Intern­ship Abroad Peru: Primate Commu­ni­ca­tion

In order to apply for our internship programme in Peru you need to be 18 years or older and have sufficient English skills to communicate with your team and supervisors. Moreover, you should be physically fit. That’s why we ask you to hand in a doctor’s certificate about your state of health and your vaccination record (for required vaccines see question “Do I need certain medical precautions or requirements?”). Furthermore, you need to be a team player, open-minded, flexible, eager to acquire new knowledge, highly interested in nature and willing to adapt to the schedule of wildlife. An academic background is a plus. You might need a visa for your journey, depending on the duration of your stay. You should check out the foreign department’s website of your country for the visa standards or ask the team at Natucate directly. Before departure you also need to have a valid travel health insurance.

As an intern you also need to submit a cover letter describing your motivation for taking part as well as two letters of recommendation. Furthermore, we require your CV/résumé and conduct an application interview with you (in English).

Prior to your time as an intern we will support you during the preparation of your journey and help you choose reliable travel insurance. We will also help you arrange the flights and visa application. Transportation within the programme as well as the transfer from and to the airport is also included. The fees will also an overnight stay in a hostel (incl. breakfast) in Puerto Maldonado before or after your internship in the Amazon rainforest. Furthermore, your accommodation and food in the Amazon rainforest will be provided. Your accommodation is equipped with shared sanitary facilities and you will be provided with mosquito nets, a pillow, a blanket, bed sheets, a towel as well as safe drinking water. You will have access to electricity in the evening and limited wifi. You can always contact our team during your stay, in case of problems or questions. Moreover, you will be instructed and taught by experienced supervisor who also help you with questions anytime.

In general, you need to talk to your doctor and see what vaccinations he suggests. Our partner asks you to be vaccinated against diphtheria, morbilli, mumps and rubella (MMR), hepatitis A and B, tetanus typhoid, yellow fever, influenza, chickenpox, polio and rabies. Please also talk to your doctor about malaria and leishmaniasis, as there is a certain risk for Peru travellers. Last but not least, the chiggers are other common troublemakers. There are different prevention and treatment methods. Our team at Natucate is also happy provide you with more information – in the end, you always need to talk to a doctor, though. For current information and warnings regarding Peru and the Amazon rainforest you should check out the homepage of your country’s foreign department or see pages like the CDC. It is obligatory to get suitable travel health insurance before departing to Peru.

Please pack light, comfortable clothing which can get dirty and, most importantly, which dries fast. For your daily excursions into the jungle you will need a backpack, a water bottle, a wristwatch with timer, insect repellent and binoculars. Moreover, we advise you to pack a hat, sunscreen, sunglasses and maybe even a pocketknife. Don’t forget a rain jacket in natural colours, a sturdy pair of rubber (knee-high) boots and hiking boots, long sleeved shirts, as well as a pair of long pants to protect you from mosquitos. Please also pack a laptop, a cell phone/alarm clock, zip lock bags to keep your belongings dry and an additional towel. For the time in the camp you should also bring shorts as well as sandals or slippers for inside. Keep in mind that it can be quite cold in certain regions and in certain seasons so warm clothing should not be missing in your luggage either. Since you have to wash your clothes by hand you should bring along some biodegradable detergent. Before your departure you should also pack a personal first-aid-kit with enough medication that you need on a regular basis and to treat common complaints (like medication for headaches, for digestive or stomach problems, for mosquito bites etc.) and to care of smaller wounds.

We will support you with finding suitable flights, although you will have to book your flight(s) to Puerto Maldonado International Airport on your own. Once you have arrived you will be picked up and brought to a hostel in Puerto Maldonado. The next day you will take a cab to Laberinto. From there you will go on a boat tour on the Madre de Dios River until you reach the research station after several hours.

Our Peru internships aim at improving and broadening your knowledge and practical skill-set in primatology and tropical biology. You can decide which of the following internships you would like to join in order to gain deeper knowledge in important field research methods: Primate Disease Ecology, Wildlife Handling (primates and terrestrial mammals), Primate Communication or Primate Sensory Ecology.

The capacity for the internships are limited as follows:
o Primate Disease Ecology: four to ten students
o Wildlife Handling (primates and terrestrial mammals): six students
o Primate Communication: eight students
o Primate Sensory Ecology: four students
In general, the groups are supposed to be relatively small to make sure that everyone learns in a sustainable way.

In the jungle you always have to pay attention and be aware of possible risks. The group leaders know what to do and when you need to be extra cautious. In general, you don’t have to worry too much. Dangerous or poisonous animals don’t often come too close to humans and generally only react aggressive when they are attacked. It is still important that you listen to instructions and follow the rules.

During your internship you will stay at a research station which is located on the banks of the Madre de Dios River in southeastern Peru – amidst the Amazonian rain forest. Before and after your internship you spend one night in a hostel in Puerto Maldonado. At the research station you will sleep in shared dormitories with bunk beds and shared bathrooms. The station also provides a dining hall, a laboratory, a classroom and a library. The whole site is surrounded by bushes and trees and is occasionally visited by monkeys.

You will be provided with three balanced meals daily. You will dine together with the other participants in the stations’ dining area. Usually there will be a lot of rice, fresh fruits and vegetables, but it always depends on the season. Throughout the day you can always get additional snacks like cookies and crackers as well as coffee, tea or hot chocolate, or bring your own ones if you want to. Before/after the internship you will receive breakfast in the hostel; but need to organise all other meals during this stay on your own.

The food is balanced enough to follow a vegetarian diet. A vegan or gluten free diet is not that easy. Please inform us as early as possible in case of any dietary requests.

In general, interns will have one day off per week that can be used for your own activities. Be aware that your working hours as well as your free time depend on the daily tasks and needs so that both are quite irregular and may vary occasionally.

You can use your free time to relax together with the other interns, to play soccer, board or card games or to read a book. Don’t forget to bring some recreational items like books or games with you.

There will always be supervisors available that can help you in case of problems and answer your questions. The Natucate team is also available for you anytime.

In general, there won’t be a lot of expenses for you during the internship, since food, accommodation and transport is taken care off. You might need extra money for meals, transfers and trips before/after the internship, additional snacks and beverages or souvenirs. The currency is the Peruvian Sol (Nuevo Sol). You can exchange and withdraw cash easily at the airport. You can also find ATMs in most of the cities. You should make sure you can withdraw money with your bank card in foreign countries before coming to Peru and maybe also consider bringing a second for more security. For emergencies we advise you to take about 200 Soles with you.

There will be internet available at the research station. You can take your cell phone or laptop with you to connect with family and friends. Internet doesn’t work all the time and is rather slow – that’s why you might want to get a Peruvian prepaid card (the mobile network you need to choose is called "Claro").

Usually, the weather in the Peruvian jungle is quite nice and warm with temperatures around 12-24 °C, depending on the research site. During May, June and July you might be confronted with cold weather fronts called friajes. During that time temperatures might drop to 8-12 °C. For the night you should consider packing something warm, since the buildings are only made of wood.

Yes, it is prohibited to consume alcohol during the internship.

Yes, after successfully completing the internship you will receive a certificate of participation. In some cases your university will give you credit for the programme – you should reach out to your university and ask for information.