An Exciting Opportunity at CNRLI in Silves
Calling all wildlife enthusiasts!
The Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests (ICNF) has just announced an incredible opportunity to get hands-on experience with one of Portugal’s most remarkable conservation success stories.
The National Iberian Lynx Reproduction Centre (CNRLI), located right here in the Algarve in Silves, is currently looking for volunteers to join their dedicated team.
About the Volunteer Programme
The ICNF has opened nine vacancies for a three-month internship. The positions are split into two intakes:
- Four vacancies between August and October.
- Five vacancies between November and January.
As a volunteer, you will be integrated into CNRLI’s ethology and video surveillance team, where you will help monitor lynx behaviour. Don’t worry if you haven’t done this before—full training will be provided for the role.
The centre is looking for motivated individuals, ideally with a background in natural sciences, ethology, or behavioural sciences. In exchange for your time, volunteers will receive:
- Free accommodation at the CNRLI facilities.
- A meal subsidy equivalent of €6 for every 8-hour shift worked.
- Personal accident insurance coverage during the internship.
To apply, you can email your application to cnrli.voluntarios@gmail.com.
A Background on the Breeding Programme
Operating since 2009, the CNRLI in Silves was established to actively contribute to the ex-situ conservation and reintroduction of the Iberian lynx. The centre has been wildly successful: this year alone, 11 cubs were born at the facility, bringing the total number of lynxes born at the CNRLI for reintroduction to an astounding 192.
Here at Tomorrow Magazine, we have closely followed the inspiring journey of the Iberian lynx over the years. You can read more about this project’s incredible work in our previous articles:
- Pawing Back From Extinction (Feb 2022) – Our reporter Sophie Sadler was granted special permission to visit the Silves facility to investigate how the breeding programme operates and learn about the meticulous planning behind releasing the cats into the wild.
- Iberian lynx – Back from the Dead! (Oct 2023) – A look back at the history of the lynx in Portugal, detailing how habitat loss and the decline of the European rabbit nearly wiped out the species before international conservation efforts turned the tide.
- The Return of the Lynx (Aug 2024) – We celebrated the monumental news that the Iberian lynx was officially reclassified from ‘endangered’ to ‘vulnerable’ on the global red list, with the wild population soaring from just 94 in 2002 to over 2,000 across the Iberian Peninsula.
If you want to be a part of this ongoing success story and help ensure the future of the Iberian lynx, don’t miss out on this chance to volunteer!
Listen to our podcast recorded at the breeding centre in Silves here.
