1601-louve-3-1485366782 I am Lauren, currently at an agronomy and biology Engineer School in Paris (named AgroParisTech). I’ve always been fond of biology and zoology (especially about monkeys). Since I was a child, I’ve dreamed of studying and observing wild monkeys behavior! When I’ve been offered to do this internship about studying Vervet monkeys in South Africa, it was obvious I had to do it.

I will do this internship, which aims at Studying Vervet monkeys’ social behavior, from 4th April to 1st August. It will take place at a South African reserve located in Limpopo: Mogalakwena River is a 1500 ha reserve. I’ll be working for a research center settled in the reserve. You can get more information on their website:

http://www.mogalakwena.com/research/research-centre/

My study goal would be to know those monkeys better and to understand their natural behaviors by observing them in wild.

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On the field

What’s interesting, but also hard, with this research is observation features: those mammals are partial nocturnal and very territorial (in very wide spaces). Thus, direct observing are quite hard. Getting information needs volunteers like me to study those fascinating animals.

At the camp

Part of my work will be to collect and analyze found data. This should help the research center to better understand local monkeys’ social behaviors.

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The artist me

Drawer and plush-sewer since several years, I want to make this experience and art experience too. I would like to benefit from the wonderful landscapes and incredible animals to practice water-colored illustrations and photography. I’ll make some art book that I will offer to those who helped me with funding.

I’d like to make some Vervet monkey plushies to make the more known among my public (and I will give those plushies to my funders too of course).

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Étude des singes Vervet d'Afrique du Sud

The publications