Researcher wins noted wildlife internship

An Edmonton researcher has won a prestigious scholarship that will see her spend six months on the Indian Ocean island nation of Mauritius helping with hands-on recovery programs for some of the world’s rarest species.

Amélie Roberto-Charron beat out 20 candidates to win the annual Canada’s New Noah award from Wildlife Preservation Canada.

Roberto-Charron will be embedded within a work internship program with the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation and will learn the practical aspects of being part of an integrated conservation program focused on invasive species, small population management, and endangered species reintroductions.

Roberto-Charron moved to Winnipeg to complete her master of science degree at the University of Manitoba. She is currently studying the migration ecology of a threatened songbird, the Canada warbler.

She has carried out extensive research on the distinctive little yellow and slate-grey birds, studying them at sites across their Canadian range from Alberta to New Brunswick, and following them on their migration to Costa Rica and their final wintering grounds in Colombia.

“Having the opportunity to gain hands-on experience focused on endangered species management is priceless. I’m thrilled to have been selected as this year’s Canada’s New Noah,” Roberto-Charron said in a release.