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| ELEPHANT AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION IN WASGAMUWA NATIONAL PARK |
SRI LANKA |
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Help conserve the Elephants and other wildlife of Sri Lanka in Wasgamuwa National Park. Go back to basics in stunning rural Sri Lanka and play a part in the conservation and protection of the country's majestic giants while getting involved in the local community. A real gem of a project! The activities on this project are diverse - one moment you could be observing elephants overnight in a tree-house, and the next you could be helping to reduce human-elephant conflict within the national park.
WORK CONTENT:
The work might not only be vigorous but can also be mentally challenging, due to the warm and humid climatic conditions (especially in summer) but the work is also extremely satisfying and rewarding! There can be a lot of physical activity involved in the project, you may be walking up to 10 kilometres a day and / or cycling up to 15 kilometres a day! You’ll also be monitoring the ‘elealert’ electric fence that the SLWCS has developed. This greatly reduces the human-elephant conflict in the area as it protects the locals’ farmland, which is their livelihood. The elephants are kept out by the electric fences and in turn, protected themselves (as they are not ruining the local populations livelihood, the locals have no reason to attack and hurt the elephants.) The project has a broad scope and volunteers will help out in any of the research projects and operational needs summarized below to accomplish the objectives of the Society. Not all these activities will be available at one time – you’ll likely be involved in several, or a selection, depending on the needs of the conservation society we work with. Below is a list of the current activities, but some of these can change depending on what is required at the you’re there and on other factors, such as the weather: ELEPHANT RESEARCH
GIS RESEARCH
SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND AGRO/SOCIAL FORESTRY RESEARCH
FARMING & AGRICULTURE
OPERATIONS AND BASIC HOUSEKEEPING
PROJECT START AND
FINISH DATES
Volunteers will be transferred back from Wasgamuwa to Ja-Ela 12 days after arrival (or on the last Friday of the month). DDeparture or arrival on any other non-scheduled dates is also possible – however, there may be an additional charge for this. Please check with us for further details.
ABOUT WASGAMUWA NATIONAL PARK:
The location is amazing, with breathtaking scenery and wildlife set in the remote hinterland of the island, given the accolade – by natives – as the most beautiful part of Sri Lanka. This placement is ideal if you enjoy wildlife and the outdoors - there is plenty to keep you occupied in this beautiful region. The surrounding jungles and villages can be explored easily by foot or bike and trips to other parks in the region can be arranged. This beautiful and untamed region is full of photo opportunities - outstanding rivers, lakes and wildlife that make for a photographer's paradise. There is no other entertainment, thus you'll enjoy serenity and spending time alone. The Maduru Oya National Park, which is about an hour away by jeep, is renowned for its Elephant population and Elephant sightings during an organised safari are very common - the amount of wildlife in this area of Sri Lanka is just incredible! This is a remote area with very basic facilities but will give you a true Sri Lankan experience. The teaching project in Wasgamuwa was initiated by the Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society (SLWCS) as a way of reducing the human-elephant conflict in the region. Through community participation the SLWCS aims to resolve this conflict over the coming years. The on-going goal is to increase the level of English amongst villagers. Read more about the goals of the SLWCS programme and how your work as a volunteer will assist with these. REQUIREMENTS: CAN YOU DO THIS PROJECT?
Interesting interview with innovative thinkers in Sri Lanka today who are working towards creating a balance between human development and elephant survival with untraditional methods and sensitive thinking. WHAT YOU'LL GAIN FROM DOING THIS PROJECT:
WHAT THE PROJECT GAINS FROM YOUR VOLUNTEERING |
Read Volunteer Reports on Wasgamuwa
Got any questions? Please email us:
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| ACCOMMODATION AND TRAVEL: |
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You
will live in a remote village called Pussellayaya on the outskirts of the
National Park, located around 7 hours east of Colombo. The community that you
will become a part of is mostly dependant on paddy farming for its livelihood
and as such the way of life here is very simple - you will need to be prepared
to 'get back to basics' and live like the villagers. The Wasgamuwa house is very, very basic indeed! The makeup of the house is the first thing you notice. This is quite a surprise the first time you see it however as you really do feel like you are in the wilderness! The house is very open to the outdoors, but don’t worry - the makeup of the house is perfectly sufficient and keeps the house cool during the hot spells of the day and dry during the storm. The house has five bedrooms, you may have your own room, but dependent on the number of volunteers you are likely to share with at least one other volunteer (of the same sex). There are mosquito nets on each bed to keep out the bugs! There is a fully functional bathroom, with a shower (cold water only), a sink and a western style toilet. The accommodation has recently been modernised and there is now electricity, fans and Wi-Fi internet! It's also possible that you may stay in a another field site near to the Wasgamuwa National Park, depending on the number of volunteers on the project and your activities and research - this would usually only be for a limited time. Food and Transport: Your food will be freshly cooked by the house caretaker and his wife. Neither of them speak very much English but a smile goes a long way! They are both lovely and love looking after you! The food is basic but delicious! The food usually consists of vegetarian curries, which are made milder than they would for themselves – but there is still a kick to them! There is also a shop about 5 minutes away from the field house, where you can stock up on snacks and cold drinks for your sugar fix! There is a fridge in the house, which can be used to store all your food. Transport will be in the form of a jeep, bicycle or by foot! Please bear in mind that Wasgamuwa is remote and the house is open to nature. This project should only be undertaken by people who like solitude, wildlife and living in jungle-like surroundings, and are able to live with minimal creature comforts.
TRAVEL:
Support & Backup: To read about the excellent Support & Backup we provide before you leave and during your programme, please click here.
Got any questions? Please email us: |
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