Volunteers Needed: Lion Reintroduction in South Africa

  South Africa

Port Elizabeth

Durations of Program: 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks, 9-12 weeks, 3-6 months, 7-12 months and 1-2 years
Dates: See website for dates

Description: Help reverse the fortunes of Africa's most majestic animal when you volunteer with our Lion Reintroduction Project. Africa's wild lion populations are in dramatic decline. Ranchers shoot and poison them, trophy hunters hang their heads on walls, and diseases like feline AIDS have left their numbers decimated. The overall population is now thought to be fewer than 100,000, down by as much as 70 percent over the past 20 years.

In cooperation with a nearby lion-breeding center, our Lion Reintroduction Project is dedicated to reintroducing captive-bred lions into the wild. Through regular feeding, walking, cuddling and training, you will help prepare the lions for life back in the wild. The reserve is set in 295 acres of superb bush and grassland near Port Elizabeth, a bustling beach town on South Africa's southeast coast.

Highlights: As a volunteer you will:
* Care for lion cubs, including feeding, cuddling, training, etc.
* Assist with upkeep of the small reserve, helping with road maintenance, removal of non-native vegetation, etc.
* Help with maintenance and improvement of lion enclosures
* Walk lions on a daily basis, at times with paying clients
* Assist with community projects in the area at least 1 day a week
* Check for wildlife snares
* Provide general help on the reserve

Qualifications:
* Must be at least 18 years old

Cost in US$: See website

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: Volunteer Adventures makes it easy to live your dream of volunteering. Anyone can volunteer, as long as you have the desire to help others and an open mind.

Age Range: 18 and older

This Program is open to World Wide Participants.

Participants Travel to South Africa Independently

Volunteer Adventures's Mission Statement: The mission of Volunteer Adventures is to create and promote volunteer opportunities that improve the lives of others and the environment in which we live. We seek to achieve this goal by connecting worthy local projects with volunteers around the world. Many local organizations are doing great work in their communities, but don't have the resources required to recruit international volunteers. Volunteer Adventures serves as the link between these organizations and the volunteers needed to make these projects a success. All volunteer programs depend on the skilled coordination of a variety of elements: enthusiastic volunteers, meaningful work, organized projects, and supportive staff. It is our goal at Volunteer Adventures to orchestrate this process for you. We use our global experience and resources to provide volunteer experiences that bring pride and satisfaction to everyone involved.