Volunteer with Lions and other big cats in a highly-regarded sanctuary for mistreated lions. The sanctuary, run by an international animal welfare charity, is the largest of its type in South Africa. It offers a new home to big cats that have been abused, kept in cramped conditions or confiscated from hunters.

The interaction between lions and humans can be absorbing and as such, being close (but safe) to lions can be a moving experience. You will get to know the animals as individuals and assisting with research into their behaviour can be very rewarding.

PLACEMENT OVERVIEW

Location: Bethlehem, Free State Start dates: All year round, you choose your start and finish dates. Duration: From 4 weeks to 6 months, subject to visa requirements Requirements: No qualifications needed, just a big heart and a love of animals and their conservation. Minimum age 17. Compensation: Unpaid Price: £1,395 for 4 weeks ranging to £3,115 for 12 weeks. Full Price List and other Currencies      What's included: ►Arranging your Programme, ►Full pre-departure support and assistance, ►Payment Protection insurance ►Meeting you at the nearest airport ►Transfer to the Project ►Accommodation ►Food ►In-country team support and backup ►24-hr emergency support ►Certificate of Completion. What's not included: Flights, travel insurance, cost of visa, return transfer to the airport

The sanctuary is home to Lions and other big cats, as well as a rich variety of game species. These include Zebra, Wildebeest, Impala, Springbok, and many more. As well as contributing to some valuable rescue and rehabilitation work you'll also carry out research into the behaviour and interactions of lions within a group, and between neighbouring lion groups. You'll witness and be involved in the extraordinary and complex work for animal welfare and appreciate the experience of learning how highly sensitive big cats are. You'll also enjoy some of the best countryside South Africa has to offer. The Sanctuary is situated against a backdrop of magnificent mountains, with spectacular views of the Eastern Free State Plains below. In your time off, you can visit local towns, Bethlehem and Clarens, or go further afield to the Golden Gate National Park and the stunning Drakensberg Mountains. Our representative will be able to advise and help on trips and places to visit. WORK CONTENT Work at the sanctuary involves caring for the lions and other big cats, monitoring their progress and behaviour, helping with visitor education and refreshments, administration and maintenance work. Typical tasks include: feeding the lions and cleaning their enclosures observing the behaviour of the lions and the progress of any new arrivals helping with any medical treatments required building new structures for enclosures and helping with maintenance work helping with game drives and guided horseback tours for guests getting involved with the other activities at the lodge, such as the reservation departments, presentation, accommodation, conferences, weddings, hiking trails and more marketing activity, like brochure distribution to local towns and the surrounding area guiding school children as part of their education program This project is a great opportunity for someone who has a keen interest in big cats, enjoys being part of a team and is prepared to get involved in all aspects of conservation work. Also on this page: A Typical Day on the Project Working Times What you gain from the Project What is 'Canned' Hunting? Accommodation Travel, Visas, Support and Backup About the Area and Things to Do and See Back to Top

WHAT YOU'LL GAIN FROM DOING THIS PROJECT:

• An exciting, never-to-be-forgotten adventure into Africa and the many diverse cultures in South Africa

• The enormous satisfaction of helping conserving animals in their natural environment and knowing that you made a difference to them.

• New skills, more confidence, a greater understanding of a different culture, invaluable personal and professional development.

• An entry on your CV or résumé that will put you head and shoulders above most others in the job market

• And best of all ... an unforgettable experience!

WHAT IS 'CANNED' HUNTING?
Canned hunting is a cruel and gruesome ‘sport’ in which lions are solely bred with the sole purpose of being killed as ‘trophy’ animals. Approximately 1,000 lions per year are shot by trophy hunters that travel to South Africa from Europe and North America.

These animals are placed within fenced surroundings with no chance of escape, hunters pay between 25,000 to 45,000 euro per head. The animals are bred at specialist breeding farms where lionesses produce a litter every 6 months rather than every 2 years as it is in the wild, losing their cubs within 3 days and the unnatural frequency of breeding leads to trauma and health problems.

The cubs are raised by hand without their mothers milk which can lead to bone deformations, respiratory problems, and digestive disorders - a life of suffering, and a tourist attraction for those keen to pet or even walk a lion. Many tourists and even some volunteer programs unknowingly support this cruel lion industry, despite their best intentions. Those involved in ‘canned hunting’ disguise the truth by calling what they are doing as animal or species protection.  

There are more than 160 breeding farms in South Africa, in which more than 4,000 lions are currently threatened with being shot. This statistic becomes especially shocking when you consider there are only 3,000 lions living in the wild of South Africa. The South African government has attempted to prevent ‘canned hunting’ by including lions on the protection list. However, the lion industry is blocking this progress with a constant string of legal processes – leaving the lions being bred and hunted without any protection.

Vier Pfoten are fighting for the prohibition of ‘canned hunting’, commercial lion breeding farms and lion ‘patting’ offers. For now they have to rely on this project to support their petition and raise awareness of this issue so that others don’t unwittingly support this industry in the future.