Cheetah

  Namibia

Windhoek

Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks
Dates: see website for details

Description: Research Mission
Help the world's fastest mammal in a race against extinction in Namibia's ranching heartland .

Situation Report
North-central Namibia -- The cheetah can run 110 kilometers per hour. Yet it can't run away from habitat loss, a reduced gene pool, and conflict with humans and their livestock. Namibia is home to the world's largest remaining cheetah population, with 90 percent of its cheetahs living on livestock farmlands where conflict with humans is the greatest threat. The survival of the Namibian cheetah lies in the hands of about 1,000 commercial farmers, who generally view the predators as threats to their livelihoods. In the 1980s, the Namibian cheetah population declined by half as farmers killed over 6,000 animals, and then another 3,000 in the 1990s. Dr. Laurie Marker, who founded the Cheetah Conservation Fund in 1990, has been collecting essential data on cheetah behavior and ecology and working with Namibia's farmers to change attitudes toward cheetahs. In short, Marker is saving the cheetah from local extinction, and she needs your help.

Meals and Accommodations
At Eland's Joy, you'll stay in two-person bungalows, or rondavels, with sinks and beds with mosquito nets. In a separate unisex bathhouse, you'll find showers with limited hot water and flush toilets. Laundry is washed regularly by camp staff. The camp is solar powered, and has potable water. There is a cook on staff, and the kitchen is well stocked with familiar foods, but at times you may be asked to share in communal cooking duties. Enjoy your meals in a shady, thatched-roof pavilion with the Namibian bush as your view.

Highlights: On the Expedition
You will be based at Eland's Joy, a 15,000-hectare working farm and the headquarters for the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF). Participating in wildlife surveys, feeding and caring for captive cheetahs on-site, and data entry are the primary tasks. You will also assist with collecting biomedical samples to assess the health of wild cheetahs, if these are captured during your team, and releasing them back into the wild. Additional duties may include 24-hour waterhole wildlife surveys (August team), assisting in the day-to-day operations of the farm, and spreading the word about cheetah conservation among local farmers and schoolchildren. A side trip to Etosha National Park, the largest in Namibia, will provide the chance to view elephants, zebras, lions, rhinos, giraffes, many species of antelope, and perhaps even a cheetah in the wild.

Qualifications: Earthwatch volunteers are enthusiastic to learn about the research topic and are willing to contribute their time and energy to support leading scientists in conducting field research. Volunteers will be trained upon arrival at the research site. Teams have a minimum age of 18, unless accompanied by parent or legal guardian, in which case the minimum age is 16.

Cost in US$: 3,846

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: Earthwatch expeditions appeal to a variety of people: educators gain new knowledge and develop exciting lesson plans; students explore career options and build research skills; writers, photographers and artists contribute their skills and share their experiences through a variety of media; businessmen and women, doctors and nurses, engineers, homemakers, retirees . . . people from all walks of life choose to volunteer on research expeditions each year. Volunteers are actively engaged on a daily basis with the research project, develop global perspectives, and explore new cultures and environments.

Age Range: 18 - 90

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to Namibia Independently

Typically Participants Work in Groups

Scholarships are Available. Fellowships may be available, mainly for high-school students and educators. Visit our website for more information.

Application Process Involves:

• Phone Interview
• Physical Exam/Health Records

Post-Program Services Include:

• Alumni Network

Earthwatch Institute's Mission Statement: Earthwatch Institute engages people worldwide in scientific field research and education to promote the understanding and action necessary for a sustainable environment. Through a unique method of funding, the volunteers Share of Cost contributes directly to the support of the research projects. Earthwatch enables scientists to pursue research goals and members of the public to gain hands-on experience with science. Each year, over 4,000 people from 46 countries directly contribute to scientific research by working alongside scientists, local community members and other volunteers. Earthwatch volunteers can track sea turtles; join archaeological digs; observe animal behavior; collect rare plants, study dolphin behavior and more. The Earthwatch community also includes 20,000 global members, 4,000 eager volunteers each year, 50 collaborating conservation organizations, and 50 corporate partners, all of whom work together to make a difference. Below you will find out more about our leadership, employment opportunities, and contact information.

Year Founded: 1971