UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH A VARIETY OF
DIFFERENT ANIMAL SPECIES.
This excellent project is all about
caring - caring for animals, caring about conservation and species
survival, caring about educating children and adults in how to treat
animals.
Lok Kawi Wildlife Park is Malaysian Borneo's newest
attraction - the facility is 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.
On this project you'll work with
Elephants
Primates (Orang-Utans and Monkeys)
Carnivores (Clouded Leopards, Tigers, Otters,
Civets and Sun Bears)
Children's Zoo
Rhinos, Deer and other Hoofstock
Birds
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 zoo's in the region, the Wildlife Park has an enormous amount of space
and is able to focus on
providing animals with enclosures which imitate natural conditions as much as
possible whilst still providing visitors with a wonderfully close encounter. For
children the petting area provides a hands on experience and the chance
to learn about conservation.
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.
The Wildlife 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 new Wildlife Park achieve these objectives but it will also
become a source of pride for the local community, provide educational
opportunities for locals, foreigners and schools, diversify the local economy
and utilize local manpower.
Many western Zoo's 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.
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.
YOUR
WORK AND RESPONSIBILITIES AT LOK KAWI WILDLIFE PARK:.
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 plenty of hands on contact as many
of the animals have been hand reared.
Working hours are generally between 8.00am - 12.00am and 2.00pm -
5.00pm.
You will work on a rotation system within the areas listed below,
which is followed by detailed information on each area:
Travellers' Vicky Boughton will arrange your programme
and look after you. Here she is on site site in Malaysia during one of
her regular inspection trips
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 will 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 the work that goes on behind the
scenes, 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.
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 will assist with the
following duties within the primates section;
Cleaning enclosures thoroughly
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'll 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
CARNIVORES/SEMI
CARNIVORES:
Within this section you'll
work with Clouded Leopards, Tigers, Otters, Civets and Sun Bears.
Clouded Leopards are
usually found in lowland rainforest habitats. There is one Clouded
leopard at the Wildlife Park. This clouded leopard was
injured and rescued at a very young age and has been hand reared in
captivity. It is very rare to see Clouded Leopards in the wild as they
are very secretive by nature.
Tigers are the largest
feline species in the world and fiercely territorial. Each tiger has
around 100 stripes, in a unique pattern of markings - their fur is also
used as a form of camouflage.The Wildlife Park
has 6 Tigers in all; a family of 3 cubs plus one male and female, and
1 hand reared female tiger.
Otters are marine mammals, primarily surviving on a diet of
fish. They are found throughout Africa and Asia's rivers. Some
sub-species can also live in the sea.
Civets are cat sized
mammals that are nocturnal. They are very good climbers.
Sun Bears are the
smallest type of bear - at maturity a male will stand at about 4ft high. They make
excellent climbers and have very long claws to aid this. Sun bears
are increasingly rare residents of tropical rainforests and habitat loss is
a growing problem affecting their survival in the wild.
You will assist with the
following duties within the Carnivores section;
Cleaning enclosures thoroughly to ensure a clean environment for
the animals
Preparing food and assisting with feeding
Inspecting animals for different behaviour or signs of illness and
report to the veterinarian/other staff where necessary.
Talking to the visitors at feeding time
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 are proud to have had the opportunity to donate £5,140.00 from
the Bridge The Gap (The Phil Perkes Trust) to sponsor the Children’s Zoo. The sponsorship
from Travellers has assisted the Zoo in purchasing two miniature ponies
and constructing the enclosures and information centre.
Travellers' donation reflects their commitment in education and raising
awareness about conservation.
You will assist with the
following duties at the Children's Zoo;
Cleaning enclosures thoroughly to ensure a clean environment for
the animals
Preparing food and assisting with feeding
Inspecting animals for different behaviour or signs of illness and
report to the veterinarian/other staff where necessary.
Talking to the visitors at feeding time
RHINOS, DEER AND OTHER HOOFSTOCK:
Within the Hoofstock area
you'll work with Rhino, Cattle (Anchole and Bali), Axis and Deer (Timor,
Red, Barking and Mouse).
