Animal shelter in Malawi

ELEPHANT PROTECTION AND ANIMAL SANCTUARY

Description
Volunteers will spend two weeks at the animal sanctuary caring for rescued animals, then the remainder of the time on the elephant research project, where they will assess the numbers and movements of elephants occupying the study area. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000, the national park covers approximately 3,200 km² and is one of Malawi's most remarkable features.

Located on the border with Zambia, the sanctuary is home to no fewer than 100 species of mammals and 430 species of birds. This research center, in collaboration with the reserve, aims to house, protect, and monitor a variety of endangered species, including the cheetah, a species believed to be extinct for most of the past two decades.

The Role of Volunteers

There are four key areas in which volunteers contribute:

• Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation
• Elephant Research
• Education and Community Outreach
• Communication and Campaigns

In the field, volunteers will be able to closely observe elephants, buffalo, warthogs, and zebras to assess their health, welfare, and overall integration into their natural habitat.

A Typical Day

At the animal sanctuary, working hours depend entirely on the animals housed at the time of your assignment and the level of care they require. Ideally, volunteers work from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., but this is not often the case as most orphans need to be fed at night, and some even require 24-hour care. We do our best to distribute this work among volunteers, but please be aware that there may be long days or even night shifts.

A typical day might look like this:

• 8am-1pm: Care and maintenance of orphaned animal enclosures
• 1pm-2pm: Lunch
• 2pm-5pm: Community outreach/animal care

Once in the field, volunteers will undertake research tasks, spreading a large portion of their schedule over a six-day work week.

Required Skills

• Enthusiasm for the project
• Strong work ethic
• Willingness to learn
• Ability to work in a team
• Ability to work in a remote location
• Previous experience in useful conservation material