Might be of interest.
For YETI
Debabrata Phukon
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Virendra Mathur <vmvirendra85@xxxxxxxxx>
Date: Wed, Sep 1, 2021, 9:06 AM
Subject: Volunteer Positions - Himalayan Langur Project
To: YETI <meet.yeti@xxxxxxxxx>, <meetyeti@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Hello Team YETI,
I will be thankful to you if you can urgently post this announcement on
your email list so that it can reach out to those interested in studying a
primate population in the Himalayas.
Thank You.
Sincerely,
Virendra
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The Himalayan Langur Project is advertising the following two volunteer
positions for the exciting ongoing research and conservation work going on
at our field site. The research focus at our field site is to understand
the movement ecology of the Himalayan Langur as they range in a human
modified landscape, and compare it to the ranging pattern of a troop that
travels in an undisturbed forest. We are also setting up natural
experiments to understand the decision making capabilities of the langurs.
The conservation focus aims towards building tolerance and awareness
towards the enigmatic and diverse wildlife in this part of Kedarnath
Wildlife Sanctuary, and furthering our research on conservation behavior.
Please read the description for the following positions.
To register your response, please send an email to vmvirendra85@xxxxxxxxx
and cc the same to himani.nautiyal08@xxxxxxxxx. *Please note that there is
no deadline although we will close these positions as soon as we find two
suitable candidates. If you wish to apply, do it as soon as possible for
you.* Please send an email mentioning your commitment period, why you would
like to join the project, how it contributes to your future goals, and what
aspect fascinates you the most. Please attach your updated CV as well.
*Position 1*
*Field Site - *Mandal village, Mandal-Chopta Road (Uttarakhand)
*Stipend *- No stipend offered for this position
*Duration* - September 15 to December 15 (There is a possibility of
extension depending on your quality of work and the availability of further
funding)
*Expenses Covered *- Food and Accommodation at the field site, one side
travel related expenses for the field work with an upper limit
*Required Skills* - Being able to work in a team and contribute positively
to the learning atmosphere at the base camp, should be accommodating in a
shared space and respectful to the other team members, be mentally and
physically fit to be able to adjust to the remote mountainous landscape and
the very basic lifestyle at the field site
*Duties *- The volunteer will work with two members of the team and a field
assistant and will first be trained in different methods to collect data on
Himlaya Langur. Then the volunteer will take data pertaining to the project
objectives documenting the behavior of the individuals and the study group
as a whole, while also using a GPS device. This position also offers a
significant exposure and learning opportunity in the field of conservation
and community outreach. The volunteer will also hold responsibilities like
teaching the village kids, monitoring plantation plots, monitoring rainfall
and temperature data loggers, strategically fitting camera traps, and will
be involved in working with the local community.
*Position 2*
* Field Site *- Kanchula Kharak, Mandal-Chopta Road (Uttarakhand)
*Stipend *- There will be a stipend offered for this position depending
upon the duration of your commitment towards the field work
*Duration* - September 15 to December 15 (There is a possibility of
extension depending on your quality of work and the availability of further
funding)
*Expenses Covered *- Food and Accommodation at the field site, one side
travel related expenses for the field work with an upper limit
*Required Skills* - Being able to work in a team and contribute positively
to the learning atmosphere at the base camp, should be accommodating in a
shared space and respectful to the other team member, be mentally and
physically fit to be able to adjust to the remote mountainous landscape and
the very basic lifestyle at the field site. The volunteer should be
self-reliant and should be interested in learning the simple but important
aspect of the research and the natural environment where they will be based.
*Duties *- The volunteer will work with a local and expert field assistant
(Harish Maithani) and will first be trained in different methods to collect
data on Himlayan Langur. Then the volunteer will take data pertaining to
the project objectives documenting the behavior of the individuals and the
study group as a whole, while also using a GPS device. The volunteer will
set up experiments to understand cognitive underpinnings of the decision
making process in a multi male multi female troop of Himalayan langurs. The
volunteer will also fit and retrieve camera traps. Other duties include
data management, helping in the daily chores at the field site with the
field assistant, keeping the devices and batteries ready for the task.
*Common Preferences (but not essential qualities) - *We will be glad if you
can bring your camera along and are interested in wildlife photography. You
will have a good number of opportunities to document Himalayan avian
diversity, floral diversity, and the chances to see some majestic mammals
like leopard, Himalayan Tahr, Himalayan Goral, Asatic Black Bear, and many
more. It is also preferable if you have a driving license for a two
wheeler, especially for *Position 2.* We are also interested in learning
from you and your expertise in any of the above given duties, and we will
be open to discussion about any of your ideas related to research or
conservation. We will encourage you to write one or two popular science
articles, or articles chronicling the wildlife of the field site or the
Himalayan landscape, or field notes and stories, and we can publish them on
a platform of your choice.
*Common Important Points - *Both the positions involve a lot of learning
components about the Himalayan flora and fauna and asks for a lot of
interest from the volunteer in learning about the intricacies of this
diverse landscape.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Virendra Mathur
PhD Student
Dr. Julie Teichroeb Lab
University of Toronto
Twitter - @AmazingVirus
