Primate-Jobs
Positions Available

Behavior in a Baboon Troop in South Africa

Hiring Organization:
Wildcliff Nature Reserve

Date Posted:
2008-09-27

Position Description:
Wildcliff is a private Nature Reserve in the mountains of South Africa's Western Cape province, an easy drive from Cape Town. It was founded by Ian and Jenny Giddy in 2007. It is owned by the Wild Cape Nature Trust and is held in perpetuity for purposes of conservation and research.

Wildcliff consists of 955 hectares (2350 acres), deep kloofs with afro-montane forest, rocky mountaintops and high meadows of South Africa's unique fynbos flora. It borders on the Boosmansbos Wilderness Area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Straddling a section of mountain range, the reserve harbors abundant bird life, antelopes, predators and other mammals, two baboon troops, aquatic and terrestial invertebrates, reptiles and amphibians, and a diversity of endemic flora. Pictures and maps of the reserve and its inhabitants may be found at http://picasaweb.google.com/wildcliff

A large troop and a second, smaller, troop of baboons inhabit Wildcliff. The reserve, in collaboration with the University of Cape Town's Baboon Research Unit, has initiated studies of the social, spatial and foraging behavior of the baboons. We seek volunteer researchers to continue and extend these studies, or to conduct their own research on these primates. To see the Wildcliff baboons, visit http://picasaweb.google.com/wildcliff/Wildcliff_Baboons. Videos of the baboons can be viewed at video.google.com (search "wildcliff baboon").

If you are interested in these or other topics, we will be happy to discuss your ideas, and share our own. The Reserve can offer limited free accommodation. Researchers must be able to pay all their own travel and living expenses.

Qualifications/Experience:
Biology or environmental degree
Previous field experience
A willingness to live and work in a remote wilderness location.

For more detail visit the Wildcliff web site (wildcliff.org), especially the Research page
http://wildcliff.org/research

and the Volunteer FAQ
http://www.wildcliff.org/research/volunteerfaq.html

Salary/funding:
Volunteers must secure their own funding - Wildcliff does not have the resources to provide a stipend.

Support provided for internship/volunteer positions (travel, meals, lodging):
The Reserve can offer limited accommodation. Volunteers must be able to pay all their own travel and living expenses.

Term of Appointment:
Positions are available starting in November 2008

Application Deadline:
No deadline

Comments:
Applications may be submitted by visiting:
http://www.wildcliff.org/research/application.html

Contact Information:
Dr Ian Giddy
Heidelberg, Western Cape
South Africa

Telephone Number:
+1.646.808.0746

Website:
http://wildcliff.org

E-mail Address:
ian@wildcliff.org