Ein Krallenaffe istdurch das dichte Geaest des Regenwaldes zu erkennen

Internship Abroad Peru: Primate Sensory Ecology

Peru 3 weeks From 1,500 €

This internship is perfect for any nature lover with an inquisitive personality. You will conduct research into the visual acuity of native tamarin species at the heart of the South American rainforest, where you will experience the biodiversity of the Peruvian Amazon basin. You will practice observing animals, gather and analyse data and carry out scientific experiments on the sensory perception of primates. You will have experienced scientists by your side at all times who will pass on their valuable theoretical and practical expertise. Discover the flora and fauna of the jungle and develop yourself from a personal and professional perspective in front of a unique backdrop!

Your trip at a glance

Highlights

Live and work as an intern in the midst of the Amazon rainforest
Gain new knowledge about the primates in the area
Familiarise yourself with essential methods of data collection and analysis
Meet people from all over the world
Experience the fascinating biodiversity of the Peruvian jungle

Locations

reiseorte-peru-amazonas-regenwald-natucate

Amazon Rainforest

Der Amazonas bietet Lebensraum fuer eine Vielzahl von Primatenarten

Drei Praktikantinnen posieren fuer ein Foto waehrend der Arbeit im Amazonas

Ein junger Kapuzineraffe schaut sich verunsichert im Regenwald um

Eine Huette im Regenwald bietet die Unterkunft fuer die Artenstutz Praktikanten

Der Regenwald Perus bietet viele spannende Moeglichkeiten der Arbeit

Der Tamrin ist einer von vielen verschiedenen Primatenarten dieim Regenwald leben

Ein Primat isst die Blaetter der Baeume im peruanischen Regenwald

Your rainforest internship in Peru

As an intern in this programme dedicate yourself to researching the visual acuity of tamarin monkeys and acquire deeper knowledge about the behaviour, ecology and protection of the rare animals.

Ein Boot dient den Praktikanten als Fortbewegngsmittel auf dem Fluss

Arrival and Orientation in South America

After arriving at Puerto Maldonado International Airport, you will be collected by a staff member and taken to a hostel in the city where you spend the first night. On the next day, you continue your journey to the Los Amigos research station that is located at the foot of the Southern Andes in the Amazon rainforest.

Topics of your internship in Peru

In this course, the focus of the research work is on research in the visual faculty of tamarin monkeys. This primarily depends on the sex of the animal: all of the male new world monkeys are dichromatic (they are able to see with two types of cone), this only being the case in half of the female new world monkeys. The different visual acuities also give ground to expect that there are also behavioural differences between dichromatic and trichromatic tamarin monkeys. During this course, you will observe and compare the behaviour, collect data and conduct exciting experiments. You also learn how to record the data obtained from the behaviour research, conduct data analyses and correctly supervise scientific experiments.

Im Gemeinschaftsraum der Praktikantenunterkunft wird gegessen und Recherche betrieben

Accommodation in Peru

Our partner’s research station will be your home during the programme. It houses a laboratory, a classroom, a library, a dining room and two dormitories, where the programme participants are accommodated. The dormitories have bunk beds and shared bathrooms. You will be provided with breakfast, lunch and dinner during your stay in the research station and snacks are also available during your meals.
It is also possible that you will be staying one night in Puerto Maldonado after you have left the research station. During this stay in the hostel, you will be provided with breakfast but you will have to obtain your lunch and dinner yourself.

Leisure time as an intern

We recommend you bring some books, movies and TV series since there will be time for your own activities in between. You can also borrow a book from the station’s well-equipped library.

Arrival

Arrival in Puerto Maldonado
Transfer

Transfer to the research station

In the early morning hours of the following day you’ll leave town to go on a boat ride up the Madre de Dios River. After several hours you finally reach your accommodation for the following weeks: our partner’s research station in the midst of Peru’s Amazon rainforest. After your arrival, you can get accommodated, have lunch and get an overview of the upcoming internship programme. You might be able to experience a first rainforest activity in the afternoon before enjoying dinner back in the station.
Internship

Sensory Ecology in Peru: A typical day

After breakfast in the early morning hours, you and your group head out into the rainforest to conduct several research activities which deal with the visual faculty of tamarin monkeys. A few hours later you pause research work and return to our partner’s station for lunch. In the afternoon, you will usually be involved in data preparation and entry before enjoying dinner together with the your team.
Departure

Last days in the internship and departure

On the second last day of your internship programme you will be taken back to Puerto Maldonado and spend another night in a hotel. The next day, the official last day of the programme, you can continue your journey to another destination or travel back home. Another option is to continue traveling on the day you return to Puerto Maldonado – we ask you, though, to schedule flights or rides that day no earlier than the afternoon.

FAQ – Learn more about this trip

Learn what others say about their Natucate adventure.

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erfahrungsberichte-auslandspraktikum-sinnenswahrnehmung-peru-aida-affe-primaten

Review Internship Abroad Peru – Aida

“I found it particularly great to have the opportunity to gain an insight into each team’s work.”

erfahrunsgbericht-costa-rica-praktikum-kundenfotos-artenschutz-ozean-natucate

erfahrunsgbericht-costa-rica-praktikum-kundenfotos-artenschutz-schildkroetennest-natucate

Review Internship Abroad Costa Rica – Fabienne

“The feeling of striving for the same goal together with other volunteers and interns was indescribable, and the way we supported the turtles and worked together in a team was real fun”

Tierschutz: Ein Volunteer kuemmert sich um einen Hund

Review Volunteering Thailand – Dana

“So I killed two birds with one stone: cuddling time for the dog and for me.”

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Review Private Wilderness Experience Africa – Matthias

“This Private Wilderness Experience was actually my first “group tour”. It was fantastic.”

1. Amazon Rainforest

About 13% of the approximately 5,500,000 km² Amazon rainforest is located in Peru. As in other countries in South America where the Amazon rainforest is found, the Amazon rainforest in Peru is a real biodiversity hotspot due to its many endemic animal and plant species.

The avifauna in particular is one of the richest in species worldwide. With over 1800 species, more birds live here than in Europe and North America together. But also large numbers of insects, reptiles and mammals can be found in the green depths and make the jungle of Peru an absolute must-see for all South American travellers and nature lovers.

Learn more

About 13% of the approximately 5,500,000 km² Amazon rainforest is located in Peru. As in other countries in South America where the Amazon rainforest is found, the Amazon rainforest in Peru is a real biodiversity hotspot due to its many endemic animal and plant species.

The avifauna in particular is one of the richest in species worldwide. With over 1800 species, more birds live here than in Europe and North America together. But also large numbers of insects, reptiles and mammals can be found in the green depths and make the jungle of Peru an absolute must-see for all South American travellers and nature lovers.

Learn more

Background of your internship abroad

Peru is one of the most unique countries in South America. Peru is the third largest country on the continent after Brazil and Argentina, and is renowned for its biodiversity and varied landscape. The Andes on the Pacific coast and the Amazon to the East on the border with Brazil provide the climate for a unique variety of endemic mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and insect species.
Especially the biodiversity of the Amazon rainforest is beyond fascinating. Although much research on its flora and fauna has been carried out, many secrets could not be disclosed yet. By participating in this unique internship programme nature and wildlife enthusiasts get the chance to learn more about the diverse fauna of the Amazon Basin, particularly primates, and to acquire essential research skills.