Stuart Ross
USA

I came to the Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society after doing a week of touring Kandy. I thought I was beginning to get an idea of this country would have in store for me. But after that initial five hour drive on the 615 bus to Hettipola it was like seeing Sri Lanka for the first time.

The location of the field house is fantastic in my eyes. Relative to the country it is as about as centrally located as you could get. It’s also right next to the border of Wasgomuwa national park, and excellent place for spotting elephants migrate. The field house is a very simple home by western standards, but its simplicity, openness, and beautiful views is one of the things I enjoyed most about the project. Whenever I went away for a weekend of travel I was always eager to return and just relax a thing I seldom do in my regular day to day life.

This was the first time I truly experienced encounters with wild elephants, and honestly it’s the first time that I truly felt something for them too. I was so used to seeing them so lifeless in zoos, I never had the chance to make a connection, but now I will always speak passionately about the Sri Lankan elephant.

The work wasn’t what I expected, searching through dung all morning and sitting in a tree in the afternoon. But I can tell you I enjoyed it more than most, and doing these activities helped me gain a greater appreciation for elephants. My favorite job was sand trapping, it reminded me of my countless walks through the woods when I was a kid.

The people I’ve met from SLWCS is what has made this trip something genuinely special for me. They taught me about elephants, their culture, language, and country. They’re also some of the most upbeat, happy go lucky inspiring people I have ever met.

Thank you so much for this life changing experience,

Rebekah Smith
England

Coming to volunteer with the Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society was the best decision I have ever made. I was very nervous about how I would adapt to living here, would I be able to complete the activities, and how I would get along with the staff and other volunteers. After spending 4 extra days in Colombo waiting for my lost luggage, I was anxious and excited to finally get to the field house. Chinthaka and Sampath came to meet me at my hotel and took me out to dinner. They were so nice and their enthusiasm was infectious. I felt comfortable with the two of them. They made the 12 hour drive to the field house seem fun and easy.

We arrived at the field house after midnight when everyone was already in bed. That was my first time meeting Siriya and I could tell what a kind and caring man he was. I immediately climbed under my net into bed, had a brief conversation with my new roommates, Remy and Natalie, and fell asleep.

The next morning my first time seeing the field house in the light was a shock, completely different than any home I’ve ever been in. I joined my fellow volunteers for breakfast. It only took me a short time to get the routine down. My first day we left at 9am to do a transect. I had no idea what to expect but I knew I needed a positive attitude. My jaw dropped after seeing the jeep we were riding in. I was certain I would fall out. The ride to the elephant corridor was amazing. I quickly learned we need to wave at the children we pass by. We arrived at our transect site and I had no idea what to expect. Remy, Natalie, Becca, Kirsty, and Thomas were all very helpful. They let me just observe them before I started to participate. This was my first time meeting Supun and Sarath. I noticed the friendship between them and the volunteers and I wondered if I would develop the same relationship. They were very helpful, explaining what they found while Kirsty explained the data recording to me.

The hike was easy and the surroundings were beautiful. It was a successful first activity. When we got home we all sat in the common area and spent time getting to know each other. Our afternoon activity was going to the tree hut. Once I saw it I got so nervous. I’ve never climbed a tree hut before! But everyone was helpful, telling me which branch to grab and where to put my feet. We were all huddled up there together. Some read, some were on their phone. I wasn’t sure what to do. But when it was time to record, everyone immediately paid attention. Again, my fellow volunteers showed me what to do.

I haven’t gotten used to the spiciness of some of the food but it is always really good. One thing I love about having a lot of volunteers is splitting up and having a choice of afternoon activity. I like the hike Chathuranga started taking us on up the mountain where the monk is. By far, the most exciting experience of my life was getting charged by the bull by the lake. I have never been so scared in my life but I fully trusted Chathuranga and Sampath to get us through it safely. The staff are like a family to me at this point and I will be really sad when it’s time for me to go home. I love everyone.

Chen Zixiao (Vanessa)
China

My experience on wild elephant project with the Sri Lanka Wild Conservation is really amazing. Our house is like the room with view that there aren’t windows or actual doors, you can feel the wind and the heat, the weather and the nature. There is a camp where the clouds are so low that seem like can be touched, lakes and rivers seem shallow but actually have ample fishes and serve as the source for cattle, buffalos, elephants and human beings. Grasses flourish here in beautiful deep or light green, we play volleyball there, or just lie down watching the crystal blue sky. I had a good time exploring more and more interesting, it seems like time is never enough for this journey no matter long you decide to spend here.

At the first day we had a delicious lunch which included the curry potatoes, good rice, strange beans and black tea (which is my favorite). The shower and bed are really nice here, you can wash clothes with a basin and they will dry in only 2 or 3 hours. Local people and volunteers are friendly and interesting , I got a lot of welcomes, smiles and compliments and feel every day is fresh and happy. We took a jeep and went to a lake where wild elephants often roam around and saw a group of them (21 in total). In this project we can go to a tree house waiting for elephants, visit the national park with companions, and watch the amazing sunrise and sunset on the hillocks. I get so close to the earth for the first time, and it brought me with some philosophical thoughts that I’ve never imagined before.
Thanks for the journey, thanks for the SLWCS, thanks for an adventure hearts.

