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Sri Lanka Leopard Conservation
General Information | Location & Weather
Volunteer in Sri Lanka in your gap year, year out or career break
Discover Sri Lanka, a glittering jewel of an island nestled in the aquamarine waters of the Indian Ocean. Help in the protection of some of Sri Lanka's most secretive and striking inhabitants- leopards. These elegant spotted felines slink through the depths of Sri Lanka's fertile jungles; enigmatic and mysterious, they are notoriously hard to track. Their habitats are at risk, and being solitary animals with large territories, their numbers have consequently fallen significantly. This project gives you the chance to enjoy this exotic and dazzling location whilst collecting data that will aid in the conservation of these rare and beautiful animals.
Project Dates & Contribution:
- Starts Every 1st and 3rd Monday of the month and finishes on the 2nd and last Friday of the month (except in April) please arrive at least one day before.
- Duration from 2 weeks
- Costs from £1405 for 4 weeks, £299 per extra week
Before you go: Extensive pre-departure support, travel & medical advice and documentation, equipment advice, discounted medical kits, Frontier T-shirt.
In-country: Accommodation, food, local orientation and comprehensive project training, project equipment and materials, in-country emergency support and 24 hour international HQ backup.
Minimum age 18+.
Project Details
Transportation
Upon arrival at Colombo airport you will be directed to your project destination. Once on the project all travel will be included; you will be transported via car between your accommodation and the project site.
Accommodation
During the project you will be living in a simple but comfortable field lodge which accommodates large groups of people. The lodge is situated in a spectacular location overlooking a body of water known as the Karawgas Weva, and is constructed in an unusual and traditional style with adobe half walls and wooden slats. Each room sleeps between 2 and three people, and is fully equipped with mosquito nets and bedding. Alternatively you may be staying in similar accommodation, with larger rooms that sleep up to 8 people. This depend on your project site.
Food
The food that is provided is simple and nutritious and consists largely of rice, vegetables, beans and noodles, all of which are purchased locally in order to help support the local economy. Luxuries such as chocolate, peanut butter and drinking chocolate are only available from some of the nearby towns, so make sure you stock up before heading to the field!Also, with luck you'll be invited to local feasts and festivals - a great way to meet locals and enjoy local culture. Exploring the colourful and bustling markets that happen daily is another great way to sample Sri Lankan delicacies. The staple diet in Sri Lanka is rice which is usually served with curry, that varies regionally. Many of the herbs and vegetables that are served are believed to have medicinal 'ayurvedic' properties by Sri Lankans. Most desserts are made with coconut milk, and this ingredient is also incorporated into savoury treats such as Pittu, which is rice flour and coconut cooked in bamboo. Another simple and nutritious food you might like to try is 'hoppers', which are plain or egg fritters. You'll be drinking treated water that we source locally.
Work
The work that you will be carrying out on this project is highly varied. You will be participating in activities that represent efforts to discover more about the behaviour of leopards, in order to protect them more effectively. You will have the chance to monitor and investigate their movements using various methods, surveying tracks and liaising with local people. All of these tasks will be carried out in the dramatic forest environment of this exotic region of Sri Lanka.
 | This is a Frontier Supported Project |
Staff & Volunteers
You'll find your team to be a fun, dynamic mix of ages and experiences, with members who all share a passion about travelling in developing countries and saving endangered life. Your staff will be young, friendly individuals who are highly experienced in their field and many have also volunteered on a Frontier project earlier in their career.
Extras
All of the camps are very remote so forget going down to the local pub in your spare time. Instead you will enjoy plenty of evenings spent relaxing around a roaring campfire, under a sky lit up by millions of stars and filled with the calls of exotic tropical animals. In your spare time you can explore Sri Lanka's lush and mysterious satinwood, ebony and ironwood forests, where you will find a plethora of fascinating creatures such as exotic species of deer, wild boar, and even tigers and leopards. Delve into the human culture of this diverse island and explore the lifestyle of the indigenous forest people, or lose youreslf in one of the fascinating local markets. Discover the awe inspiring remnants of the ancient Buddhist culture. A range of adventure and cultural activities like visits to remote villages, canopy tours, and river rafting are available. Call us for prices!
Project Aims
Conserving Sri Lanka's Leopards
Before the large scale destruction of Sri Lanka's previously flourishing forests, leopards existed successfully across the island. However a combination of significant factors such as poaching for fur and habitat destruction, as well as persecution by local communities. Although leopards are highly adaptable and able to live close to human settlements, their poulation levels have continued to fall at a worrying rate. Years of civil unrest in the country have largely hampered conservation efforts, particularly in the country's national park and other regions. There is an agreement amongst researchers and conservationists that more data must be collected in order to instigate effective protective measures, which is why this programme is ultimately so essential and relevant. Join this project and help ensure a brighter future for this wonderful creature.
Learn more about Sri Lanka here!
Alternatives
We have other projects in Sri Lanka or why not have a look at our conservation projects in other countries, such as Madagascar, Borneo and Kenya?
What next?
If you like the sound of Leopard Conservation in Sri Lanka, then request a callback from one of our travel advisers or use our online booking form to apply now and secure your adventure of a lifetime!
Frontier supported projects and Frontier group projects are run in partnership with in-country NGOs, small community based organisations, local research institutes, academic organisations and conservation agencies. Project descriptions and information are supplied directly by our partners or field staff and are accurate at time of publishing.
We aim to keep information up to date and accurate, however, the nature of our projects and in particular the fact that they are constantly evolving and developing in response to changing needs means that project activities, travel schedules, tour itineraries and daily timetables can change overnight and without notice.