Carnivore Conservation Research Assistantship

Carnivore Conservation Research Assistantship

We are excited to offer a unique research assistantship opportunity focused on advancing the understanding of underrepresented predator species in South Africa’s Limpopo region.

WildComm is dedicated to conserving biodiversity on private land by creating opportunities for research, education, and hands-on conservation action. Our mission is to demonstrate that private land can deliver both ecological and economic value, supporting wildlife and ecosystems beyond traditional protected areas. By joining WildComm, you’ll be part of a growing network of researchers, students, and conservationists working together to generate vital ecological data, inform evidence-based management, and inspire new models for wildlife conservation.

The project focuses on mesopredators, including African civet, genet, and smaller African cats. While large carnivores receive significant attention, these species play vital ecological roles yet remain poorly studied, especially on privately managed reserves.

Using long-term camera trap data, we investigate population trends, activity patterns and habitat use, aiming to fill critical knowledge gaps to support evidence-based conservation and management strategies.

Roles & Responsibilities

You will gain hands-on experience in wildlife research, contributing directly to this ongoing study:

• Maintenance of a systematic grid of camera traps deployed across the reserve.

• Tagging and processing images captured by camera traps.

• Identifying patterned predator species (e.g., leopard, civet, genet) using HotSpotter.

• Extracting metadata and maintaining accurate records for analysis.

Location: Limpopo, South Africa

Position: Unpaid research assistantship

Start Date: Flexible. 3+ months recommended. Sandwich year students welcome.

Monthly Rate: £700 per person, including accommodation, research supervision and all necessary research equipment. Participants arrange their own travel, insurance and meals.

Candidate Requirements

• Comfortable working independently and as part of a team in field settings

• Willingness to work on foot over uneven terrain and in variable weather conditions

• Moderate fitness level (endurance improves with experience)

• Strong attention to detail and commitment to data management tasks

• No prior field or rhino experience required

This research assistantship is ideal for students pursuing ecology, conservation biology, or related disciplines who seek practical, data-intensive field research experience in mammal conservation.

How to Apply

Please send your CV and a cover letter to applications@wildcomm.org.