Tsau! White Lion Conservation Programme

  South Africa

Rural Areas

Term: Throughout the year 
Durations of Program: 1-2 weeks, 2-4 weeks and 5-8 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 5-8 weeks
Dates: All year round from 2 to 5 weeks

Description: An opportunity to work with the 'world-first' reintroduction of White Lions back to the wild in their endemic area - the Greater Timbavati region, in South Africa. Volunteers form part of the conservation monitoring and tracking team, and have a rare opportunity to gain authentic field experience whilst making a valuable contribution to the long-term conservation of the white lions.

Tsau!* Global White Lion Protection Trust
The Global White Lion Protection Trust (WLT) is a South African based non-profit organisation, established in 2002. It has a dual conservation and community objective. On the conservation side, they have been implementing the White Lion Protection Plan", which includes the world-first reintroduction of White Lions back to their natural habitat in the Greater Timbavati region, and their long-term survival there. On the community side, they have initiated eco-educational programmes, cultural revival programmes and social upliftment initiatives in an effort to ensure that this unique White Lion heritage is protected in perpetuity.(*Tsau! Is a San / Bushman incantation for Lion.)

As an organisation, WLT respects the cultures of indigenous peoples, and their spiritual beliefs. It is recommended (although not imperative) that volunteers read the book, Mystery of the White Lions, before joining the programme. This book was written by the Founder of the WLT, Linda Tucker, and is based on 10 years of primary research with indigenous elders and scientists. It considers the mythological/ legendary aspects of the White Lions, as well as the scientific. In Africa, wildlife and animals form the basis of indigenous peoples' spiritual beliefs. The view is that knowing more about these aspects can only enhance the overall experience of any volunteer. Individuals are given the choice of engaging more deeply in the cultural/spiritual aspects of the White Lion heritage; furthering scientific pursuits; or simply enjoying the wide spread of activities.

The White Lion Trust's research objectives are based on those of the IUCN. In 2002, when the White Lion Trust was first established, there were no known White Lion individuals remaining in the wild in the Greater Timbavati and this had been the status for the past decade. With a critical need to supplement the White Lion gene in the wild, the White Lion Trust launched its world-first White Lion Reintroduction Programme. Today (2009) the Reintroduction Progamme can be considered successful as the founding pride hunts self-sufficiently and is reproducing without human intervention.

Recent news: After nearly 14 years of technical extinction in their natural endemic habitat, three snow white lion cubs were born to the project in the Greater Timbavati region. These cubs were (June 2009) released with their pride, to become self-sufficient in their natural habitat at the Tsau! Conservancy.

Highlights: Volunteer Programme
The focus of the scientific aspect is on daily monitoring (dawn and dusk) of the two prides reintroduced to free-roaming conditions in their endemic habitat. The scientific work of the WLT's Lion Ecologist (Jason Turner), including his MSc Thesis on Lion Ecology, as well as other lion scientists, is made available as reference work to the volunteer programme, and some past volunteers have achieved significant successes with their own scientific papers. The WLT offers an exclusive opportunity for suitable volunteers to form part of the conservation monitoring and tracking team. As such, volunteers need to be very dynamic and adaptable to the changing day-to-day needs of the project. Candidates have a unique opportunity to gain authentic field experience, whilst making a valuable contribution to the long-term conservation of the white lions. Volunteers may be involved in the following:

- Lion Monitoring
- Lion-tracking using telemetry
- GIS mapping
- Recording lion behaviour
- Veterinary care of lions (*)

- Anti-Poaching Activities
- Fence maintenance and fence patrol with the security team
- Dawn, dusk and midnight security patrols
- Study of anti-poaching techniques (*)

- Habitat Management
- Bush thinning
- Erosion control
- Gabion construction
- Alien plant control
- Lion Predation Activities
- Supplementary feeding (during boma bonding)
- Boma clearing
- Game capture and release (*)

- Scientific Research
- Predator / prey study
- Data capturing of research information

- Community Development
- Eco-Educational programme (*)
- Organic food-growth programme (*)
- Eco-Construction of dwellings (*)

(*) when available.

Please note: As a serious reintroduction project, hands-on contact is avoided in the best interests of the animals, except when tranquilised for veterinary treatment or the fitting of radio-collars. Please be cautioned that cub-petting and animal habituation to humans is associated with captive breeding (making reintroduction unlikely to succeed), and often, unfortunately, with "canned" (unethical) hunting activities.

Qualifications:
* Age between 19 and 90 years old.
* Interest / field of study: conservation, environmental science, wildlife management, ecology or wildlife biology, wildlife journalism, wildlife photography, veterinary science, animal behavior studies, animal communication, cultural / community development, alternative disciplines in science or 'sacred science'; or fields related to the aforementioned.
* Personal qualities of flexibility and adaptability.
* Self-sufficiency: as a member of the conservation team, volunteers prepare their own meals and are responsible for their own 'house-keeping'.
* Self-motivated: a carefully structured full programme is provided each week, but volunteers need to be adaptable to some programme changes depending on variables in the running of the project. Free time is also factored in, and volunteers need to be independent and mature enough to make constructive use of such recreational time.
* Please note: this project is not intended / ideal for 'gap year' students. Student volunteers need to be hard-working, emotionally mature, have an openness to personal growth; and a willingness to benefit from the unique opportunities and challenges of this valuable project which is breaking ground both scientifically and culturally. Of course, the real value and appreciation of the experience remains the responsibility of the individual.

Cost in US$: from 1120 USD

Experience Required: no

Age Range: 18 yrs upwards

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

Participants Travel to South Africa Independently

Typically Participants Work in Groups of 5

Application Process Involves:

• Online Application plus Application Assessment

Year Founded: 1997