When paying for your remaining balance, this can be made in one lump sum or split into several smaller instalments - just as long as the balance is clear 60 days prior to your programme start date. As such, elephants are protected by law in the country, and the intentional killing of an elephant is punishable by death. A criminal background check is a mandatory requirement for all volunteers aged 16 and over. It is more than a mere coincidence that it was around the same time that state-owned lands were granted to people for development under 'Jayabhoomi' deeds as per the State Land Development Ordinance. Quick Overview. If required, we can ensure that you stay within the same accommodation and volunteer at the same project - so that you are together as often as wanted. There is a hotel around a 10 minute drive that has a large menu, a bar and a good sized pool – the perfect way to cool down after a hard days volunteering. They are in charge of providing the overall structure for your stay, including the accommodation, meals, airport pick-up, in-country orientation and 24/7 emergency support. We learn about some of the innovative conservation projects happening on the ground; solar powered electric fences, elephant alert systems, habitat enrichment programs, programs teaching habituated elephants how to paint, and even projects that are making novelty paper out of elephant poo. So what are you waiting for? This will not be much of an issue though as the pipes are warmed by the sun and after a long walk in the wilderness you will appreciate the freshness of a cold shower! 10832092 - Suite Number 2064, Kent Space Ashford, Letraset Building, Wotton Road, Ashford, Kent, TN23 6LN. Colombo, March 28: Sri Lanka has the highest casualty rate in the human-elephant conflict in the world according to Dr. Sumith Pilapitiya, former Director General of the Sri Lankan Wildlife Department. Our COVID-19 document goes into great detail about current restrictions, entry requirements for all countries, recommendations and more! Elephants in their natural habitat combined with meaningful research and conservation work. Multidisciplinary methodologies are provided for tracing human-elephant relationships. 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. With lots of rooms and the ability to accommodate up to 40 people, where you will stay is very spacious with a high roof, which helps to cool the property as gentle breezes blow along from the neighbouring lake. The trustees are, Rohan Pethiyagoda, Michael Sproule and Jayantha Jayewardene. However towels are not included, so please remember to bring your own. The project is unique in Sri Lanka as their award-winning model focuses on researching wild elephants whilst working with the community to help them live peacefully together. However, if you are looking to volunteer sooner than this, then it should not be a problem. elephantea . A graver issue that threatens Sri Lanka's wild elephant population, however, is human-elephant conflict. Research has found that elephants dislike citrus so planting citrus based crops could act as natural deterrents and also provide an additional source of income. The majority of our feedback suggests that this is due to the superior local support offered by Charith and our local team, the volunteer programmes making a real difference, value for money and accommodation location. This project offers volunteers a rare opportunity to work alongside local conservationists, educators, community partners and local villagers deep within the heart of beautiful Sri Lanka. We experience every programme just like a volunteer would, from staying within the accommodation, helping on the projects, eating the meals provided and travelling the local area. Ancient Sinhalese kings captured and tamed elephants which used to abound in the . Can I volunteer with TMR if I live outside of the UK? Your fee covers the overseas costs of volunteering and the costs of running our organisation in the UK, on a non-profit basis. We will provide you with in-depth information about all of the travelling and help to book the recommended hotel. You will assist their research to increase the understanding and knowledge of the 300+ elephants and other wildlife including sloth bears, leopards and jungle cats, living in the surrounding area, which helps to protect them for the future. On an average, 85% of elephant deaths have been due to clashes with humans. For example, if you are volunteering for one week, from Saturday to Saturday, this is in actual fact 8 days and you will need to take out 2 weeks insurance to be fully covered. Our UK and in-country teams are able to complete and sign-off any paperwork that is required before your volunteer placement begins, during your trip and upon your return. If you are travelling to Sri Lanka as a family (with at least one person being aged 18 years or over), then we are happy to welcome anyone from 5 years and up on the programme start date. How do I obtain a criminal background check? We are in communication with the local embassies and the Foreign & Commonwealth Office and we are also in constant contact with our overseas teams to ensure we can identify and act upon any problems immediately. You will share a basic bunk-bed dormitory and bathrooms with up to 16 volunteers on a single sex basis. They will generally ask where abouts you will be travelling to and what activities you will be involved in. Generally, it is best to avoid tight and very short clothing and anything that may have offensive slogans on it. Are SL authorities clueless or careless? 