Working With Animals – South Africa Needs Your Help
If you have a gap year coming up and are a little stuck for ideas as to what to do, why not think about working with animals in South Africa? The fact is that all over Southern Africa, animals are in need of help. There are a number of reasons for that, including things such as climate change, competition for land with humans and, sometimes, human prejudice.
Take Up the Challenge
At times, even conservation itself has led to challenges; such as when one species that is now protected suddenly undergoes a rapid population explosion, meaning that the local environment can no longer support the numbers involved. Whatever the cause, there are people that are prepared to try and help – and you could be one of them.
Where Does South Africa Need You?
So, what sort of work could you be doing during your gap year working with animals in South Africa? Take the Enkosini wildlife reserve project as an example of type. This is an interesting project that involves a sort of reverse engineering of large farms and ‘tamed’ countryside, taking it back to its original natural state. It also entails the gradual re-introduction of what were once native wildlife species into the area.
Work at Enkosini is hard, but very rewarding. You may be helping to move animals to new locations and assisting with the rescue of those that have been orphaned or injured due to natural causes. You may also be helping to maintain perimeter fencing or cleaning out waterholes.
Another variation of volunteer conservation work in South Africa is that offered by Moholoholo wildlife rehabilitation centre. There, the specialisation is in the treatment of sick or injured animals and their eventual rehabilitation into the natural bush environment. Much of this work requires a lot of labour and you might be asked to participate in things such as the feeding of animals, helping to retrieve injured animals from the bush, transporting animals that are now healthy again back into the countryside, or simply ‘mucking out’ a pen.
All Hands on Deck
In all these opportunities that involve working with animals you will need to be pragmatic though. Animals in need require a range of support services that involve many tasks and not just ‘hands on’ with the animals themselves. For example, working with the natural environment of the animals is sometimes just as important as working with animals themselves, so you may be involved in things such as collecting data on plant life in a given vicinity.
These sorts of gap year breaks are normally based around the concept of volun-tourism. You will pay an amount of money for the time you spend there and that will cover the costs of your food, accommodation (usually rustic but comfortable) and sometimes airport transfers. A portion of that will also go to the maintenance of the park or reserve you’re based in. You will pay for your flights and insurance costs.
South Africa is just one country that needs the services of volunteers who want a gap year spent working with animals. It is an unfortunate fact that there are many places throughout the world crying out for help with conservation projects – so why not consider lending a hand.
Sarah Garnade is the Sales Executive and Web Manager for Worldwide Experience, an online tour operator offering extended breaks on holidays wildlife conservation holidays for adults.
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