Wildlife Conservation Volunteering in Brazil

Project Summary

The project focuses on wildlife conservation volunteering in Brazil. You will get involved with wildlife and community outreach activities in the Bodoquena highlands region. Landscapes boast agricultural lands, Cerrado and small northern extensions of the Atlantic Forest bordering the Southern edge of the Pantanal floodplain. The project is located at the foot of the famous Pantanal region of Brazil, one of the most diverse and largest tropical wetland. It features a complex variety of habitats making it the perfect setting for anyone interested in wildlife conservation volunteering in Brazil. Defining ecological corridors and influencing local authorities by preventing the deforestation of important habitats for the survival of the Pantanal are at the core of this project.

The project monitors the wildlife within the landscape with and without peccaries, its interaction with other species and the environment, as well as its demographic and genetic population status. It investigates the factors influencing wildlife and peccary population movements. The area is currently under threats with the expansions of soybean plantations, mining and illegal hunting. The white-lipped peccaries’ herd dynamics and survival are monitored by scientists to better understand conservation threats and identify key ecological issues. Always moving including traveling for up to 10 kilometers a day and looking for food, peccaries are useful for assessing the health of the Pantanal. Indeed, peccaries eat so much food that the slightest change in their habitat will cause them to change their habits and patterns moving to more pristine habitat. Peccaries are important for the region as they are hunted by the jaguar. That said, the extinction of white-lipped peccary would lead to the extinction of the jaguar. The conservation project gathers all kind of information around the white-lipped peccary gatherings and what it takes to keep them thriving and healthy in order to preserve the local ecosystem.

Why choose this project?

• Get a feel for the importance of biodiversity and ecological interactions to help protect priority areas for conservation.
• Learn about conservation planning and wildlife species protection in Brazil.
• Experience Brazil and its amazing natural habitats while meeting locals.

Role of the volunteer

Wildlife conservation volunteering in Brazil is the perfect project to get experience in eco-ecosystems and natural habitats while working with local scientists based in the region and influencing local communities’ decisions. Participate in many activities from wildlife monitoring to setting camera trap, exploring new regions for presence or absence of large mammals, monitoring exclusion plots and fruit census amongst many other activities including data entry. You may also be able to assist with community environmental education activities including tree planting, seeds collection and environmental English classes with the local school.

Skills Required

No specific skills are required, however, a love for the outdoors is a must, as well as a reasonable amount of fitness for possible hiking. This project is also a great place for anyone interested in wildlife conservation volunteering in Brazil.

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