This wildlife and conservation program will allow volunteers to engage in projects which are set to conserve wildlife and benefit local communities. These projects motivate locals to live harmoniously with the wildlife, hence decreases the human - wildlife conflicts. In the long run, communities profit from economic empowerment through economic projects such as tourism businesses.
Wildlife conservation volunteers are expected to support the conservation of natural resources either directly or indirectly by giving their time and identifying new effective ways to create alternative dimensions of promoting sustainable development through wildlife conservation.
Typical day at the camp
You will wake-up at around 6:00 a.m. and have breakfast at around 6:30 a.m. You will depart for the bush on foot or by 4 x 4 at around 7:00 a.m. for a working session. You will be back around noon. Lunch will take place at around 1:00 p.m., followed by free time to read, rest or discuss with the camp team.
You will depart for the bush on foot or by 4 x 4 at 4:30 p.m. for a working session and be back at around 6:15 p.m. Have a shower heated over a wood fire at around 6:30 p.m., followed by free time. Dinner will be at around 7:30 p.m., followed by free time or discussions with the camp team.
Activities
De-snaring
De-snaring is removing wire snares or traps that poachers set across animal tracks to capture and kill wildlife. The poachers set the wire strategically with the aim of trapping the animal by the neck so as to suffocate it. This is a very cruel method as it is a slow and agonizing death for an animal. For this reason, you will search for the snares at poachers' hot spots and remove them.
Bush patrols
There will be daily game drives to the park with the help of sanctuary rangers volunteers to make bush patrols and monitor animals for their safety against poachers. This patrol helps to identify any injured orphan animal which can easily die from lack of treatment and tender care. Volunteers take record of such incidences and report the cases to the Kenya Wildlife Service, which is in charge of all the wildlife in Kenya.
Guiding and giving talks to tourists
In the sanctuaries, African Authentic Safaris Ltd have two hotels and camp lodges in which tourists spend their holiday while viewing wildlife. Volunteers help in guiding the tourists to where animals have been spotted (for example, the big cats) and make sure the animals are not crowded by the tourists, thus interfering with their freedom in their habitat. Volunteers are also involved in giving talks to tourists on animal behaviors in their habitats and the importance of conservation. They will also develop presentations on animal’s interactions during evening times in the hotels.
Research and human - wildlife conflict
The wildlife, especially the elephants, do cross over to the neighboring community farms and the outcome is massive destruction, thus creating hostility towards wildlife. Volunteers will be involved in researching sustainable solutions on this conflict and developing an alternative source of income for the communities.
Community outreach and education
Wildlife conservation goes hand in hand with tree planting because animals depend on trees for their survival. In the sanctuary, there are indigenous seedlings to plant and to give to the communities. For this reason, volunteers have special visits to the communities to talk about conservation and to plant trees.
School visits
Volunteers will be involved in education on wildlife and will strengthen environmental school clubs on conservation. More ideas are welcomed to run this program effectively.