Sethe Purves
England

This has been my first time being out of Europe and so I have really enjoyed seeing all the animals here, particularly the elephants and monkeys. When I got here I didn’t expect to see so many elephants but I have been pleasantly surprised. I have had an amazing time going out every day and learning more about the elephants who live here and the issues with their conservation, which has made me feel far more involved and interested in the project. All the people here have been very welcoming, kind and helpful, both the staff, other volunteers and the people who live in this village.

It has been a unique and relaxing time staying here, with time to study elephants as well as socialize, read and write. I have loved having this time, which has been more fun that I had thought it would be and unlike any other holiday I have ever been on. Seeing such a wide range of animals, elephants, monkeys, crocodiles, and all the stray cats and dogs, has made my time here so great, having never experienced this wildlife before.

When I first got here the accommodation was a shock as I had never stayed anywhere similar before. However I have now adjusted and tackled my fears of spiders and other small creatures, although I am still very grateful for the mosquito nets. Being here has also made me appreciate all that I have more, compared to the people who live here and inspired me to worry less about unimportant things. The experience has helped me decide that I want to do more of this kind of work/volunteering in future, giving me more direction on where to travel to in the next few years, which has been particularly useful for me.

I would have liked to try types of food here, however the spicy snacks in the towns are so cheap that I have been able to have a balance between food at the house and food that I have bought. As well as cheap food, cheap travel has enabled me to go travelling at the weekends, giving me the perfect opportunity to see a range of different things in Sri Lanka, making my time here so special.

Sharon Purves
England

During my time here I have learned a lot about the problems the elephants and the local people have in trying to live alongside each other. It has been extremely valuable to see the effects first hand and, by analyzing elephant droppings, monitoring movement of humans and elephants, exploring the local landscape and towns, we can get a fuller picture of the complications involved.

Chaturanga, Sampath and the other experts here are extremely knowledgeable of not just the elephants, but also the other wildlife in the vicinity, and the needs of the local residents. One day our jeep was charged by a bull elephant after it had been angered by a guy on a motorbike insisting he get through the herd’s path. Sampath kept his cool and knew how to mitigate any serious outcome. This episode showed how diplomatic the workers here need to be with the local community and how experienced they are with elephant behaviour.

We took part in many different activities including analyzing droppings, observation at the lake and at the tree house, checking leopard sand traps, visiting the villages inside the elephant corridor, hikes and a visit to Minneriya National Park.

Accommodation is very basic, but adequate. There is plenty of water, food and tea. The surrounding area is beautiful and peaceful and the company of like minded volunteers means that everyone has got along well together.

It has been a real insight for me, and I have learned a lot from direct observation and through talking to the staff here. I will pass on my new found limited knowledge to others and in some very small way, hope to affect the way we think about elephants, nature and our human place within it.

Jan Davenport
England

I have spent 2 weeks at the Field House as part of the HEC project with SLWCS,

It has certainly been a very memorable and a truly authentic experience.

I have been involved in Elephant dung analysis on a daily basis, visiting transects, observing elephant and human conflict first hand – several times we saw motorbikes trying to pass a herd by beeping their horn and making lots of noise. On one of these occasions the bull elephant charged the motorbike and on another a bull elephant charged the Land Rover we were seated in.

In addition to this, we visited sand traps to detect the presence of other wildlife in the park, visited and took a walk through the villages in Wasgamuwa and saw and understood the use of the electric fences to keep the elephants out of the villages.

Chathuranga has been an excellent project leader being very knowledgeable on all aspects of the project, local biodiversity and elephants’ behaviour. He is well supported by a team who accompany us on the field work or who stay at the field house preparing meals and keeping the house tidy. All staff members are very helpful, friendly and are a real asset to the project and the experience the volunteers have.

The food has been delicious and on the whole plentiful. Always rice and a dhal or curry sometimes with roti, which is always tasty and well received – clean plates all round is the norm.

The accommodation is communal with dormitories, curtain partitions and open topped walls which means limited privacy, but a welcome breeze during the hot afternoons. The view from the dining / lounging area is stunning and welcome. There is plenty of room for relaxing and chatting to other volunteers as a group or in smaller groups. It is great to mix with so many different nationalities and the nature of this project is that it attracts positive minded, ‘up for life’ people who add to the whole experience.

It is a privilege to have been part of such a project and see the work and endeavours of the SLWCS right out on location, in the field, alongside the village and the national park where the work is impacting. Thank you for a great opportunity that I hope to continue contributing to once I am back in the Primary School where I work.

Visit our website at: http://www.slwcs.org/#!get-involved/cgbm for information about our volunteering program.

Thank you,

The Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society