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Volunteer at our Cats and Dogs Project
South Africa is famous for many things including its wildlife, wine, cricket, rugby, different cultures and history. The animals that receive the most interest from tourists are the Big 5 (the Black Rhino, Elephant, Lion, Leopard and Buffalo). No tourist (or local) should miss out on seeing these magnificent creatures in action in places such as The Kruger National Park, Addo Elephant National Park or Welgevonden Game Reserve.
Sadly, there seems to be little interest in homeless, domestic animals which live on our streets. In townships especially we see a great overpopulation of dogs and cats. The reason for this is simple; everyone enjoys the company of an animal but not everyone can afford to pay for the sterilisation of his/her pet. We are therefore previledged to have organisations such as Animal Welfare (located in the Helderberg region close to Cape Town), which offers shelter for these homeless animals as well as a mobile clinic. However, these organisations cannot run on thin air. Animal Welfare desperately needs constant food and money donations as well as extra sets of hands in the form of local and international volunteers to assist in the day-to-day running of this worthwhile operation. Without this assistance, organisations such as these will cease to exist.
The volunteers support the staff members of Animal Welfare wherever they need help. These tasks vary from feeding of puppies during the early morning to cleaning of animals, playing with animals or building of shade areas. Last week I was at Animal Welfare and saw the placement of a very young Jack Russell Terrier. I was busy with my yearly project visit and one of our volunteers was busy cleaning and preparing the puppy for his check up with the vet later that day. The puppy was approximately 25cm and was too cute. The happy ending to this story is that the puppy found a new home very quickly, only one day after my visit which made me very happy. But who could say no to this cute little puppy?
Written by Antje Kohnle – Cape Town volunteer coordinator
A Cape Town “To Do List” – through the eyes of a (once foreign) Volunteer Coordinator
Here are some places in Cape Town I visit frequently. They are a mixture of very well known tourist “spots” as well as some less known places.
The Prince of Frogs
Summer time in the bush means lots of rain, plenty of birds in all their feathered beauty, small antelope running around and at night a cacophony of frogs calling. Just as we do research on the different bird species, identifying them on call and on sight, so you can also identify frogs on their calls. We decided after some good rains that it was time to survey the reserve’s puddles and streams for the various frog species.
“Frogging” involves getting your feet wet and possibly the rest of you as you accidentally fall in the stream hunting your quarry. Armed with a headlamp, small net, frog field guide and the calls loaded on an i-pod we are off to see how many of the reserve list we can find in the field.
Recently we started at a small stream close to the camp listening to all the different calls and ticking off the easily identifiable ones like Bubbling Kassina, Common River Frog and Banded Rubber Frogs.
Then we are off, often on hand and knees through the undergrowth at the water’s edge and, after 4 hours, with sloshing shoes and most of us still relatively dry we tally up our scores…
We found 13 species (of the previously surveyed list of 16 species) but we also added two species that have not been recorded yet, the Natal Sand Frog (only on call though) and the Flat-backed Toad. The mega special was the Giant Bullfrog, a near-threatened species due to habitat destruction; one forgets how big these frogs really are. All in all it was a fun evening out and provided excellent data for the reserve!
Attached are photos of the Giant Bullfrog. Below find the list of species seen/heard on the frogging night.
Written by Gerhardt Lorist
Research / Volunteer Coordinator
Big 5 Conservation/ Welgevonden
20 Feb 12 | Fun Stuff, Gap Year Tips, General Volunteering, News, Wildlife Volunteering | Read on | Comments (0)Working in the Wilderness
“As volunteers working in the South African wilderness waking up in the early hours of the morning makes for some rewarding encounters.
Heading out for work in an open 4-wheel drive vehicle along dusty two track bush roads, feeling the cold chill and misty air that surrounds us as the first morning light breaks through the unforgiving darkness of winter. We snake our way down the road, never expecting much, as we round each corner, all that’s on our minds is the work tasks set for the day. Suddenly there is a loud bellow and the sound of thundering hooves around us. Some metres ahead there is movement amongst the vegetation next to the road, we move in for a closer look and to our surprise we find 10 lions holding down a bellowing buffalo.
The struggle for life and survival is on. A big male lion has the buffalo bull by the throat, trying to suffocate it, the other lions grabbing where ever they can get in. The air is filled with sounds of manic murder and the bellowing for help as the lions begin feeding, competing with each other for a much deserved position around the kill. The buffalo is quiet and as the lions open it up, the warm blood meets the cold winter air causing steam to rise up like smoke escaping from a fire. We sit and watch in awe as the feeding frenzy continues. Half an hour passes and the buffalo bull is reduced to nothing but skin and bone.
These encounters are random and may catch you by surprise, becoming more than an average tourist experience. You get to experience an intimate rhythm with wildlife. Every day there are work tasks to be carried out: research data collecting, reserve management and maintenance as well as gaining knowledge about the various species and observing their behaviour through Bush Craft training. These activities are what keep you out there, ever ready to encounter the very special awe inspiring moments that Mother Nature may let you be a part of.”
Written By: Caz Schiess
Work Travel SA – Ranger/Guide and Volunteer Coordinator.
13 Feb 12 | Gap Year Tips, General Volunteering, Travel Tips, Volunteering Tips, Wildlife Volunteering | Read on | Comment (1)Wildlife Volunteers Complete Survey Season in Lapalala Wilderness Reserve
Wildlife volunteers from Australia have recently completed the summer survey season at Lapalala Wilderness Reserve. WorkTravelSA, in association with its conservation partner, Wildlife & Ecological Investments, implemented this conservation research project three years ago. Our wildlife volunteers have been instrumental in collecting baseline biodiversity data for reserve management.
Volunteers from around the world are given the opportunity to volunteer in one of Africa’s most pristine wilderness areas. Wildlife volunteers are accompanied by our qualified field staff and are responsible for data collection at various sampling points around this wilderness reserve. Volunteers wanting to join an African wildlife conservation project where they can make an active hands-on contribution to conservation need look no further. Data collected for this conservation research project at Lapalala Wilderness Reserve enables reserve management to detect changes in the environment from an analysis of bird point counts and detailed habitat assessments, which are done by our wildlife volunteers. Lapalala Wilderness Reserve, an area in excess of 34 000 hectares of pristine natural African bushveld, represents various unique habitats within the Waterberg region and is home to an abundance of wildlife and big game species. WorkTravelSA would love to hear from any interested volunteers who are keen to assist at any of our wildlife volunteering camps around South Africa.
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