ToR Volunteer Monitoring Assistant, Projet Protection des Gorilles (PPG), Gabon

PPG-Gabon: Objectives, Activities

The Aspinall Foundation (TAF), in cooperation with the governments of the Republic of Congo (since 1987) and of Gabon (since 1998), set up the Projet Protection des Gorilles (PPG) for the overall goal to work with local partners for the conservation of indigenous endangered species in general, and of gorillas in particular. Gorilla reintroduction is one of several activities carried out by PPG in Congo and Gabon to achieve this goal; in Gabon the gorilla reintroduction is based in the Batéké Plateau National Park (PNPB) in the south-east of the country. Most gorillas in the PNPB were released many years ago and are now monitored remotely with camera-traps, which also record other wildlife species in the PNPB. One small group of gorillas is currently on a pre-release island in the PNPB, requiring daily feeding and monitoring.

Responsibilities of PPG Volunteer Monitoring Assistant

• Preparing the food and feeding the pre-released gorillas daily with PPG Staff
• Assist on the monitoring of wild gorillas by collecting and analysing the data of camera traps :
• Collecting data on the field camera traps
• Downloading camera-trap images from SD cards collected
• Arranging downloaded images on the project hard-drive
• Identifying species recorded in the camera-trap images and recording the information in an excel database.
• Summarising the data collected on a weekly or monthly basis
• Other duties relevant to the work of The Aspinall Foundation and PPG-Gabon

Reporting to PPG-Gabon Director

Duration

12 months (negotiable)

Location of work and accomodation

Most of the time will be spent in the Batéké Plateau National Park, based at an established field camp on the west bank of the Mpassa River. Time out can be taken in the city of Franceville, approximately 5 hours travel by boat and vehicle from the field camp.

The accommodation is a wooden hut /or tent in the forest. The electricity is available by solar power at the shared space/ office and water is from the nearby river.  

Skills and experience required

• Fluency in French essential, competence in English an advantage
• Proven experience in relatively isolated field sites, preferably in Africa
• Experience with excel and word,
• Experience in GIS or analyse softwires are a plus
• Experience analysing camera-trap images an advantage, or other wildlife monitoring experience