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Who can join?

Wildlife Conservation knows no bounds!

Kanahau is open to everyone, individuals or groups, of all walks of life, and we strive to promote equal opportunities for both international and local Central American participants. We welcome scientists or enthusiasts of all research disciplines, not just general biologists but entomologists, herpetologists, geologists, archaeologists, anthropologists, teachers, film makers, environmental engineers; in fact anyone who would like to visit and conduct their own terrestrial or marine research on Utila or otherwise wants to learn and assist with the projects that Kanahau are already running.

 

As a small facility, each persons experience here can be tailor-made to a specific interests, whilst receiving a general introductory course to our activities. You need not be a scientist to get involved, we welcome anyone who is simply looking to be a force for good and positively contribute to our efforts as a grass-roots scientific research/conservation focused environmental organisation.  The benefit of joining a smaller research and conservation program, is that each intern or researcher has our staffs full time support, and is treated as a valuable addition to our team.

 

Primarily, we specialise in accommodating four catergories of guest at Kanahau (but are not restricted to)....

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1). Undergraduate students or people between 18-25yr olds that join our Neotropical Wildlife Research and Conservation Internship program, whereby participants learn, experience and actively assist with the day to day running of the Kanahau facility and all its responsibilities, including the various long-term biodiversity monitoring projects and community outreach events. You also receive a series of lectures given by our experts to help you develop a broad understanding of the scientific and social economic issues facing conservation biology. People who most enjoy this course are usually those with a keen interest in the natural world, looking to explore new places and try new things whilst gaining valuable career-applicable work experience and knowledge in the field of conservation research. 

 

2). Independent final year undergraduate BSc or MSc, MRes, PhD postgraduate students that need field support to study a specific wildlife topic on Utila for their university thesis or dissertation study. We can assist with logistics, permits and permissions, provide local knowledge, supervison and advice. We can help you plan your study before you arrive, as well as continuing to support you by answering analysis questions, reviewing manuscripts, and in helping co-publish data after you leave (in coordinance with your university policies).

 

3). University or college groups led by an accompanying teacher/professor, which come to receive an exciting and diverse pre-scheduled tailor-made internship program, that involves learning about different ecosystems, species and cultures, as well as training students in field methodologies, biodiversity surveying, conservation issues, community outreach, data analysis, manuscript writing and much more. 

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4) Wildlife Member Groups - We cater for small groups of wildlife enthusiasts and specialists seeking to learn of, encounter and photograph various animals or ecosystems on Utila. We offer bird, reptile, cave/bat, terrestrial and marine general wildlife tours to both nearby and remote locations across the island, and the opportunity to learn from our team by assisting the long-term monitoring of several critically endangered endemic species. We can arrange a bespoke group-tailored agenda of experiences, which may include hiking, kayaking, motor boat trips, snorkelling/diving and camping expeditions. Our field staff will endeavor to deliver your group an excellent experience in nature. 

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We are a young friendly experienced team, so please don't hesitate to ask questions about our services! :)

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Student Researchers

What to expect from us and what we expect from you! :)

​As a student from a university, you will be responsible for the development and implementation of your project. To help you accomplish this, university students will receive the full support and expertise of our team, in being supervised and accompanied in the field as frequently as needed (day or night), in order to facilitate access to a range of different island habitats and species relevant to your study. All students will initially receive complete guidance and training on the essentials of fieldwork from our staff before starting fieldwork, (i.e. survey techniques, safety, ethics, handling protocols).   

 

As an active researcher at Kanahau, your ongoing project would in fact form part of our internship program for interns present at the facility, which provides you not only with eager helping-hands or assistant surveyors for your study, but opportunity for you as a student to grow as an academic, by leading and educating others about the purpose of your work, and directing the team on how to assist. In that sense, student researchers staying at Kanahau become pseudo-staff members (in the supervision of full-staff members) enriching our internship program through their study. We ask that all students give a presentation on their preliminary findings to staff and interns, and leave a complete excel dataset at the facility prior to leaving (as defined by our data sharing policy).  In doing this, we seek to 1) support students and encourage them to grow in confidence and ability, 2) ensure the student has a firm understanding of their project and a viable dataset for analysis and write-up at university before leaving the field site, 3) maintain a record of studies and data collected at Kanahau to inform future research. 

