Elephant and Wildlife Conservation
Sri Lanka

The project is unique in Sri Lanka as the award-winning model focuses on researching wild elephants whilst working with the community to help them live peacefully together. It helps the local farmers live alongside over 300 wild elephants and other wildlife by running initiatives to reduce potential conflict.

Volunteer tasks may include:

• Elephant monitoring and observations  including research from a tree house overlooking the elephants’ traditional grazing ground- recording data on behaviour, range and habitat use 
• Research treks through the forest to collect data on elephant foraging, dung research and map trails
• Checking camera and sand traps to gather details on mammals - setting up traps then examining tracks and photos of sloth bear, leopard plus fishing, jungle and rusty spotted cats 
• Conducting footprint and dropping surveys along stream banks and paddy fields to collect data on the distribution of small mammals
• Participating in bird and wildlife surveys 
• Helping to maintain the project's butterfly sanctuary and identify butterflies
• Monitoring and maintaining solar powered community electric fences which deter elephants
• Interviewing villagers to document human-elephant conflict on their houses and farms
• Assisting villagers in planting, harvesting and monitoring orange trees which are elephant deterrents, creating natural barriers to protect the community’s farmland and reducing human-elephant conflict in the area

Typical day

When you arrive you will receive an induction to the volunteer role and project.

Volunteers work 5 days a week (Monday to Friday) from approximately 9am to 7pm with around a 2 hour break for lunch.

The project is located a 10 minute drive from Wasgamuwa National Park and research is conducted in the surrounding communities. Volunteers may walk for up to 5km a day to reach the research sites and may also travel in the project vehicle to reach more remote locations. You have weekends off and there are plenty of free time activities to enjoy in the area.

Other volunteers

There are usually 4-10 volunteers (with a maximum of 30), numbers vary throughout the year.

Duke of Edinburgh's (DofE) Award

This placement has been approved by the DofE as meeting the requirements for the Residential section of the Gold Award.

Local support

Chandima, Chinthaka and Chathuranga are key members of the local team who support volunteers. They have extensive knowledge on the elephants and wildlife in the area and their passion for conservation and research is truly inspiring! 

“Volunteers help to the projects wildlife research and conservation efforts are invaluable. Volunteers contribute their knowledge, passion, and experience to improve understanding and inspire change” Ravi – Project Founder 

The main volunteer house is at the project base and is in a beautiful rural location with a swimming pool and great views over the lake. 

You will share a basic bunk-bed dormitory with up to 16 volunteers on a single sex basis. There are shared bathrooms and hot water showers. 

In the main volunteer house there is a kitchen and dining area where all volunteers eat together and relax in the evenings. WIFI is not available but there is mobile internet access.

Alternatively, there is an option to upgrade to a hotel which has private bedrooms with air conditioning, ensuite bathrooms and a swimming pool. This a good choice for those wanting more comfort and privacy. Breakfast is included at the hotel. The hotel is a 10 minute drive away and daily transport between the hotel and project is provided on working days. 

Meals

All main meals are provided for volunteers during their stay at the project.

Here are typical examples of the food you will have: 

• Breakfast – bread, jam and lentil dhal
• Lunch and dinner – a traditional Sri Lankan meal such as noodles, fish, chicken and stir fried vegetables, vegetable curry or dhal served with rice

Vegetarians and vegans are welcomed and can be catered for.

Drinking water is provided for you in the volunteer accommodation. 

You will need to fly into Colombo (CMB).

If you choose the arrivals package then you will be met on arrival and stay one night in a hotel in Ambepussa before being transported by private vehicle to the project the next day. The journey takes around 5 hours.

Location and free time

The project is located on the outskirts of Wasgamuwa National Park in central Sri Lanka. The volunteer house is in a stunning rural location with a swimming pool overlooking a lake and is nestled below the Knuckles mountain range.

At the weekend volunteers can arrange a trip to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Sigiriya Rock fortress which dramatically rises from the central plain; the steep climb up Lion Rock is well worth it for the breath taking views. The scenic city of Kandy is a great place to explore the famous Temple of the Tooth, royal palace or botanical gardens or you can simply relax and take in the atmosphere in a lakeside café. These activities are best booked locally once you are at the project.

