Opportunity to Work on the Forest Owlet Conservation Model in Madhya Pradesh

About the Project

For more than a decade, we, at the Wildlife Research and Conservation Society (www.wrcsindia.org) have been carrying out ecological research on the Forest Owlet and other sympatric owls in Central India. Our research has yielded useful insights on the distribution, occupancy, habitat preference, demography, breeding habits, foraging habits and behaviour of the Forest Owlet and other owls co- habiting the landscape. Through our long-term studies on owls, we want to understand the drivers of the status, distribution and population of the Forest Owlet and ultimately strengthen management actions that will help in-situ conservation of these magnificent birds of prey. The findings of our research are available on various platforms as scientific papers, popular articles, technical manuals, blogs and also on webinars. We work in close association with the State Forest Departments, scientists, academicians, students and local communities.

 

Work description

We believe that we have just scratched the tip of the iceberg and there is a lot more to be unearthed about the ecology of owls in Central India. With this perspective, we are continuing our ongoing research on the Forest Owlet in Central India. The Project Area is Madhya Pradesh. The project offers excellent opportunities to study the forest owlet, understand the dynamics of landuse by local communities and work in developing suitable conservation model with the Forest Department in the area. The work will require working extensively with local communities and the field staff. The project will begin soon. Currently we are implementing Phase I of the project, which is for 18 months. After Phase 1, the project is likely to be extended for longer time.  The project area is located in very remote forests in Khandwa district and experiences extreme weather, with about 48 C in summer and up to 7 C in the winter.

 

Who Should Apply?

We are offering an academic opportunity to study the Forest Owlet, so those looking for a job,  Masters dissertation, internship or a short-term work should not apply.  The project requires tough field work and we want to work with individuals who are like minded and enjoy being in the field. We urge the applicant to consider the following criteria very seriously before sending in their application.

 

• We are seeking applications from post-graduate in Wildlife Science/Ecology or similar subject

• Commitment to complete the entire duration of the project

• Earlier experience of working on field ecology and on birds

• Excellent experience scientific writing, statistical analysis, GIS, camera-trapping, and other bird study methods

• Excellent command over spoken and written English

• Fluency in spoken and written Hindi with local staff and local communities

• Young and physically very fit to work in tough terrain for long hours

• Ability to drive a 4-wheel vehicle and motorcycle on the rough forest roads and holder of permanent driving license for both

• Willing to walk up to 10 km daily in rugged terrain.

• Willing to stay in very basic field accommodation, which may not have electricity, running water, internet facility

• Ready to rough it out in the field and stay in field staff camps if required.

• This is a completely field-oriented project and will require the researchers to spend maximum time in the forest.

• We want to work with honest, dedicated person with a pleasant personality, a sense of responsibility,  adventure, humor, humility and a great team spirit

 

  Remuneration

Remuneration will be suitable as per the experience of the applicant

 

How to apply

Applicants interested in applying should send an introductory email of 1 introductory paragraph and attach the following in the email: a. 1 page note on why you are applying for this project, b. Recent resume with details on past and current work. Please share pdfs of your research publications if any. In the resume please include contact details of three referees (name, email and phone numbers) from the ecology field. Please send the email to mail@wrcsindia.org with subject line “Application for the Owl Ecology Project”  at the earliest.

Thank you!