Wildlife Conservation Sri Lanka
Central Province, Sri Lanka
$1195.00
The Experience
Are you in interested in Wildlife and Conservation? Say no more, take a trip now, take us up on this amazing volunteering opportunity and be a part of our unique and amazing Wildlife Conservation project done in Sri Lanka!
The project is run by a non-governmental organization committed to developing a sustainable model for wildlife conservation in Sri Lanka. Their main focus is helping people, elephants and other wildlife co-exist peacefully. That being said, the project simultaneously pursues three key strategies to successfully fulfill their mission and achieve their goals and objectives, these are: Field research, applied conservation, and sustainable economic development.
As a volunteer, you have the rare opportunity to work alongside scientists, conservationists, educators, community partners and local villagers deep within the heart of beautiful Sri Lanka. Take this chance now and have an experience you will never forget!
This Is Why
- Help at Wildlife Conservation Sri Lanka to balance ecosystem and economic development by pioneering a model for sustainable conservation.
- Expand and gain new skills while taking part in diferent volunteering projects!
- Work alongside an amazing group of people!
- Experience a new culture, tradition, nature, and enjoy the simplicity of life!
- Key Start Dates
Year round however, you should keep in mind that the project requires applicants to start on a Monday! It is advised to arrive one day before starting the project. - Package Prices
01 weeks: $1,195 US -
02 weeks: $1,395 US
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03 weeks: $1,695 US
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04 weeks: $1,895 US
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- Volunteer duration
Minimum of 1 week to a maximum of 4 weeks (Longer duration available upond request) - Average Work hours
The work hours are morning four hours and afternoon/evening four hours. The weekends are off. - Number of Volunteers
15 - Volunteer accommodation
Available - Housing Type
Your lodging will be in the project's Field House where you will stay in dorm style sleeping with western style bathrooms. - Internet Access
No internet access at the project, we advise that you purchase your own local data cards. These are very cheap - around US$10 a card. - Who Are They Looking For?
Individuals who have a passion for environment and is interested in conservation. Being hardworking, motivated, mature and initiative are some qualities you must possess. You must have a basic knowledge of English and good communicating skills, must also have a good attitude and outlook to learn and experience new and novel things. Smoking is not permitted inside the Field House. During the week days and Sunday no alcohol consumption is permitted. Moderate alcohol consumption is permitted only on Friday and Saturday evenings. Minors are not allowed to consume alcohol at anytime. The use of drugs is strictly prohibited. Please remember that you are a guest, therefore, respecting the rules of the project is essential.
Fast Facts: USA
Where? Wasgamuwa Region, Central Province, Sri Lanka
Country Size: 65,610 km2
25,332 sq mile
Population density? 338/km2
130/sq mile
Country Famous for? Wildlife watching, beaches, picturesque landscapes and mountains, immense and ancient history, friendly people, famous landmarks and temples and so much more!
When to visit: All year round!
- What's Included
- Placement
Wildlife Conservation Sri Lanka - Accommodation and Airport Transfers
Accommodation is provided in gender based shared dormitory style lodgings. The volunteers need to fly into and depart from the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA). There you will need to take an airport registered taxi from the airport to a hotel in Colombo where you will spend the night. Contact us for hotel recommendations. The next day volunteers will be met at the hotel by one of the project associates who will transfer them to the Fort Railway Station and make sure that they are safely onboard the right train to Kandy (Volunteers must take the 7am train). There volunteers will be met by one of the project’s staff and will board the bus with them to go to the project site. - Meals
Three meals a day will be provided. The project caters meal to vegetarians and vegans as well however, we advise that you notify us early so that arrangements can be made. - Ongoing service
If there are any problems with your volunteer project we are always there to help you and mediate between yourself and the organization. - Tours
Through FRONTEERING you have the possibility to book tours in Sri Lanka after you have finished your volunteer project. - 24/7 Emergency contact
If there are any problems during you stay in Sri Lanka you can reach us 24/7 to assist you.