Trips

The local team arrange an afternoon trip to the National Park where you will have the opportunity to see many elephants, water buffalo, and maybe even purple-faced langurs, bears and a leopard if you are very lucky! For volunteers joining for 2 weeks or more this is included in your volunteer placement fee. Volunteers joining for a 1 week placement will need to pay the National Park entrance fee (approximately $25). The National Park entrance is a 10 minute drive from the volunteer accommodation and you will be driven around the park.

Climate

Central Sri Lanka has a tropical climate. Temperatures are warm throughout the year, with average temperatures varying between 25-27˚C. March to May is generally the hottest time of year. 

Intermittent rainfalls can occur year round, however the rainfall is typically highest between October and December. 

Travelling in Sri Lanka before or after your placement

Popular activities in Sri Lanka that you might like to combine with your project are:

• Climbing Sigiriya, also known as Lion Rock, one of the most dramatic sights in Sri Lanka offering incredible views of the forest below
• Explore the tea-growing region within the spectacular mountains around Nuwara Eliya 
• Visit the beautiful city of Kandy, the last capital of the ancient kings of Sri Lanka with plenty to offer including lake views and the famous Temple of the Tooth
• Spot an abundance of wildlife in one of Sri Lanka's national parks - a paradise for birds, leopards, elephants and many more

For more information on Sri Lanka and some of the things we loved when we visited there please see our Sri Lanka country page. 

Alex

"This has been the most surreal experience ever. This trip has allowed me to do things I never imagined I would do. The project has allowed me to make new friends, explore a beautiful country, and help me understand how other people live their lives.

I have tried so many new and different things, which may influence what I do in the future. I have thoroughly enjoyed my experience, and I highly recommend that people volunteer at the project."

Ilan 

“One of the best decision I have made in my life. The project is fantastic, the work done as a volunteer is very valuable, you really feel you are helping to solve a huge problem and the team you work with is just amazing, absolutely everyone. My experience at Elephant and Wildlife Conservation project in Sri Lanka was all I was looking for when I decided I wanted to volunteer in animal/wildlife organization. During my four weeks stay I felt like I was doing a good to the local people, a good to the magnificent animals elephants are and at the end, a good for the world.

Coming to Sri Lanka was probably one of the best decisions I have made in my life and the experience was even better than what I expected. Come to the project if you really want to do good, if really want to feel you are contributing to a good cause and if you want to help reduce the human-elephant conflict to preserve the magnificent specie elephants are."

Donna and Saffi (mother and daughter) 

"We have had a wonderful trip: we were very impressed with how knowledgeable and dedicated the staff are. The staff are also incredibly friendly and helpful!

The opportunities given to us to spend time in the field were unparalleled. The activities were very interesting and wide ranging - involving birds, elephants, butterflies and people!

This is an amazing charity carrying out work of tremendous importance. We feel very privileged to have been able to spend time with the team."

Bessie 

"During the time I was there I felt incredibly at home and supported by the wonderful local team.

The amount of brilliant work they are doing is truly awe inspiring and you really get to see and experience how it impacts the local community and wildlife, I couldn't recommend this highly enough to anyone looking to really connect with the community and with a passion for the natural world. Incredible experience"

Chris

“The entire experience was highly enjoyable and I would recommend it to anyone with an interest in wildlife. Whereas other organisations may run projects that appear less ethical, this project did everything right with regard to engagement with local communities and keeping a respectful distance between humans and wild animals. There was a great amount of support both before the trip and from the team in Sri Lanka. 

There was a good range of activities on the placement, which kept things interesting and meant that no two days were ever quite the same. 

The food was good and the opportunity to explore Sri Lanka further on weekends provided a great opportunity to relax after a week's work.”

Sandra 

“The Elephant and Wildlife Conservation Project in Sri Lanka is very worthwhile support! 

The work they are doing is vital to the conservation of elephants and other wildlife in the Wasagamuwa area. If you volunteer for them you will learn about conservation issues and wildlife survey skills, meet the amazing staff and people from around the world, contribute to valuable conservation initiatives, and have the chance to see incredible wildlife. 

It will change your life, I recommend going!”

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