Caiman Research Course
Crocodilian Field Methods in the Amazon
Capture, Study and Tag Wild Caiman in the Amazon
A 3-week intensive field course focused on real crocodilian research and population monitoring.
Overview
The Hoja Nueva Caiman Research Course is a highly immersive, field-based program designed for individuals interested in or passionate about the research and conservation of crocodilians.
Set along the Las Piedras River in the Peruvian Amazon, this course provides hands-on training in crocodilian research methods through real data collection on wild caiman populations. Participants work directly with experienced field researchers to study three species:
- Spectacled caiman (Caiman crocodilus)
- Dwarf caiman (Paleosuchus trigonatus)
- Black caiman (Melanosuchus niger)
This is not a simulated or observational experience—participants are actively involved in capturing, handling, measuring, and tagging wild animals as part of ongoing long-term research.
What You'll Do
Your time in the course is split between daytime theory and nighttime fieldwork, reflecting how real crocodilian research is conducted.
Night Fieldwork
Most nights are spent on the river conducting active surveys and captures.
Participants will learn to:
- Navigate rivers at night using spotlight surveys
- Identify caiman through eye shine detection
- Assist in capture from the boat
- Safely handle and restrain animals
- Conduct full biological measurements
- Tag individuals using PIT tags
- Record field data for long-term datasets
On a typical night, the team may sample 10–20 individuals, primarily spectacled caiman, with occasional dwarf caiman and rare black caiman encounters.
This work contributes directly to Hoja Nueva’s multi-year population dataset.
Daytime Training & Lectures
During the day, participants receive structured instruction covering both theory and applied field science.
Topics include:
- Crocodilian biology and physiology
- Species identification and ecology
- Capture and handling techniques
- Ethical wildlife research practices
- Tagging methods and individual identification
- Population dynamics and mark-recapture theory
- Habitat use and niche partitioning
- Human impacts and conservation challenges
- Data collection, management, and analysis
- Introduction to occupancy modeling and density estimation
Each topic is directly linked to the fieldwork participants are conducting.
Research Focus
Participants contribute to real, ongoing research questions at Hoja Nueva.
📊 Population Dynamics
Using mark-recapture methods, researchers track:
- Population density
- Survival rates
- Growth patterns
- Recapture frequency over time
With multiple years of data already collected, participants are contributing to a growing long-term dataset.
🧬 Genetics & Health
When appropriate, biological samples may be collected for:
- Genetic analysis
- Disease screening
- Population connectivity studies
🌿 Habitat & Ecology
Participants will explore:
- Habitat associations across species
- Differences between river and interior habitats
- Effects of human presence and disturbance
- Niche partitioning between caiman species
Course Structure
- Duration: 3 weeks
- Schedule:
- Monday–Friday: Fieldwork + lectures
- Saturday: Excursion or rest activity
- Sunday: Day off
Each week builds on the previous, with increasing independence and responsibility in the field.
What You'll Learn
By the end of the course, participants will have gained:
- Practical experience in crocodilian capture and handling
- Understanding of mark-recapture and population studies
- Field navigation and night survey skills
- Data collection and recording techniques
- Exposure to ecological modeling concepts
- Insight into real-world conservation research
A Typical Day
Morning
Data entry or lecture session
Afternoon
Training, preparation, or additional theory
Evening / Night
River surveys, spotting, capture, and data collection
This is a nocturnal, field-heavy course—your schedule follows the animals.
Life At Hoja Nueva
Participants live on-site at our rainforest research station within a 7,000-acre reserve.
Accommodation
- Shared jungle housing
- Beds with mosquito nets
- Communal living spaces
Facilities
- Solar electricity
- Composting toilets and showers
- Starlink Wi-Fi (limited daily hours)
- Hand-wash laundry
Food
- All meals provided
- Simple, nutritious meals
Environment
- Remote rainforest (~3 hours from nearest city)
- Hot, humid, physically demanding
- High biodiversity and constant wildlife presence
Who This Is For
This course is ideal for:
- Anyone who is passionate about the research and conservation of crocodilians
- Students in biology, ecology, or environmental science
- Pre-vet or veterinary students
- Early-career conservationists
Participants should be:
- Comfortable with physically demanding fieldwork
- Able to work at night
- Interested in scientific data collection
- Adaptable to remote living conditions
Program Details
| Duration | 3 weeks |
|---|---|
| Cost | $2,500 |
| Sessions | June & August |
| Cohort Size | Maximum 10 participants |
| Includes | Accommodation, meals, transport, training, equipment, and field participation |
What's Included
The course fee covers:
- Full participation in field research activities
- All training and instruction
- Access to equipment and field gear
- Accommodation and meals
- Local transport to/from Puerto Maldonado
- Ongoing mentorship from research staff
Participants also receive:
- Hoja Nueva field gear (shirt + hat)
- Certificate of completion
- 30% discount on a future internship
Ready to Join Us?
Join us in the Amazon to gain hands-on experience in one of the most unique and under-studied areas of wildlife research.
If you’re ready to learn real field methods, contribute to long-term conservation data, and work directly with wild caiman, we’d love to hear from you.