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CARE FOR ANIMALS Project at Lok Kawi Wildlife Park in Malaysia
UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH BORNEO'S
NATIVE WILDLIFE. Care for animals in Lok Kawi Wildlife Park, Malaysian Borneo's newest
attraction and home to many of Sabah's
native and threatened species.
Many species in Borneo are
endangered and so the Wildlife Park has a very important role in educating the public in
conservation and awareness of environmental issues.
Some of the native species at the
Wildlife Park include Orang-utans, Proboscis Monkeys, Pygmy Elephants (including
two very charming baby Elephants) and a Pygmy Rhino. On top of this the Wildlife
Park has Tigers, a Clouded Leopard, Gibbons, Otters, Sun Bears, Giant Tortoise,
Mouse Deer, Ostrich, Civets and a fantastic Aviary complete with talking birds
which allows the visitor a taste of life deep within the rainforest.
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►SUMMARY
FACTFILE |
| Start Dates |
All year round - groups leave for
this project once a month. For specific dates, please
contact us |
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Duration |
4 weeks. |
| Requirements |
No qualifications needed, but you
must have a reasonable level of fitness and be able to cope with
tropical climates. |
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Price |
£2,495 / US$3,745 - shorter
or longer durations are not available
Full Price List and other
Currencies |
| What's included |
►Accommodation
►Food
►Meeting you at the Airport
►Transfer to your accommodation
►Full pre-departure support
►Local in-country team support
and backup
►24-hr emergency support
►Two
free T-shirts |
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What's not included |
Flights, Insurance,
Cost of Visas (if a visa is required, but we'll provide necessary documents and
assistance). |
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Who can do this Project? |
All our projects are
open to all nationalities.
Unless otherwise stated, you need to be aged between 17 and 70+ |
PROJECT OVERVIEW
The
Wildlife Park is set in a 280 acre forest reserve is in
the district of Penampang, just 15 kms south west of Sabah's capital, Kota
Kinabalu. It is run by the Sabah Wildlife Department and has been developed with
education and fostering awareness of conservation issues in mind. Unlike some
other Zoos in the region, the Wildlife Park is very big and is
able to
provide animals with enclosures which imitate natural conditions as much as
possible. For
children, the petting area provides a hands on experience and the chance
to learn about conservation.
The Wildlife Park is a cross between a traditional Wildlife Park and
a Zoo and so many people refer to it as a modern Zoo.
The Park's main aims are to;
- Increase Public Awareness
- Provide World Class animal facilities and enclosures
- Start an environmental education programme
- Make captive breeding of endangered species possible
- Allow research activities to take place
Not only will the Wildlife Park strive to achieve these objectives
but also to provide educational opportunities for locals, foreigners and
schools, diversify the local economy and utilize local manpower.
Many Western Zoos take a hands
off approach, where even keepers have very little direct hands on contact with
the animals. At Lok Kawi, keeper and animal interaction is an important part of
keeping the animals well looked after and healthy. Your role will be to assist
keepers in their daily duties in looking after the animals, however, not all of
the animals are tame and therefore you'll only be allowed hands on contact with
some of the animals.
WHAT YOU'LL GAIN FROM DOING THIS PROJECT:
The enormous satisfaction of helping captive animals 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!
WORK CONTENT:
The Lok Kawi Wildlife Park was officially
opened in February 2007 and has enjoyed high visitor numbers since
this time, with the majority of visitors consisting of local Malays. There are
plans to develop an education programme amongst local schools and a
volunteer programme for Malaysian citizens
Travellers and the Sabah Wildlife Department have
arranged a structured programme at Lok Kawi Wildlife Park which will
allow volunteers the opportunity to learn about animal care across a
variety of species. You'll have hands on contact with some of the animals
that have been hand reared.
Working hours are generally between 8.00am - 12.00am and 2.00pm -
5.00pm.
You will assist on a rotation system within the areas listed below:
ELEPHANTS:
All of the
Elephants at Lok Kawi are Pygmy Elephants and there are currently 5
female elephants, 1 male and 2 babies. Pygmy Elephants are native to
Borneo - in the wild they are found mainly in Sabah along the
Kinabatangan river, but their population and habitat is dwindling due to
human intervention. Borneo's Pygmy Elephants are thought to be a
separate sub-species of the Asian Elephant as the two differ in many
ways. Pygmy Elephants are typically half a metre smaller in height than
Asian Elephants and yet have longer trunks and tails, both of which
sweep the ground. They also tend to be much less aggressive than Asian
Elephants. Conservation and understanding of Borneo's Elephants is
incredibly important as they are critically endangered. Lok Kawi plays
an important role in educating the public about Borneo's native
wildlife.
The baby elephants at Lok Kawi were rescued from the
wild during separate poaching incidents which resulted in their mothers
being killed. They have been in contact with humans since a very young
age as they had to be bottle fed. Visitors and children can interact
with the baby elephants at the Children's zoo.
You may assist the elephant keepers with the
following tasks;
- Cleaning enclosures thoroughly
- Preparing food/milk
- Bottle feeding and washing the baby elephants
- Reporting to the veterinarian on behaviour/eating patterns
- Taking the baby elephants to the Children's Zoo and assisting
with visitor interaction/safety. This includes some rides for the
children but only during weekends, public holidays and school
holidays.
- Inspecting animals for different behaviour or signs of illness
and report to the veterinarian/other staff where necessary.
