 |  A massive dominant bull in musth by the Land Rover | | Julie Marshman
Guernsey, Channel Islands
January 2018 Elephants have fascinated me since I was a teenager. But being born on a small Island, south of the UK, left me with no option but to look for an opportunity to travel abroad, and to learn more about these amazing animals. What attracted me to this placement was the opportunity to work with experienced local staff, amongst a local village, with like minded volunteers from around the world, observing elephants in their natural habitat, in the heart of Sri Lanka. The journey to the Field House was a long but extremely beautiful one. The accommodation at the field house was basic and rustic on a same sex shared basis, surrounded by yet more amazing scenery. Three fresh meals were served daily which were prepared by Leela, who was just one of the amazing staff members, who made everyone feel welcome, during their stay at the Field house. Drinking Sri Lankan tea, whilst watching the sun rise, over the surrounding scenery was a sight I never got tired of. |  Julie in the blue t-shir with another volunteer assessing crop damage | | The volunteer work in the field was varied and interesting and consisted of: 1. Checking and setting sand and camera traps to record animal activity in the nearby forests.
2. Fence Monitoring On nearby electric fences that have been erected to help prevent elephants from entering villages and to record elephant footprints and any posts that had been forced away from the fence.
3. Small Cat Pugmark and Scat Survey. Recorded data of sightings of various River and Jungle cat prints on the banks of the nearby rivers.
4. Dung Transect. Analyzed the age and contents of the elephant dung to ascertain where the elephants were eating ie Farmers crops or natural vegetation. We found one pellet contained 6 pieces of plastic shopping bags and another pellet contained an open safety pin. Whilst this was shocking it was also extremely informative.
| 1. | Checking and setting sand and camera traps to record animal activity in the nearby forests. | | 2. | Fence Monitoring On nearby electric fences that have been erected to help prevent elephants from entering villages and to record elephant footprints and any posts that had been forced away from the fence. | | 3. | Small Cat Pugmark and Scat Survey. Recorded data of sightings of various River and Jungle cat prints on the banks of the nearby rivers. | | 4. | Dung Transect. Analyzed the age and contents of the elephant dung to ascertain where the elephants were eating ie Farmers crops or natural vegetation. We found one pellet contained 6 pieces of plastic shopping bags and another pellet contained an open safety pin. Whilst this was shocking it was also extremely informative. | Inspecting and recording damage made by the elephants to farmers crops or their house, made us realize just how intense the Human/ Elephant conflict is. The SLWCS do an amazing job of supporting local farmers/villagers on suggesting ways to try to discourage the elephants for example by planting orange trees and surrounding bee boxes around the farmers homes. Unfortunately, the Government does not always compensate farmers for any damage made by the elephants. This makes the job of the SLWCS even more valuable on supporting the local communities. Ele Observation - Every week day at 3.45pm we would drive to the nearby water tank (Irrigation reservoir) situated outside the National Park, looking for elephants, and observing and photographing them. This was a rewarding opportunity to observe elephants in the wild, in their natural habitat and witnessing their natural behaviour. Definitely an experience I will never forget. The staff at SLWCS were always keen to share their knowledge and expertise with volunteers, which was invaluable. A huge thank you to all the staff, in particular Chandima Fernando, who works tirelessly to find solutions to the Human/Elephant conflict. Volunteers come and go but the staff at the Field House are there, ready to warmly welcome the next volunteer. |  Conducting a HEC survey in a house that had been attacked by an elephant | | Amjad Alajilan
South Korea
January 2018 My project was for two weeks and I wish I could have stayed for more couple weeks, my understanding of elephants is as much of a visit to the zoo but through this volunteering I was able to expand my knowledge of elephants. The food is quite tasty! I was glad to experience Sri Lanka home cooked food. The staff in the field house were friendly, my two weeks here felt like I was home. My favourite work I had so far is the camera trapping which I enjoyed very much and the long walks in the forest. The other works I loved is the forging plot and meeting the locals and reporting the elephants damage (elephants & human’s conflicts). I really enjoyed living in the field house in the middle of nowhere. Ps: nice tea station. |  Amjad Alajilan | | Shannon Chen Yinuo
China
January 2018 It’s been an amazing week in the program of protecting the elephant, absolutely fantastic. People here are so nice and the food is great. On the first day I arrived here, I didn’t get used to living here and a bit scared about the new place, the new people. But gradually I began to love this place and especially this program, from which I have learned so much. It’s not just as easy as seeing the elephant but more importantly that you learned that there are elephants which need help from human beings, and there are people who need more attention and help, who are really passionate about the thing they are doing. It’s meaningful and memorable. Dung analysis, fence monitoring, visiting the village people , the tree house , the tank , all these things are so great. I actually start to miss here though I am sitting on the chair here, and listening to people talk, laugh. I couldn’t possibly forget how much this week means to me, and really really really love it. Just as much as the mosquitoes love me. I hope one day I will join this program again in the future. |  Shannon Chen Yinuo | | Bethany Standish
England
January 2018 I have spent two wonderful weeks at SLWCS! This was my first experience volunteering at a conservation project and really feel like the organisation and staff involved are making a difference in the community, with both the elephants and the people. I felt very much at home at the field house and this is due to the lovely staff, great food and the friendly atmosphere. I have learnt a lot about the elephant and human conflict in Sri Lanka and will make sure I make people aware of the problems when I return home. I also had the opportunity to teach English in the local school which was a great experience and would recommend it to anyone! |  Bethany Standish | | Elon Geng
China