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. - Conducting human-elephant conflict surveys by visiting locals who have had a recent encounter with an elephant. All main meals are provided for volunteers during their stay at the project. In Sri Lanka no other animal has been associated for so long with the people in their traditional and religious activities as the elephant. Environmentalists in Sri Lanka are challenging a court order issued earlier this month that would allow the return of 14 illegally captured wild elephants to people accused of buying them from traffickers. Elephant conservation in Sri Lanka for families. From the 17th May 2021 the blanket travel ban was removed and all countries have been segmented into the following traffic light system –. Singles. Text file 237.9KB. You should arrive at Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo (CMB) on your selected start date, being any Sunday. If you already have a criminal background check that has been issued within 18 months of your programme start date, then you are more than welcome to provide this. You will be taken straight to the hotel where you can get some rest and explore the capital. To find out exactly what's included as part of fees, please click the What's Included box on the programme page. Our local coordinator will go through the schedule for the next week and you will be straight out into the field to start conducting research or looking for elephants. We generally recommend applying at least 60 days in advance to give you ample time to ensure everything has been arranged. Over the first day or two you will be given a full orientation that will cover things like emergency procedures, how to use the local transport, the do's and don'ts, local cultures and health and safety information. The team are researching the population and distribution of wildlife including elephants, sloth bears, leopards, rusty-spotted cats, fishing cats, jungle cats, golden palm civets and jackals. In fact, today, despite the rapidly expanding human population, 70% of the total wild elephant population, estimated at approximately 6, 000 as per a 2011 survey, live outside of the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) protected areas - in 60% of the land area of Sri Lanka. Every year around 80 people and 250 elephants are killed, 3000 homes are destroyed and upwards of $10 million of crop damage done because of the ongoing human-elephant conflict. The Austrian Sri Lankan Elephant Research & Conservation Project (termed ASERC Project) ASERC was born through the natural progression of the cooperation extended by Schoenbrunner Tiergarten (Vienna Zoo) and the organisation "Friends of the Vienna Zoo" to conservation efforts in Sri Lanka. 50% of any profits generated through distribution of the film will go directly to the SLWCS to aid in their mission of HEC resolution and to develop sustainable land uses and livelihoods for farmers impacted by HEC. What date should I arrive and leave Sri Lanka for my volunteer programme? You will of course still make many new lifelong friends along the way too! In fact, we actively encourage you to do so! The total forest cover forthese elephants is about 19,500 sq km (2012 estimation) and estimated forest area is about 30% of the country whensmaller green patches are also counted. Consequently, a large number of our volunteers decide to fundraise for their upcoming trip. "During the time I was there I felt incredibly at home and supported by the wonderful local team. You will be able to create a personalised fundraising page of your own where you can tell everyone exactly what you are doing and why you need some extra money (the more detail you go into the better), set financial goals and upload lots of pictures. Share with your friendThe number of Asian elephants has dropped by at least 50% over the last three generations, and they are still continuing to decline. Elephant conservation in Sri Lanka. If you are on a tight budget, then we have had many volunteers come and not spend that much at all. If you would like to purchase your travel insurance through TMR then you can easily add this on when applying under the optional extras page. SAVING SRI LANKA'S MOST ENDANGERED WILDLIFE. Elephant Conservation in Sri Lanka This trip will, without doubt, be one of the most memorable experiences of your life. The weekly schedule is designed around the activity patterns of the elephants and depending on how many volunteers are helping at that time, you may be working in sub groups. Based in the lush forests of Sri Lanka, you are surrounded by a ring of striking mountains where you will look out onto a large reservoir where elephants love to bath! This research is used to monitor and understand population changes. The film portrays the daily struggle for survival of a family herd of elephants and a poor rural farmer’s family in Sri Lanka. There was a great amount of support both before the trip and from the team in Sri Lanka. “The Elephant and Wildlife Conservation Project in Sri Lanka is very worthwhile support! As we have all come to expect from living in England, the weather is simply unpredictable. In Sri Lanka, Aqua-Firma operates privately-guided tailor-made journeys, plus small group Elephant Conservation & Wildlife Safaris. Working alongside local scientists and conservationists to help conduct research, you will have the privilege of witnessing elephants first hand in the wild. Found inside – Page 170Ranging behavior of Asian elephant in Sri Lanka. Mammalian Biology, 73,2–13. ... Biodiversity and Conservation, 14, 2465–2481. Forman, R. T. T. (1995a). Join efforts to reduce human-elephant conflict in Sri Lanka by volunteering on this unique and inspiring elephant conservation project! Volunteers joining for a 1 week placement will need to pay the National Park entrance fee (approximately $25). As a result of this, elephants are left with nowhere else to go, so are often found in the nearby villages eating/destroying farmers crops and houses on a regular basis. This could be conducted high up in the jungle treetop on purpose built viewing towers! Help to promote the protection and survival of these endangered elephants by playing an important role in the initiative to help elephants and communities live together. Volunteering work with the elephant conservation program in Sri Lanka begins at 8:30 in the morning and lasts until 11:30. It is important that if you have any concerns for major requirements, that you raise these with our UK team before confirming your place on the programme. The Mighty Roar have teamed up with GoGetFunding who are an online crowd funding website that many of our volunteers have used and have recommended in the past. If you have chosen to take our travel insurance or to book a flight through The Mighty Roar, then these must be paid in full before they can be processed. Human-elephant conflict is one of the biggest environmental and socio-economic crises of rural Sri Lanka. 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. 