Madagascar's Lemurs

  Madagascar

Ranomafana National Park

Duration of Program: 1-2 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 1-2 weeks
Dates: see website for details

Description: Research Mission:
Help study the largest lemurs in Ranomafana National Park.

Situation Report
Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar - The island of Madagascar is among the planet's top biodiversity hotspots, with tropical forests full of animals found nowhere else in the world. This biological treasure trove is threatened with large-scale destruction by logging and other human activities. You can join one of the foremost research and conservation efforts on the island, led by Drs. Pat Wright and Summer Arrigo-Nelson. Wright has spent more than 18 years working on behalf of Madagascar's forests, people, and animals. She discovered a species of lemur previously unknown to science, spearheaded the creation of Ranomafana National Park, and has helped thousands of villagers promote sustainable development. You can help her team explore the lives of highly endangered lemurs, supporting the effective management of their forest habitat.

Meals and Accommodations
After a long day in the forest, you will come home to a shower and a hearty dinner at a research station on the edge of Ranomafana National Park. You will stay on private tent sites in your own tent with the occasional lemur activity in the trees above. The station has classrooms and laboratories, flush toilets and hot showers, and you may venture to the river if you wish to cool down. A cook will prepare Malagasy, French, and American dishes.

Highlights: Exploring the lush rainforest of Ranomafana on foot, your team will gain an intimate view of the world of lemurs. Working in shifts, you will follow a group of Milne-Edwards sifakas, the largest lemurs in the park, from dawn to dusk. Your efforts will be rewarded by observations of wild lemur behaviors seen by few humans. June teams will be working during the lemur birthing season, while November or December teams will witness the mating season. Your findings will shed light on how habitat disturbance and a unique, female-dominant social structure affect lemur survival. You will spend your nights gazing at the stars and looking for chameleons. On free days you can explore the village, swim in Ranomafana's hot mineral spring pool, and enjoy the company of Malagasy and visiting researchers.

Qualifications: Earthwatch volunteers are enthusiastic to learn about the research topic and are willing to contribute their time and energy to support leading scientists in conducting field research. Volunteers will be trained upon arrival at the research site. There is no upper age limit, yet all volunteers must be at least 16 years old, and in some cases 18 or 21 years old.

Cost in US$: 2,846

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: Earthwatch expeditions appeal to a variety of people: educators gain new knowledge and develop exciting lesson plans; students explore career options and build research skills; writers, photographers and artists contribute their skills and share their experiences through a variety of media; businessmen and women, doctors and nurses, engineers, homemakers, retirees . . . people from all walks of life choose to volunteer on research expeditions each year. Volunteers are actively engaged on a daily basis with the research project, develop global perspectives, and explore new cultures and environments.

Age Range: 18 - 90

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to Madagascar Independently

Typically Participants Work in Groups of 7-14

Scholarships are Available. - Fellowships may be available, mainly for high-school students and educators. Visit our website for more information.

Application Process Involves:

• Phone Interview
• Physical Exam/Health Records

Post Services Include:

• Alumni Network

Earthwatch Institute's Mission Statement: Earthwatch Institute engages people worldwide in scientific field research and education to promote the understanding and action necessary for a sustainable environment. Through a unique method of funding, the volunteers Share of Cost contributes directly to the support of the research projects. Earthwatch enables scientists to pursue research goals and members of the public to gain hands-on experience with science. Each year, over 4,000 people from 46 countries directly contribute to scientific research by working alongside scientists, local community members and other volunteers. Earthwatch volunteers can track sea turtles; join archaeological digs; observe animal behavior; collect rare plants, study dolphin behavior and more. The Earthwatch community also includes 20,000 global members, 4,000 eager volunteers each year, 50 collaborating conservation organizations, and 50 corporate partners, all of whom work together to make a difference. Below you will find out more about our leadership, employment opportunities, and contact information.

Year Founded: 1971