PRIMATES:
Primate species at Lok
Kawi include Orang-Utans, Proboscis Monkeys and Gibbons. Within this
area you'll also look after some of the other small mammals at the park. Both Orang-Utans and Proboscis Monkeys are native to
Borneo and both are facing the threat of extinction due to loss of
habitat and human intervention.
Orang-Utans are incredibly gentle, inquisitive
and endearing creatures. They are native to Borneo and Sumatra and found
high up in the forest canopy. Orang-Utans are solitary animals and
difficult to spot in the wild. At Lok Kawi there are 8 young Orang-Utans,
living in a large unfenced enclosure with plenty of enrichment
activities - bridges, hammocks, ropes and tyres to climb and swing on.
Visitors are not allowed interaction with the Orang-Utans but as a
volunteer you will be involved in some of the behind the
scenes duties, which includes a direct hands on approach with the animals where
possible. Orang-utans are facing extinction within the next 10 -
15 years due in part to a loss of habitat in the wild. They also have
incredibly slow reproduction rates which means that a drop in their
population has an even greater effect on the rate of extinction. The
Orang-Utans at Lok Kawi will not be released but will remain in
captivity to raise awareness of conservation issues to the public.
Proboscis Monkey's
are very unusual, with
round protruding bellies and huge, pink, pendulous noses - in males the
longer the nose the better for attracting a female mate! They live in
groups high up in the trees and usually close to a water source. In
Sabah they are mainly found along the banks of the Kinabatangan river.
At Lok Kawi there is a group of Proboscis monkey's living in a large
glass fronted enclosure, with a water spring and plenty of vegetation
for climbing. You will be fascinated watching their interactions with
each other - these clever primates can even swim! Currently there are
several baby proboscis monkey's that have been born in the Wildlife
Park.
Gibbons are found in
the subtropical forests of South East Asia and usually live in family
groups of 2 - 6 individuals. They are territorial and excellent climbers
and jumpers, capable of reaching up to 9 metres in a single jump.
You may assist with the
following duties within the primates section;
- Cleaning enclosures
- Preparing food and feeding
- Moving orang-utans from the night stalls to their outside
enclosures
- Handling other primates when required
- To assist with feeding time at the exhibits and talk to visitors
about the various different primates
- Inspecting animals for different behaviour or signs of illness and
report to the veterinarian/other staff where necessary.
BIRDS:
Walking into the Aviary is
like stepping into the middle of the jungle! The forest canopy is
covered with a mesh that is so high that you barely even notice it
hovering above the trees. A wooden walkway leads you through the Aviary
and across a stream where birds can be seen fishing and wading in the
mud. Talking parrots will greet you 'hello' and you may even be lucky
enough to spot a mouse deer foraging in the vegetation. Sabah's iconic
Rhinoceros Hornbill will no doubt swoop past you, making a loud
whooshing sound with each wing beat - the hornbill is also famous for
it's loud trumpeting calls. This black bird has a white tail and a
dramatic yellow and red beak and casque. Other birds in this section
include Macaws, Myna's and Hornbills.
You may assist with the
following duties within the Main Aviary, the Macaw exhibit, the Myna
exhibit and the Hornbill exhibit;
- Cleaning enclosures thoroughly to provide a clean environment
for the birds
- Preparing food
- Maintaining records of the number of birds that come to the
feeding platform and reporting anything abnormal to the
veterinarian/other staff
- To assist with feeding time and talk to visitors about the
various different birds
RHINOS, DEER AND OTHER
HOOFSTOCK:
Within the Hoofstock area
you'll assist with Rhino, Cattle (Anchole and Bali), Axis and Deer
(Timor, Red, Barking and Mouse). You may assist
with the following duties;
- Moving animals from night stalls to enclosures.
- Inspecting animals for different behaviour or signs of illness
and report to the veterinarian/other staff where necessary.
- Cleaning enclosures thoroughly to ensure a clean environment for
the animals
THE TRAVELLERS / SABAH WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT
PARTNERSHIP:
Travellers have worked closely with the Sabah Wildlife
Department for several years and are very proud of their successful partnership.
In the past, several volunteers that have joined Travellers Orang-Utan
project have been invited by the Sabah Wildlife Department to help with
various projects to set up the Wildlife Park. One Travellers' volunteer
assisted in the design of the sun bear enclosure and another who had
experience in graphic design produced the Wildlife Parks information pamphlet.
Travellers are delighted to have been involved in the Wildlife Park since it's early development in 2003.
Travellers are proud to have had the opportunity to donate £5,140.00 from
the Bridge The Gap Foundation (The Phil Perkes Trust) to sponsor the
Children’s Zoo.
The
Children’s Zoo is first and foremost an educational facility with an
information centre currently under construction that will boast live
exhibits. Brightly painted murals engage attention and the petting zoo
allows children to have hands on contact with domestic animals and
wildlife to encourage learning about conservation. Within
the petting area there are animals such as Rabbits, Tortoise, Miniature
Ponies and Goats. Travellers' donation reflects their commitment in education and raising
awareness about conservation.
2010 sees the start of a Conservation Awareness Programme at Lok
Kawi, funded by Travellers and involving over 1000 local school children
in its' first year. Through this
awareness programme we aim to teach the importance of
nature and
wildlife conservation for younger generations through exposure to
Borneo's native wildlife. With the support of the Sabah Wildlife
Department, two educational visits will be organised each month, for
primary and secondary school children in the east coast area of Sabah.
It is hoped that this programme will promote the work of Lok Kawi
Wildlife Park and support it as a renowned learning centre for nature
and wildlife conservation in the future.
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