What's not included: Flights and Insurance
Package Price:
01 weeks: $1,195 US, 02 weeks: $1,395 US, 03 weeks: $1,695 US, 04 weeks: $1,895 US - Placement
- RESPONSIBILITIES
Volunteers at the Wildlife Conservation project in Sri Lanka are the backbone of the organization. They supply the main force behind the project's mission to enable communities to balance ecosystem protection and economic development by pioneering a model for sustainable conservation. As a volunteer, you will actively participate in the daily routine of the facility by participating in the following activities:
- Gathering information on elephants and other wildlife and tropical ecosystems.
- Collecting data on elephant foraging;
- Learning to take information to identify elephants;
- Collecting essential environmental and social-economic data to help develop community-based conservation programs;
- Participating in discussions with local villagers to help identify practical solutions to human-elephant conflicts;
- Observing, assessing and documenting human-elephant conflicts;
- Teaching environmental education to local school children and much more! (a worksheet will be sent to you on what your day to day activities will look like);
- TASKS AND DUTIES
During your time at the project you will be supervised by one of the staff members. The work can be hard and strenuous at times but is very gratifying as you are making a difference in the lives of the wildlife. A sense of responsibility and a serious commitment to abide by the project's safety rules is key in any activity because you might be working closely with dangerous wild animals. The projects daily tasks and special projects will determine your schedule but you will also be allowed time for having fun and relaxing on or off property.
- Requirements, Guidelines & Policies
- Required to commit to a minimum of 1 week.
- Must have an interest in field work, wildlife, the environment and conservation;
- Strong work ethics are required: reliable, responsible, honest, good sense of humor, mature, dependable, physically and mentally fit. Must also have a good attitude and outlook to learn and experience new and novel things;
- Must be motivated and be initiative;
- Age: 18+
- You must be able to speak and understand English;
- Not allergic to animals.
- Must be able to work with other persons in your profession;
- Must read and agree to abide by guidelines and ethics of the project.
- Volunteer Benefits
- Gain experience and learn new skills in all aspects of conservation and field work and have an opportunity to work with an amazing team of staff.
- Be part of a great and worthy cause.
- Great opportunity to visit Sri Lanka and see all that this beautiful country has to offer!
- Fast Facts
- Project location
Wasgamuwa Region, Central Province, Sri Lanka - Area Famous For
Tea, Ancient History, Cricket, Amazing Beaches, Great weather, Unique Culture & Cuisine, Friendly People, Elephants, Leopards, Extreme sports such as; hiking, surfing and much more! - When to visit
All year round! - Wildlife viewing and Entertainment
Great opportunities to see many different species of reptiles, birds and also mammals within the projects and many activities such as, swimming, hiking, wildlife viewing, etc.!
- Project location
- Itinerary & Details
Day 1 - Arrive in Wasgamuwa Region, Central Province, Sri Lanka;
You need to fly into and depart from the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA). There you will need to take an airport registered taxi from the airport to a hotel in Colombo where you will spend the night. Contact us for hotel recommendations. The next day volunteers will be met at the hotel by one of the project associates who will transfer them to the Fort Railway Station and make sure that they are safely onboard the right train to Kandy (Volunteers must take the 7am train). In Kandy volunteers will be met by one of the project’s staff and will board the bus with them to go to the project site.
For 1 - 4 weeks or more - Work as a volunteer in the Wildlife Conservation project based in Sri Lanka!
For a minimum of 1 week to a maximum stay of 4 weeks you will be volunteering in Sri Lanka helping the project to develop a sustainable model for wildlife conservation, focused on helping people, elephants and other wildlife to co-exist peacefully..
Your last day - You will take the same route back home or take the opportunity to travel through Sri Lanka. Our staff will gladly work with and help you plan tours to see more of this great country.
- Accommodation
Accommodation is provided in gender based shared dormitory style lodgings.