 

Students have to be adaptable, flexible and passionate about their topic of choice. Our well-seasoned staff help you develop your study prior to your arrival by providing literature and information, helping you plan equipment lists, safe travel, and by ensuring that your study aims are achievable, and methodologies appropriate and applicable on an island such as Utila. We also assist you in obtaining the necessary biological research permits for proposed in-country study, as well as support with obtaining grants or funding opportunities to finance any additional research/expedition costs. 

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Need to think of a question for your thesis or dissertation? Our staff have a wide range of study ideas for you to address! Contact us with your general interests and for specific project ideas in that topic (i.e. bats, reptiles, birds, mammals, invertebrates, plants, marine life or community engagement). 

Students
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Kickstart your career in conservation with us!

Looking to gain real-world experience working in wildlife research and conservation?

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Are you a university student developing a specific thesis/dissertation project?

At Kanahau Wildlife Conservation, our collaborative network of pioneering young academics and regional experts will do their best to facilitate, enhance and support your interests in nature. We invest our time and effort to train people who share the same values as us, and are especially keen to support the development of broadly biological, anthropological and environmental themed student university projects on Utila, as well as accommodate research internships for years 19+ seeking to learn about biological field research, how to apply survey methodologies, analyse and publish results, and be involved in conservation action through community outreach events and environmental education.

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Get in touch via info@kanahau.com, or address a question to a specific staff member via Meet the Team. Join us to support our local biodiversity research, community outreach and conservation action. If you are already on board, you can book a price plan below!  

 

As a commitment to providing equal opportunities, we offer special rates for local Honduran and Central American citizens. Please contact us via email for a price inquiry.

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Apply today!

Simply contact us by email with your interests in joining the program and a copy of your C.V. 

​If you wish to conduct a study of your own, please also forward your proposal to us by email.

 

We can help arrange all necessary legal permits with ICF (Honduran Goverment) or CITES for you. Please be aware, if your project requires a permit separate from those our facility annually works under, or you wish to export genetic samples, the process of applying for a new permit can take several months, so please apply with your proposal a minimum of three-six months in advance of your fieldwork. We can also advise and help you develop a project which will be successful. 

 

If you are interested or have any questions, feel free to ask more!

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Our promise to you!

Fully transparent and committed to our word!

We want our internships and student opportunities to be available to everyone, and as a non-profit, we ensure that the funding generated through hosting student placements and internships goes directly towards covering our research and fieldwork costs, conservation activities, staff wages and facility maintenance. This in turn, not only helps us continue our important work conserving the wildlife and ecosystems on Utila, but also enriches each visitors experience. 

Choose your pricing plan

  • Research Assistant

    1,050$
    Perfect for those seeking experience in conservation biology
    Valid for 3 weeks
    • Neotropical Wildlife Conservation Internship
    • Hands-on fieldwork training in survey methodologies
    • Includes 3 weeks of full accommodation and food
    • Certification of course completion and work reference for CV
  • Best Value

    University Students

    1,725$
    Designed for independent researchers collecting thesis data
    Valid for 6 weeks
    • Expert help on many thesis topics
    • Fieldwork assistance, training and supervision
    • Access to remote field sites and Kanahau datasets
    • 6-weeks accommodation and food
    • Pre and Post expedition support

Associated Costs

International Interns and Student Researchers

​The fee to join our Neotropical Wildlife Conservation Internship programme is $350 (US dollars) per week and runs for a minimum of 3 weeks (Total = $1050). If you stay for over 3 weeks then a $100 discount is applied, dropping the price to $250 for each additional week you wish to stay. For example a four week stay would cost $1300. This includes accommodation, 3 vegetarian meals a day (excluding Sundays), pick up/drop off from Utila airport or ferry dock, learning materials, training in research methods,  fieldwork support, kayaking and boat trips for research proposes. 

If your are joining us as an independent student/university researcher the fees are calculated at $300 per week for the first 3 weeks then reduced to $275 per week for the remaining length of your study. For example a 6 week stay will cost $1725. Six weeks is usually sufficient time to collect fieldwork data needed for a thesis question. If you need to stay longer or shorter for your research, please contact us to discuss any further price queries. 

If you are a professor, teacher or otherwise group leader/guardian looking to arrange a short 1-2 week field trip for a group of high school, college or university students, birding club or wildlife group, please contact us for an honest discussion on what our team can offer you during your stay and a group quote for a tailor-made pre-scheduled course of educational fieldwork activities and presentations on different topics.

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