Giraffe Project – Internship in South Africa

Are you an aspiring wildlife conservationist with a passion for large mammals? Our research centre is thrilled to offer an exceptional internship opportunity focused on giraffe conservation and parasitology in a stunning 27,000-hectare game reserve, home to 17 different antelope species.

Project Overview

Research Focus

• Contribute to vital giraffe conservation efforts by studying internal parasite loads. Investigate the differences in parasite counts between adult females and their calves. Opportunities for studying giraffes diets and looking into giraffes internal parasite count in our onsite lab.
• Giraffe Identification Kits: Assist in building and expanding ID kits to accurately determine the number of giraffes on the reserve. This includes identifying individual giraffes, cataloging their sex, and assessing the current male-to-female ratio.

Hands-On Experience

• Collaborate with experienced researchers in the field, gain expertise in wildlife health monitoring, and enhance your research skills.
• You’ll gain valuable experience in setting up, managing, and determining the best positions for camera traps. This hands-on experience is crucial for monitoring wildlife behaviour and gathering essential conservation data.

Conservation Context

In South Africa, giraffes face significant threats, including habitat loss and fragmentation, climate change, potential low genetic diversity, and the hybridisation of subspecies, which endangers their genetic purity. Consequently, conservation efforts must focus on accurately determining their population numbers, distribution, and taxonomic distinctions.

Why This Internship?

• Extraordinary Setting: Work in an awe-inspiring environment, surrounded by the beauty and majesty of giraffes and other wildlife.
• Skill Development: Acquire practical knowledge in wildlife parasitology, conservation strategies, and field research methodologies.
• Professional Growth: Network with leading conservation biologists and expand your career horizons.

Duration of Stay

You have the flexibility to choose the length of your stay. We recommend a commitment of 2 to 4 months to fully immerse yourself in the experience and make the most of the opportunities available. This duration allows for deeper engagement with the conservation work and a richer overall experience.

Conservation Fee

Please note that a monthly conservation fee is required, which covers the following:

• As you’ll be staying on a wildlife reserve, a portion of your fee will go towards supporting the protection and care of the land and the species that inhabit it.
• Accommodation will be provided during your stay.
• Transportation: Pick-up from and drop-off at the Polokwane airport, bi-weekly town trips for students to restock supplies, and daily drives around the reserve.

Seize this chance to make a meaningful contribution to giraffe conservation and gain invaluable field experience. Apply today and become a part of our dedicated team working to protect these iconic creatures and understand their health dynamics.