You will
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
ACCOMMODATION
As this is a new
project accommodation has not yet been finalised.It is likely
that you will be accommodated within a backpackers hostel in nearby Kota
Kinabalu. You will live with other volunteers who are on the same
project as you. If you are located outside of the Wildlife Park
transport will be arranged for you to get to and from work. You'll have
plenty of opportunities to socialise with others.
Malaysia has lovely
weather all year round with lots of sunshine and you will have
some time during your free days to explore the local region and visit some of
the tourist attractions.
ARRIVAL: YOUR INTRODUCTION TO THE COUNTRY
When you
arrive you will be welcomed at the airport by Albert our Malaysia Manager.
He will take you to your accommodation in Kota Kinabalu where you will
spend the first few days of your trip. Albert will give you an induction
during this time, so that you can learn about the country and its
culture, as well as useful information like how to use the phones,
transport system etc.
During the first few days of your stay you will
also receive an induction with the Sabah Wildlife Department, who run
the Lok Kawi Wildlife Park. This induction will include a briefing on the project
and a chance to meet some of the key staff who you will be working with.
Our projects
in Malaysia are very popular and you
are sure to have a wonderful time during your stay in Sabah.
NOTES ABOUT THE
PROJECT:
This project is for a fixed period of 7 weeks and
group departures leave every 7 weeks or thereabouts.
All volunteers must arrive in time for the Induction
with Travellers Organiser (dates will be specified by Travellers).
Unfortunately late arrivals cannot be accepted onto the project.
You will be provided
with 2 T - Shirts to be worn as a work
uniform
Some of the animals are
semi-wild and hands on contact with certain animals won't be possible (e.g
with carnivores or semi-carnivores which can be dangerous)
All contact with animals
will be supervised by staff at the Wildlife Park
WHO CAN APPLY?
In order to apply for a place on this project you should be able to meet
the following criteria:
Have a high level of fitness and
be able to work as part of a team conducting physical work in hot and
humid conditions.
Be able to cope in a tropical
environment where there are large insects, snakes, bugs and leeches. If
you are squeamish about insects then this is NOT the placement for you.
Have a genuine interest in
Wildlife and recognise the educational importance of having animals in a
Wildlife Park such as Lok Kawi.
TRAVEL:
You have the option to arrange your
own flights or we can assist you with your flight arrangements. If you would
like us to do this for you, we will liaise with you regarding available flights
and dates to suit you. All arrangements for your flight bookings/payments will
be fulfilled by Murray Rogers Travel Ltd., ATOL No. 6856. (Read more about Murray Rogers Travel Ltd.)
Where possible, we arrange for two or more people to travel on the
same flight and we will let you have the names and telephone numbers of other
volunteers on your flight, so that you can chat to each other or even meet up
before leaving for your placement.
You will fly into
Kota Kinabalu International Airport where you will be welcomed by
Albert, our Travellers Organiser
and Malaysia Manager. Albert will settle you
into your accommodation in KK for the first few nights of your stay. You
will then have an induction with the Sabah Wildlife Department, before
commencing your project at
the Lok Kawi Wildlife Park.
As there is so much to do in Sabah and the surrounding
region, we recommend that you do some travelling around the country
once your placement has finished. If this is the case, we can arrange your
flights accordingly.
Travellers' Malaysia Manager Albert
and friends!
Where possible, all flights we arrange for you
have changeable return tickets because many of our volunteers choose to extend
their stay once they are in their destination country. Changeable return tickets
enable you to do so, within the limits of your visa and the level of your air
ticket, of course. If you choose to book your own flights, you should endeavour
to get a changeable ticket. We meet you at the airport regardless of whether you
make your own travel arrangements or not.
VISAS:. Visas are not
required for stay of up to 90 days if you are a British Passport Holder.
If you want to stay longer in Malaysia, or if you are not a British
Passport Holder, please speak to us about specific visa requirements, if
any. We will make the Visa process very easy for you!
To see what support we provide in our countries,
please click onSupport
and Backup
PRICES:
To see the Prices of this project and all
our other projects in Malaysia, please
click here
Prices
include
Food & accommodation while on your project,
2 T-shirts, if required
for your project
All support and backup
during your programme
Meeting you at the
nearest airport, where appropriate, but exclude international travel.