2010-06. The Wildlife and Nature Protection (WNPS) will hold its monthly lecture on 23 September focusing on the 'Asian Elephant Conservation: The Long Road Ahead' delivered by Nilanga Jayasinghe at 7 p.m. via Zoom and FB Live. A member of our local team will pick you up from the hotel at 6am and take you to the local train station. And that is the best part! Sri Lanka is a relatively small country (25,332 square miles) with a high human population density (20.48 million) and, as noted earlier, a significant elephant population. When will I receive my volunteer handbook. You will find the hottest temperatures and the best blue skies between December and March and generally the wettest months are May, June and July - but don’t let this put you off! They help the local farmers live alongside over 300 wild elephants and other wildlife by running initiatives to reduce potential conflict. This will ensure conservation techniques and research carried out is maximised as well as making your role varied and meaningful. Every volunteer programme we offer has a co-ordinator and several key team members who will be in charge of ensuring your whole trip runs smoothly. We ask that you be flexible with regards to holidays and generally a holiday would offer a unique experience to enjoy in the festivities. Drinking water is provided for you in the volunteer accommodation. During this time we host our peak numbers across all projects and this is when we will be at total capacity in terms of the accommodation and numbers at the projects. Found inside – Page 36Several countries , however , have not been able to respond adequately or rapidly enough to meet the challenges of elephant conservation . Sri Lanka was one ... There is a large communal area where everyone normally congregates of an evening. The elephant which represents processions or Peraheras displaying Sri Lanka's culture as well as its pride to the world from ancient times renders a great service to the tourist campaigns of Sri Lanka as well, stated Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa in a message to mark the World Elephant Conservation Day (12). On top of this, elephants are being stolen from the wild and being held captive for tourists from around the world to come and ride on. The Elephant freedom project is outstanding from the other elephant places in Sri Lanka ! With several different weather patterns bringing monsoons to different parts of the island at different times, it can all seem a little confusing. Generally the average age range for our programmes is 16 - 25, although this is by no means definitive. All of the below prices exclude the £149 registration fee. Description of Elephant conservation holiday in Sri Lanka. They have extensive knowledge on the elephants and wildlife in the area and their passion for conservation and research is truly inspiring! During your time with us on the programme, you will be staying on the project site that offers some of the best views we have ever seen. Ravi Corea, the president of the Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society, told Newsweek that an average of 246 elephants were killed every year between 2008 and 2018. You must be able to provide a clean criminal background check in advance of volunteering with us abroad. The Biodiversity Elephant Conservation Trust (BECT) in Sri Lanka is a non-profit NGO that focuses on studying elephants and teaching school children about human-elephant conflict (HEC). Found inside – Page 342Asian Elephant Conservation Centre, Bangalore Olivier RDC (1978) Distribution and ... Indonesia Santiapillai C (1994) Elephant mortality in Sri Lanka. Our helpful and knowledgeable UK team are with you throughout your whole journey, from answering questions about programmes, through the application process, providing pre-departure information, support while in-country and to answer any questions you may have on your return home. The money you and other volunteers pay for the programme goes towards the overall structure of the project and includes your accommodation, meals, airport transfers and support from our UK and local teams. Structured to minimise costs for volunteers and maximise benefits for the projects we support. Since all placements have different requirements and parameters, we recommend that you speak to a member of our UK team to ensure that your chosen volunteer programme will be suitable. If you don't have a valid DBS check then you will need to apply for one. Head into the depths of the Sri Lankan jungle and encounter stunning Asian elephants in their natural habitat. There is no commitment by applying and we will send more information. - Identify elephants by photographing them and filling in data sheets to help build up a catalogue of elephant numbers, their movement and social organisation. Visit Website. Please do get in contact if you have any concerns about arranging any essentials within a shorter timeframe. An elephant has been rescued from the ocean about 10 miles (16km) off Sri Lanka's north-east coast, the country's navy has said. The lush green fields and the many wildlife sounds make the accommodation a very relaxing place to be and is the perfect escape if you are wanting to get away from it all. Found inside – Page 67Estimates of the Overall Willingness of Urban Residents to Pay for the Conservation of the Elephant in Sri Lanka A simple transferring point method was used ... The highly competent Sri Lankan Department of Wildlife Conservation(DWLC) has an effective and well-developed elephant policy that estimates that the remaining forests and National Parks could have a carrying capacity of between 4,000-5,000 elephants. Found inside – Page 34flow regimes of Sri Lanka) before they can be reliably applied. ... Elephant Conservation, Department of Wildlife Conservation, Colombo, Sri Lanka; ... Working alongside local scientists and conservationists to help conduct research, you will have the privilege of witnessing elephants first hand in the wild. For volunteers joining for 2 weeks or more this is included in your volunteer placement fee. You are more than welcome to simply relax around the accommodation, but most volunteers will use this time to travel and see the country. Helping on multiple projects - Whilst in Sri Lanka, you will also have the opportunity to get involved with our other programmes either before or after your elephant project. 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