January 2018 It’s really a unforgettable voluntary activity and trip. I’ve learned a lot about the conflicting between human and elephants and elephant’s protection. Also I have a deeper understanding of the relationship between human and nature. Humans are not the master of the earth, we are just a part of it. (That is why I try to live with so many bugs and flies instead of killing them all) From bottom of my heart, this trip completes my life as a human being. The people here are very enthusiastic and lovely. People in China would not say hello to a stranger, nor in Europe or Australia. It’s really moving that I feel the natural connections between humans (it doesn’t matter where are you from, your age, your education.) We are just human here. It’s really enjoyable (by the way, the local workers are cute and great here!). I wish you to publicize the SLWCS on the Internet - your website in China. I’m really grateful for your efforts on this activity. I hope that I could help you guys by technology and finance. |  Elon Geng | | Emily (Adele) Barclay
England A life-changing experience. I came to Sri Lanka as a ‘mature’ volunteer, aged 70, retired two years. My aim was to escape the British winter, to get under the skin of Sri Lanka more than a tourist would, and to do something useful. As part of my seven week stay, I came to the SLWCS Field House for two weeks – and was a little apprehensive in advance of my arrival: would I be far older than all the other volunteers, would I be up to what was expected of me, and would I be able to cope with living in this remote rural location? I needn’t have worried – the experience has been a revelation! Yes, most of the multi-national volunteers are in their 20s but they, and the staff, could not have been more welcoming, friendly and interesting (and there are a few other ‘oldies’). No patronising concessions have been made for my age, I have participated fully in the programme – but known that support is there should I need it. The activities have been stimulating, varied and worthwhile. As part of the SLWCS’ efforts to alleviate human/elephant conflict, I have planted and monitored the health of orange tree barriers (elephants don’t like citrus), checked electric fences and sand traps, and interviewed farmers. In the interests of research, I have located, measured and collected elephant dung for analysis… Each afternoon I have joined teams monitoring the movements of the local elephants at a variety of locations, and have been lucky enough to view family groups at close quarters on several occasions. As an added bonus, I have participated in a survey of the local bird populations – and have benefited from our guides’ birding knowledge; I would have paid good money for their expertise if this were a birding holiday! To cap it all, the location is fabulous. The Field House is in a very rural setting overlooking a lake and we are surrounded by the paddy fields, small farms and villages abutting Wasgamuwa National Park. Living conditions are spartan but acceptable – and the Sri Lankan food is excellent and plentiful. To all those retirees who have a sense of adventure, a degree of flexibility, and are looking to step outside their normal comfort zone – I highly recommend volunteering with the SLWCS! |  A farmer showing all the various flashlights he uses to protect his crops and home from elephants | | Li Hui
China
January 2018 I really enjoy the experience living here as a volunteer. The local people are very generous. When they receive food, they will first share it to other people, which amazes me a lot. And as we visit the villagers, they always give us food and tea to let us feel at home. They are also very respectful of nature and full of love for nature. At last, their way of life attracted me very much. I will definitely cherish the memory of living here. | Portia Prince
England.
January 2018 I arrived at the SLWCS field projects for two weeks. Having researched lots of elephant projects in Sri Lanka this one stuck out as being the most conservation friendly. It was my first volunteering program and I am very happy with my choice, I was met by happy and friendly staff who were incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about elephants. I thoroughly enjoyed everyday and loved that it was always different. This break gave me the opportunity to see things I would never normally see. My favourite part was interacting with farmers and the local community. |  Front to Back: Portia, Roulin, Ramona & Julie with the wall mural they painted | |  The wall mural they painted | |  Portia, Amjad & Julie working in the Bee Project |  Portia, Sophie & Victoria working with Chandima | | |  Portia, Sophie & Victoria checking a farm that was raided by elephants | |  Anjuli & Portia with Confucius the Land Rover | | Sven Lawo
Germany
January 2018 I have spent three wonderful weeks at SLWCS! I have joined the Project for 3 weeks to see what I am working for and see a progress and I really saw it. It is so nice to try to help human and elephants to solve their problems. The projects are very cool but the staff makes it to an amazing time. They would do everything for you and are experts in what they are doing. They take care of you in the jungle, they serve you awesome food, they know every bird, … Most of them don’t speak English but you laugh with them the whole time and it is so nice to spend time with them. You see their smiling faces when you get out of the room and it is the last thing you see before going to bed. They became like family for me in such a brief time and you cannot spend enough time at this place! |  Sven with Siriya | |  Playing Carom | | Lisa Messemaker
The Netherlands
January 2018 And when an elephant raided a local farmer’s rice store, damaging the wall and stealing 5 bags of rice, which he ate on the spot, SLWCS were at the ready to repair the damage. The cost was 7,000 SLR to re-build the wall so the volunteers came to the rescue by donating the cash and off we went. The family was so pleased to see us and we all enjoyed their hospitality of hot, sweet tea and biscuits. It was really good fun and the wall was done in no time. Please… Mr. Elephant don’t knock it down again! |  Lisa taking data on plants | | The past three weeks I’ve had the opportunity to volunteer for the SLWCS. When I came I knew already what the program was going to look like, but it gave me more than I had expected. I’ve met nice people, and I enjoyed working together with the local people in the village. I feel like I really contributed something to something important, for example by planting orange trees in farmers’ gardens, and I would recommend the program at home. I regret that I did not stay a week longer, because it took me a week to settle. Furthermore, I got the rare opportunity to see wild elephants in their natural habitat, and I will remember this for the rest of my life. |  Checking spoor | | Photo Credits: Indika Sampath/SLWCS
Chandima Fernando/SLWCS | Big, rumbling thanks to our Corporate Partners for their kind support and to everyone who has donated and supported our wildlife conservation efforts!
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