Madagascar's Lemurs: Volunteer Opportunity that Will Change Your Life

There are 88 living lemur species left in the world, and all of them live in Madagascar. This group of unique primates range in size from the one ounce pygmy mouse lemur to the Diademed sifka and Indri species, which can both reach weights up to fifteen pounds and can grow to be nearly four feet tall. Lemurs have a diverse range and can survive in both rainforests and deserts. If you are interested in learning more about the lemur, and to help the world understand these creatures, then consider volunteering for a special research project headed by Dr. Summer Arrigo-Nelson and Dr. Pat Wright.

Madagascar's Lemurs Research Project

The Madagascar's Lemurs expedition is a conservation project that is headed by Drs. Wright and Arrigo-Nelso. It is located in the heart of one of the most biodiverse locations in the world. The goal of the project is to observe the unique matriarchal social structure that the lemurs have and how this impacts their overall survival.

There are three different volunteer groups that are held throughout the year. The first two will be held in June and in July. And the final one will take place in November. The November team will be in Madagascar during the Lemur's mating season and the June and July teams will be in Madagascar during the birthing season.

Your responsibilities on the expedition will vary depending on what team you are on and when you are in Madagascar. However, you can expect to spend your time observing lemur behavior, entering data and trekking through rainforest on foot. You will spend a lot of time in the rainforest and on rough terrain. Because of this you will need to be in at least moderately good health and be able to handle an active day and night.

While the majority of your time will be spent working on the research project, your expedition will not be all work. You will have time to explore on your own and take advantage of some of the local points of interest. For example you can visit the Ranomafana Hot Mineral Spring Pool or the local villages.

Volunteering

Volunteering for this expedition will take a little work to coordinate. To start with you will need to contact EarthWatch to request an application for the Madagascar's Lemur project. When you get your packet you will want to read through the information and make sure this project is right for you. The cost of this project will include a donation of at least $2,846, which will cover your lodging (tents), food, drink, education and supervision on the trip. You will also have to pay for your own transportation to and from Antananarivo, Madagascar. To save money on this expense book early and look for Africa air fare deals.

In addition to pulling together enough money to go on this 14 day adventure, you will also need to prepare yourself for an intercontinental journey. This means having a valid passport and travel visa, getting the appropriate inoculations and packing for your journey. It is also a good idea to buy travel insurance and traveler's medical insurance. These products will ensure that you can be airlifted out of Africa and rushed back to U.S. if a medical emergency should develop.