PROGRAM OVERVIEW: Situated in the heart of the Caribbean, equidistant from Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, Mona Island is often called the Galapagos of the Caribbean. Once just a destination for pirates and privateers, Mona is protected by the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DNER) and special permits are needed to access the island.
The Island is home to 16 incredible species of amphibians and reptiles, of which 92% are endemic, meaning they are found nowhere else in the world. The preeminent goal of this week-long expedition is to document as many of these species as possible and compare records with those last collected in 2015. In lieu of climate change, and recent catastrophic weather systems, such as Hurricane Maria, this expedition will provide a much-needed update on the conservation status of several species. IMPORTANT: This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and we do not expect to repeat this expedition in the near future. INFORMATION: Location: Mona Island Dates: July 7 - 13, 2019 Duration:1 Week Application Deadline: March 1, 2019 Language: English Itinerary Day 1 Arrive in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Day 2 Cross Puerto Rico by road, disembark from Cabo Rojo in time for afternoon arrival on Mona Days 3-5 Expedition activities around base camp on Mona Island Day 6 Boat travel back to Puerto Rico Day 7 Program Departure OBJECTIVES: Collecting demographic and habitat data on the coqui frog is the main objective of this expedition. You will work directly with the PIs of Prpyecto Coqui (http://www.proyectocoqui.com/). In addition to the coqui frogs you will collect basic sightings data on other reptile and avian species present. ELIGIBILITY: You must be at least 18 years of age at the time of the expedition. You must have medical insurance, and provide proof of such insurance to us to complete your reservation. We have no citizenship requirements. Anyone is welcome to apply. You must obtain visas to the USA independently, if necessary. You do not need any training in biology – this program is structured to accommodate people from a variety of backgrounds. The expedition has a maximum capacity of 10 participants. If you are concerned that you will lose your spot, please contact us to confirm how many places we have left. Acceptance to the expedition is contingent upon your completion of the online application form and an interview with one of the lead researchers For a full program description and the application form see here: https://fieldprojects.org/course/mona-island-wildlife-survey-caribbean/
