Biodiversity surveys & research expeditions
Working on a 30,000 hectare wilderness area that’s closed to the public (rather than a wildlife reserve) means wildlife and the environment don’t experience the same pressures or influences as parks or reserves open to commercial organisations or tourists.
As animals and the environment are in a completely natural state without people present (other than you!), you’ll be able to gain unique data and insights about wildlife behaviour and habitat management.
In addition to the monitoring of protected or endangered species such as elephant, lion, cheetah, wild dogs or hyena, this area is still being explored and documented. Part of the research expeditions or surveys’ goals is to look for new species or those not discovered in the region.
Join a research group
Group information
Biodiversity Research Expedition Projects
Large mammal monitoring
It’s your duty as part of the research team to monitor and record valuable data about these critical mammal species to ensure their protection.
As often the only regular monitoring the animals in the area get, you’ll make sure to observe general health and body condition, reporting it to help vets and ecologists manage priority species.
Understand animal behaviour during this practical research placement in South Africa.
What will you be doing?
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Track and record movements of priority mammals
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Recording body condition and ongoing health
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Recording breeding and population numbers for environmental management
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Supporting any emergency veterinary work
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Use camera traps to support research
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Helping plot and analyse data
Dung beetle research
There are many different species of Dung beetle, together they form one of the most important groups and ecological niches in the African bush.
They recycle nutrition, aerate the soil as they dig, even the seeds they inadvertently bury while storing food grow into the next generation of plants… without dung beetles the environments they live in would be very different places!
Join critical research on these overlooked animals, help identify individual species and record data pivotal for understand their work, a fantastic practical opportunity for entomology university students in South Africa.
Insect and entomological research
Insects are the most biodiverse phylum (Arthropoda) on the planet, most ecosystems rely on insects in some way or another, without them, everything from plants to animals would struggle to survey.
Monitoring species of insects has never been more important for conservation, you’ll learn and use various ecological techniques and methodologies to capture, record and sample species.
What will you be doing?
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Identify individual species of dung beetle
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Record data to help map and monitor populations
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Analyse data to determine behaviour and gain scientific insights
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Use equipment to capture and record species
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Take specimen and biological samples
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Understand the nutrient cycle in detail
What will you be doing?
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Record species and data visually and from direct observation
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Use UV light traps or pitfall traps to capture and record species
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Build your understand of entomological classification and research
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Monitoring population numbers
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Record any known or unknown diseases effecting insect species
Identifying new species
When completing entomological research on a wilderness area still being explored, there's a chance you'll find something new!
Once you’ve been taught, trained or advised by onsite experts that something doesn’t fit existing documented species, if you’re the lucky individual who finds it… you’ll get to name it.
An exciting prospect for any serious conservationist.
What will you be doing?
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Understand species classification & identification
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Work with experts to determine if known or unknown species
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Work with experts to submit a tokened specimen and name
Mega Fauna – Herbivore research
Study elephants and hippos closely to determine how they use and affect plant species and thus the habitat in this wilderness area.
This modelling and data is critical for understanding any competition elephants and hippo cause to rhino or other species.
An exciting prospect for any serious conservationist.
What will you be doing?
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Monitor elephant and hippo
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Research & gain data on their diet and plant use
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Model any plant and environmental change
Vegetation surveys
To ensure the wilderness areas long-term success as well as animal populations, regular vegetation surveys need to be completed.
This helps determine and gain data on everything from plant nutritional availability for large species of herbivore, species distributions, grazing level, or even fire risk and how dry material needs to be managed.
What will you be doing?
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Record different species of plants and grasses
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Determine species distribution
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Understand the effects of animal feeding on plants and the ecosystem
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Manage any fire risk involved
Invasive plant species management
Although this is a wilderness area, sometimes invasive species can still get to these remote regions. This could be from birds dropping seed, effects from nearby agriculture or any number of ways.
However invasive species get to an area, they need to be removed before they outcompete the native plants and cause ecosystem collapse.
What will you be doing?
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Find and map any invasive species
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Identify and target for removal
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Support with management policies for removal
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Monitor previous locations with invasive species for regrowth
Reserve management
The wilderness area still needs to be maintained and support like any other reserve in South Africa, this includes offsetting erosion caused by dirt roads used by research vehicles or supporting fence repairs to keep animals in and safe.
Usually most reserve management work involves getting dirty and sweaty, although perhaps less glamorous that other projects, its no less important.
What will you be doing?
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Repair and maintain road infrastructure
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Manage or restore habitat on the wilderness area
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Fence inspection and work
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Equipment usage and training
Research presentations
You’ll be living and working with conservationists with decades of experience in field and as part of scientific research expeditions and work.
Take part in research presentations to understand the long-term history of the wilderness area, species present and past results and evidence of previous research, helping you have a clearer understanding of the work you’re doing and ecology as a field.