Things to bring from home
- We advise you to bring light and old clothing; you are going to get dirty while working. You might be working in rain and mud or in a very dry heat, depending on the season.
- Work clothes: Long pants and shorts, bring closed shoes, long and short sleeve shirts and tank tops. Make sure you do not bring new shoes that you have not worn before, as you will do a lot of walking. You can bring clothes for leisure activities such as beach ware, evening ware or just some nice clothes to go to a casual dinner in. Towels, soap, shower necessities, tooth paste are all included unless you have personal preferences and you can bring your own.
- Miscellaneous items such as; sunglasses, hat or cap, sunscreen lotion, swimsuit, clothing (long trousers that dry quickly, shorts, T-shirts & shirts with long and short sleeves, sweatshirt), waterproof jacket, comfortable shoes (sneakers, sandals), spare glasses for those who wear them, camera and personal items.
Meals
Freshly prepared meals are provided three times a day. The project also caters meal to vegetarians and vegans. Volunteers need to notify us in advance so we can make the necessary arrangements. A 24/7 Tea/Coffee station is provided.
Location
This project is located in the rural areas of Sri Lanka. All amenities excluding internet access will be provided. Experience the country’s ancient and unique history, take some time to see all the country has to offer; try their delectable cuisine, go wildlife viewing, visit some landmarks and temples and enjoy the simplicity of life.
The morning activities are fun and interesting, the guides try hard to get everyone involved and you can learn a lot if you try to. All the guides are really friendly and funny – Siriya is brilliant at communicating despite not knowing English and makes what could be a boring moment fun – he is a real asset to the project. My favourite activity is the pugmark analysis, although sometimes the water goes as high as your shoulders! You are looking for the prints of various wild cats along the edge of a stream then indentifying them by species, gender, front/hind and left/right. We also do Project Orange Elephant where we tend to orange trees at local farms that are grown to ward off elephants as they don’t like citrus. This is a really good project for future planning and I hope to come back in 3/4 years to see its progress. Seeing the result of the camera traps was awesome as well – a whole leopard family were captured walking along, doing their thing at night! I enjoy the lunch time breaks because I never get time to just exist at home and it is too hot to be out and about here – playing carrom with Siriya and VJ is a lot of fun. The aftenoons are pretty relaxed as well, just chilling by a lake or in a treehut waiting for elephants. It’s great to see the elephants in the wild and the guides are very good at locating them and pointing them out when they are hiding in behind trees. The field house is very basic, but you have the essentials: a bed, drinking water, electricity and the fridge is a bonus. The best things about the field house are: the artwork done by past volunteers, the showers that look out into the jungle, the kittens and the people of course. Emily Brown, England
We learnt a lot about the elephant human conflict and saw the efforts to try to decrease the problem. We worked on the orange trees and saw the electric fence and the ele bus. We heard about the bee project and we participated on dung analysis, were educated in pugmarks, sand and camera traps. We hiked and swam and saw how the locals live and work plus we looked out for wildlife, ate local food and enjoyed getting to know the staff and hear their stories and also the volunteers met each other and enjoyed their company in nature on this adventure, all from different countries. I love how it’s wild and rough and ready. I don’t get kittens on my mosquito net at home. Or see lizards and squirrels and crows in the lounge room or share meals with people from around the globe, and fly along in Land Rovers and tuk tuks on dusty roads and hike in jungles searching for natures splendours, and didn’t we see leopards and porcupines and mouse deer on the cameras? Now that’s wild! So, no improvements, let geckos fall in our dinner and let us play Uno and carom with Siriya and the guys cos we want it, bloody different from home that’s for sure. Thanks, it’s great! Janet Barnes, Australia
I liked all the types of activities. I think that I will come again because I really enjoyed the activities and the people who are taking care of us. Thank you so much Jasmin and all the staff for this awesome and amazing journey. All was great, and I will come back. Kjartan Gobeau, Belgium
