Elephant Research in Sri Lanka

  Sri Lanka

Rural Areas

Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks
Dates: All Year

Description: If you think of animals in Sri Lanka, the first thing you probably think of is the endangered Sri Lankan elephants. As a volunteer you will have the chance to make a difference by getting first hand involvement into conservation of these amazing mammals.

The conflict between wild elephant and man in Sri Lanka is an ongoing issue. Volunteer efforts will see you helping and assisting the dedicated research team in their work, by helping to research the impact of the elephants in the local area.

During this program you will be out in the field with the researchers tracking and monitoring this amazing species. You will also help to educate the local communities on conservation and ethical issues. This project is incredibly hands on and if you are looking for the hands on approach to animal research this placement is a must.

Through these projects the SLWCS is helping local villagers to perceive the elephant as an economic asset rather than an agriculture pest that is a threat to their livelihoods. The SLWCS projects are making it possible for elephants and people to share the same space.

Highlights: The main project objectives are:
- Help protect the Sri Lankan elephant by developing and providing management strategies for its conservation.
- Focus on the human aspects of human-elephant conflict, and try to resolve them with the participation of the villagers who are victims of elephant crop raiding.
- Develop processes to integrate community participation into human-elephant conflict management.
- Develop an integrated human-elephant conflict management process which can be applied island-wide wherever there is conflict.
- Develop village level community networks and provide facilities for them to share and exchange ideas, information and experiences in regard to their efforts to resolve HEC.
- Bring economic relief to the farmer and help raise their standard of living by helping to stop crop depredation by elephants.
- Increase public awareness as to the plight of the elephant and help garner their support for its conservation.
- Develop activities that would help the farmers to benefit from the elephant. Introduce the concept of ecotourism. Such activities will help to show the elephant as a resource rather than a liability and a deadly adversary.
- Develop the project as a model for possible replication in other range countries of the Asian elephant.
- Give the larger international non-scientific community a first hand experience of what it means to live around such a large and potentially destructive animal and still desire to conserve elephants for our future generations.

Cost in US$: 814- 1466 GBP

Experience Required: no

Age Range: 17 plus

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel to Sri Lanka Independently

Typically Participants Work in Groups

Application Process Involves:

• Phone Interview
• Written Application

Worldwide Experience's Mission Statement: Worldwide Experience strives to conserve what man is fast destroying- our own environment. We support conservation and community projects through the recruitment of volunteers from around the world to help work on these diverse, and worthwhile projects. If you are thinking of taking a Gap Year or even just want to get away for your summer break Worldwide Experience will have the placement to suit you. From 2 weeks-3 months, we have projects in South Africa, Namibia, Kenya and Sri Lanka, and our experienced team will help place you on a project that will suit your needs the most. Moreover, all the programmes have been set up with the needs and requirements of the placement in mind. This means that whether you're helping to dart a lion, track a cheetah, ID an elephant or teach a class of children, you are making a difference through your work there. Your safety is also in the forefront of our minds, and as a fully bonded tour operator, all volunteers booked to travel through us will be protected by bonding, as required by ABTA and ATOL. We can also organise all flights direct from our UK office.

Year Founded: 2003