review the relevant literature, and create a methodology with the support of our expert researchers. Once in-country, interns are trained in the field techniques required for their project, collect independent data, and analyse their results. Towards the end of the stay, all our interns give a final presentation in which they share the results of their study with the rest of the research team. The internship program is designed to give young scientists the opportunity to take control of every step of a scientific project. From conception to completion, our interns are in the driver seat.

Design your own wildlife project and contribute to long-term research in Paraguay!