The Ethiopian wolf (Canis simensis) is the world's rarest canid and is
restricted to the Ethiopian highlands. WildCRU graduates have been studying
Ethiopian wolves for over 20 years, and our current project is assessing the
reproductive physiology of female Ethiopian wolves. Hormones can be measured
non-invasively in faecal samples, thus providing an insight into the
breeding mechanism of these communal breeders. Field work involves detailed
behavioural observation of wolf packs, collecting and processing faecal
samples and entering data.

Follow Ethiopian wolves on foot recording behaviour at close quarters and
collecting faecal samples.

The volunteer will join a join an Oxford graduate and her team, studying the
reproductive physiology of female wolves. He/she will be camping at the EWCP
field camp in Bale's Web Valley (3,500 meters a.s.l) and working on foot and
horseback track female wolves in 4 focal packs. Conditions are basic,
working days long, and the mountain weather harsh and unpredictable, but
this is an exciting opportunity to study these threatened canids, and gain
valuable field experience studying social carnivores.

Location: Bale Mountains National Park, Southern Ethiopia (430 km from Addis
Ababa).

From mid July 09 for seven months.

Requirements: 

Undergraduate degree in Biology/Conservation

Ability to work in difficult and remote conditions

Good level of fitness (20-30km of fellwalking a day)

Previous field experience


Flights, travel insurance and local travel will be covered, and basic
accommodation will be provided.

For more information please see www.ethiopianwolf.org
 or contact Freya van Kesteren at
freyavankesteren[at] gmail.com before 5th July 2009.