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City/State: Antananarivo and Fort Dauphin (Tolagnaro) |
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Country: MADAGASCAR
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| Azafady |
Studio 7
1a Beethoven Street
London
UNITED KINGDOM
W10 4LG
Phone: 020 8960 6629
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Program description: |
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HELP SAVE THE LEMUR: Volunteer with Lemur Venture on the tropical island of Madagascar to carry out vital conservation work for the protection of these endangered endemic primates
Today the lemurs of Madagascar that have populated the island’s forests for millions of years are in a fight for survival. These remarkable, long tailed, tree-living primates have fallen prey to dramatic levels of forest clearances and hunting and are now under threat. Some species of lemur have already been lost and others are close to extinction.
The good news is the fight back has begun. Azafady UK has teamed up with Madagascar’s Parc Botanique et Zoologique de Tsimbazaza (PBZT) to launch Lemur Venture - a unique volunteer research programme designed to discover more about these exceptional creatures and their natural habitat.
Azafady is assembling teams of 14 volunteers who will travel out to Madagascar for 8 weeks (shorter time periods are available by arrangement). No prior experience or knowledge is required - though the programme will most likely appeal to those with an interest in ecology and in particular for those perhaps considering a career in zoology, animal care or conservation.
The programme’s special focus is on gathering information on several species of lemur in the wild in order to improve success rates of captive breeding programmes both in Madagascar and around the world. This is specialised conservation orientated work that will add to the international knowledge base on these primates.
As a Lemur Venture research volunteer you will train alongside the PBZT team in Antananarivo for the first week. This will include all of the usual park activities involved in caring for animals in captivity.
After the first week you will head out into the field to study wild lemurs. You will work closely with trained professionals from both PBZT and Azafady to gain an insight into real grassroots conservation and basic field skills.
This is a very special programme that offers a unique opportunity to gain valuable conservation skills and experience as well as make a significant contribution towards helping one of the world’s most threatened and remarkable species.
- Where you’ll live
Camping facilities are provided for volunteers throughout their stay, although everyone must bring their own tent! Facilities are basic, especially when working in rural areas, and volunteers should be prepared for a programme that involves early morning rises, working in the evenings, physical exertion, adventurous road journeys and long hikes to reach remote and beautiful project sites. This will give you a real insight into the amazing diversity of the Malagasy landscape, from the south's dry spiny desert, to the rainforest-ringed beauty of Fort Dauphin, to the wet coastal forests of the littoral forest zone.
If you would like to be involved in this unique project or find out more about Azafady and the Lemur Venture Programme please visit our website or call Mark Jacobs on + 44 (0) 20 8960 6629.
Thanks for your time and we hope to hear from you soon!
Further Information
- Madagascar: A threatened ‘Lost World’
Madagascar, situated off the east coast of Africa, is recognized as one of the planet's top conservation priorities. Around 80-90% of the island's plant and animal species are found nowhere else on earth. Many unique species have already been lost, whilst many others - including some as yet un-described by science - face extinction. Despite their biological significance, much remains to be discovered about the basic biology of lemurs. Research to gain a greater understanding of these prosimians and their natural habitat is of tremendous importance.
- Azafady
Azafady is a registered charity in the UK (No. 1079121) and a Malagasy NGO. It has been working on environmental, humanitarian and sustainable development projects in southeast Madagascar since 1994.
Azafady has an excellent reputation for its volunteer programmes. The Azafady Pioneer scheme has been Highly Commended in the Best for Volunteering category of the First Choice Responsible Tourism Awards organised by online travel agent responsibletravel.com in association with The Times, World Travel Market and Geographical Magazine.
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General program information: |
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Program open to: Everyone
Age range: 18 - 60
Is opportunity more independant or group orientated: Group
No. in group: Max. 14
Living arrangements on the program: Tents/Rustic Accommodation
How long does the program last?: 1-3 Months
What are the dates of this program: The full programme lasts for 8 weeks (although shorter time periods are available by arrangement) and from January 2008, it will be run four times a year, commencing in January, April, July and October.
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Cost or price of this program: |
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We ask volunteers to raise a minimum donation of £2,200 (or £1,400 if you opt to go for just four weeks). All the funds raised by volunteers are donated to Azafady (UK Registered Charity No. 1079121) with the bulk of this donation going directly to support the project work you will be participating in.
This donation will cover you for all in-country travel costs (excluding flights), project costs, training, meals for 8 weeks and plenty of safe water, use of campsite facilities, orientation and language classes upon arrival and a dedicated team to guide you in Madagascar, plus a full-time London-based staff member to answer all your pre-project questions and help with fundraising. Pre-project costs such as flights, visa, insurance, personal equipment, medical preparations and vaccinations are not included in this donation and amount to around £1,000.
Don't let the size of the required donation put you off! Azafady UK is there to support volunteers in raising this donation, with a wealth of fundraising experience and resources available to volunteers.
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Other Internships listings from Azafady |
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No other listings have been found |
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