March 3 is World Wildlife Day, a United Nations International Day to celebrate and raise awareness of the world’s wildlife – and what better way to mark it than to lend a helping hand to an environmental conservation project?
From rehabilitating lions in South Africa to recuperating elephants in India, Booking.com has selected five incredible destinations where travellers can make a positive impact.
1. Monitoring Lions- Limpopo, South Africa
Occupying South Africa’s northern reaches, Limpopo is a huge province characterized by vast open spaces and terrific wildlife watching. Within Limpopo, the wildlife charity Global Vision International (GVI) ensures the long-term survival of lions.
Travellers can volunteer to work and live alongside these extraordinary animals and assist in critical wildlife conservation work. Volunteers will help with all aspects of research and monitor the lion’s feeding behaviour, movement, location, and health.
2. Saving Tortoises – Puerto Ayora, Ecuador
Santa Cruz is an island in Ecuador’s Galápagos National Park and home to the town of Puerto Ayora, where the Charles Darwin Research Station has a breeding program for giant tortoises. Volunteers can spend time at the El Chato nature reserve, removing invasive plant species that are harmful and planting grasses for them to eat.
3. Recuperating Elephants – Jaipur, India
The Elephant Village, located close to Amber Fort, is the first elephant-themed community in India and the third worldwide.
This programme will allow travellers to do all kinds of engaging activities with elephants, such as bathe them, take care of their feet, and feed them their favourite meals.
4. Caring for injured birds – San Francisco, United States
International Bird Rescue (IBR) provides critical care to seabirds who become sick or injured due to oil spills in California. Since 1971, they have admitted over 1,25,000 birds but they can’t do it without the help of volunteers.
The non-profit organization offers different levels of volunteering, so the more comfortable travellers become with the birds the more responsibilities they can take on, with the opportunity to help with all stages of care from rescue to rehabilitation and release.
5. Protecting Jaguars – Tortuguero, Costa Rica
Since the 1950s, the jaguar population in America has plummeted to an estimated 14,000. These dwindling numbers have resulted in an ongoing effort to create programs and policies that protect these elusive creatures. With the charity Global Vision International (GVI), volunteers have the opportunity to make a big difference in jaguar conservation by monitoring and researching their prey species, feeding behaviours and population numbers.
