Are you interested in giving your time to help a wildlife project that needs some assistance?
Are you prepared to work in a National Park and to live as a wildlife researcher for a few weeks?
The SAVE Foundation of Australia (Inc.) (N.S.W.) an Australian registered charity and organisation that raises funds for the conservation of African wildlife, is looking for healthy, enthusiastic and flexible people who would like to join a wildlife conservation project. No prior experience in research is necessary, all training will be given in the field and it does not matter at all what profession you have. There is a minimum age of 21, apart from that just bring your sense of humour, your love of wildlife and your desire to help a wildlife research project in need of some extra hands.
You will be asked to undertake ALL the jobs the normal researchers do and this can range from radio-tracking collared animals, collecting faecal samples, entering data on the computer, cleaning and maintaining the 4WD vehicle and equipment, conducting regular mammal counts, spending the days or nights observing and filming animals at their den or on a kill. You will not be given any special preference but will be trained to assist the researchers in all the tasks they undertake in the normal course of their work.
The Zimbabwe Department of National Parks & Wild Life Management have issued a permit for HRCP’s principal researcher Nolwenn Drouet-Hoguet to obtain Volunteer Field Assistants who will come to help her run the project, both in the field, in the school and in an administrative capacity.
During this time Nolwenn will train field assistants on all the work she performs with CRU staff (and on behalf of National Parks) for the Hyaena Research & Conservation Project. You will experience living and working in the middle of the National Park and will contribute greatly to National Parks itself, to the Carnivore Research Unit of National Parks which the HRCP is a part of, to the running of the HRCP and to the education of children in the local Main Camp School. There are very few opportunities such as this where no prior experience in field research is required and where your efforts will benefit the conservation of wildlife, a research project itself and a local community.
It must be understood very clearly that volunteer field assistants must be willing to fit in with all aspects of the HRCP and the unusual life of a field researcher. Work is conducted 7 days a week, and as the project deals with spotted hyaenas which are nocturnal, research especially around full moon is mostly at night, hours are unusual, meals and sleep are at odd times and as work is conducted within an African National Park there is the possibility of an encounter with wild animals. This is also an environment which is dynamic – assistants must be flexible as plans change quickly and often. This is not for a general tourist or someone who would consider this a holiday. If you feel bothered by any of these factors you should not come.
The upside of joining the project for a few weeks are many: firstly your assistance directly helps the running of the HRCP and therefore the better collection of data for National Parks; secondly the payment of your fees for accommodation and Park entry goes directly to help Hwange National Park; a part of your daily payment helps in the running of the HRCP and therefore the continuation of the project; a similar part of your fees will either be allocated, most often in the form of equipment, for either the Carnivore Research Unit’s Scouts or Ecologists, or the education of children of the Main Camp Primary School. You personally will gain a sense of achievement, of participation, of assisting conservation right where it is needed and of helping the local community. If you are planning a career in Biology, Zoology, Ethology or Ecology then this is a great chance to obtain some experience. While you are on the HRCP of course most of your time is spent in and around Hwange National Park and whilst conducting the research you will have every opportunity of seeing all facets of the Park including the many species of animals and birds that make Hwange their home. You will be privileged to see a side of the Park that no tourist will ever see. Although you will be here to give, both the HRCP, the people and the wildlife here will give YOU one of the most special times of your life. You will leave with plenty of photographs, incredible memories and having seen a very special side of one of Zimbabwe’s most beautiful National Parks.
1. Daily entry fee into the Park
2. Accommodation: Most nights will be spent at the Project cottage inside the park or at Main Camp in Lodges which have private bathrooms and a kitchen otherwise a Cottage or a Chalet will be booked. Some nights may be spent in the 4WD if conducting overnight research or at a picnic site or on observation platform in the park.
3. All meals - cereal/toast/fruit breakfast, sandwiches/salad lunch and a cooked dinner. Juice is provided to drink.
4. At least 1 night will be spent on a platform in the Park and this cost is included
5. Pick up and drop off at Hwange Safari Lodge, Hwange Airport or the main Vic Falls/Bulawayo road. Travel costs to reach Hwange National Park or Dete are NOT included.
6. All letters, emails, phone calls made by HRCP to organise your stay; HRCP is happy to book flights or coach transfers for you. An email service is available at the HRCP and reasonable use of this service is included. HCRP will provide mattress, pillows for the nights on the platform and have a tent if necessary.
7. All training will be given on every aspect of the HRCP, for example you will learn telemetry (radio tracking) and will become conversant with the aerials and receivers, GPS, maps, compass and methods of triangulation. You will accompany researchers at night when they radio-track and spotlight for hyaenas (during these days and nights in the Park you will of course have every opportunity to see all the species of animals and birds that make their home here). You will learn to collect regurgitation and faecal samples; to use the digital video camera for individual hyaena identification purposes; you will be asked to participate in the administrative side of the project particularly in entering the data you have collected onto the laptop. If there is an active birth or communal den whilst you are here you will learn to sex and age the hyaenas and any cubs and to conduct ad libitum sampling on social behaviour. Those who come between September and October may get the opportunity to be part of the annual hyaena population calling exercise and to learn the calling techniques. You will also be encouraged to help with the regular maintenance of the 4WD Toyota Landcruiser and all radio tracking equipment. You will interact with National Parks staff from the Carnivore Research Unit who regularly accompany researchers.
8. Donation to running of Hyaena Research & Conservation Project (this will go directly to items such as new radio collars, fuel, and equipment for the vehicle and the project)
9. Donation to the Carnivore Research Unit, under which I work at Main Camp, or to Main Camp Primary School. This will probably take the form of assistants being asked to bring some equipment with you i.e. binoculars, torches or sleeping bags, or educational material for the school.
2. If you are coming during June to beginning of September, you need to bring VERY warm clothes. As we spend a lot of time out at night you will need a warm ski jacket, hat, gloves, warm trousers and boots for the night work. During the day all year round we wear tee-shirts and shorts. If you come from October to March, which are the Summer months, bring a bathing costume as there is sometimes the opportunity to swim.
3. Bring a good sleeping bag and if you have a Thermarest please bring it, although we have foam mattresses if you don’t.
4. Bring a head torch preferably, but a hand torch otherwise and plenty of batteries. I have an AA re-charger and there is 220v mains power both at Main Camp and at my house if you need to re-charge video batteries.
5. Bring your camera with plenty of film and a pair of binoculars. Film is expensive and not easily available here.
6. If you eat any special foods, please let me know. And perhaps bring supplies with you as although we can normally get fresh fruit, vegetables, bread, milk, meat and tinned foods, there is not much in the way of small luxuries here.
7. You will need a little money for any beer, wine or spirits you might like, as these are not included.
2. You must be in possession of a full Travel Insurance which will cover you for loss or theft of equipment and baggage, and any health problems or medical emergencies which may arise.
3. Please check in your own country if you need a visa for Zimbabwe or any special vaccinations. Take a prevention treatment for malaria prophylactics all year round. A travel insurance is essential to cover your camera and binoculars and you should take a fully comprehensive health insurance. This Insurance must be shown to HRCP staff on arrival.
4. Smoking is not permitted in the HCRP house, garden or vehicle and is discouraged at all other times.