Simla Field Research Station

The William Beebe Tropical Research Station (WBTRS), also known as Simla, is in the Arima valley of Trinidad’s Northern Range. The AWNC maintains the field station as an active tropical research facility. The field station’s properties currently consist of 211 acres with good road access to the national road network. Additionally, more than 1,000 acres of the adjoining AWNC are also available for certain research activities.

The station was formerly the New York Zoological Society’s Tropical Research Station. A family estate, it was originally purchased by Dr. William Beebe in 1949, which he renamed “Simla” after India’s charming “summer capital” in the Himalayan Mountains which he visited during his research that resulted in his monumental four-volume “A Monograph of the Pheasants.” In 1953 he donated the estate to the New York Zoological Society, now the Wildlife Conservation Society, for establishment of the Tropical Research Station.

Beebe was an American scientist, adventurer and author, and is considered by many to be “the father of Neotropical Ecology.” He first visited Trinidad in 1908 and became enamored with the country’s wildlife.

The New York Zoological Society supported the field station until the 1970s, and during this period it became an important hub for the study of Neotropical ecology, botany, entomology, ornithology, herpetology, as well as bats, fishes, and fiddler crabs.

Simla was donated to the Asa Wright Nature Centre in 1975 because the New York Zoological Society considered the missions of both entities to closely parallel each other.

The AWNC continues to operate the Simla field research station.

Beebe and Conway at Simla

Painting of William Beebe

APPLICATIONS TO USE THE FIELD RESEARCH STATION

Researchers interested in staying at the Simla field research station should submit the following to info@asawright.org

A brief summary of their research proposal (less than 1 page)
Names, email addresses and telephone numbers for each person
Duration of stay
Flight details, when available
Indication of any special requests

FACILITIES

Accommodation and Amenities

Can accommodate 23 persons in 6 dormitory rooms, with a sink in each room
10 double bunked beds and 3 single beds
Capacity can expand to 7 rooms and 26 persons if needed
3 communal showers and 4 washrooms
Central dining hall and lounge area
Fully equipped and functional kitchen
Parking (advise at time of reservation)
All linens are provided
Basic lab with work bench space and freezer to store specimens
Outdoor open space for experiments
Laundry facilities (washer and dryer)
WIFI, electricity and water supplies
On site caretaker and security cameras

Visitors must provide their own:

Rates for 2025

We reserve the right to amend these rates at any time.

Overnight Accommodation	per person/night/US dollars	per person/week/US dollars
Professional (Non-Academic Institution)	$40	$240
Researcher/Teacher/Lecturer at Academic Institution	$35	$210
Student	$25	$150

Cleaning for overnight accommodation	Groups with less than 10/US dollars	Groups with 10 or more/US dollars
Pre and Post Cleaning	$100	$200
Weekly cleaning (once per week)	$50	$100

Day Usage Rates	Rate/US dollars
Day use for research (per individual)	$20
Day use for an event (rental of entire research station, excluding dormitories)	$120

Other rates, discounts and fees	Rate
Private room (all beds in room must be booked)	depends on the number of beds in room
Long stays (overnight)	10% discount to accommodation costs after 2 months
Book entire research station for overnight stay	10% discount to accommodation costs only
International wire transfer fee	$80/US dollars
Currency conversion from 1USD to TTD	6.7999