Description

The mission of Yotvata Hai-Bar (Wildlife Preserve) Nature Reserve is to establish reproduction groups for populations of wild animals that are mentioned in the Bible but have since disappeared from the landscape! Hai-Bar also works with other endangered desert wildlife.

The reserve is dotted with Acacia trees and includes a variety of desert habitats: an Acacia forest, a salt marsh, and sand dunes. The reserve has three parts:

A). Open Herdng Area, where herds of herbivorous animals live in conditions similar to those in the wild

B). The Predators Centre, where reptiles, small desert animals, and large predators are on display

C).The Desert Night Life Exhibition Hall, where night and day are reversed so that visitors to the reserve can observe nocturnal animals during their active hours

Short-term volunteers are needed to join the Israel Nature and Parks Authority (NPA) staff with its on-going maintenance, conservation and animal care work at the Wildlife Preserve. Your help is greatly appreciated!

During the project, volunteers will work with the NPA staff at the Predators and Visitors centres. Duties include: feeding animals and cleaning habitats, maintenance work, observation and data collection, field work and constructing enrichment facilities from eco friendly materials. Volunteers for this project will spend 12 days on site.

Highlights

The overseas volunteer will have the opportunity to meet and to work with local volunteers. You will experience life on a preserve and get to know up close this beautiful desert landscape, situated on the African-Syrian rift and directly on the migratory bird route. The international beach resort of Eilat is only 40 kilometers away if you and other volunteers want some snorkeling, water sports, or a enjoy the vibrant night life.

The short-term nature of this project allows for you to make travel-buddies for post-volunteer travel throughout Israel.

Travel Types

• Volunteering

Qualifications

- Minimum age 18 - Maximum age 60
- Basic English or Hebrew
- Good physical fitness
- Motivation to work with animals
- Able to work in harsh desert climate
- Full travel and medical insurance
- Immunizations (please consult your doctor)

Languages

• English

Cost in US$:

450

Cost Includes:

• Food
• Housing
• In-country orientation/Training
• In-country staff support
• Pre-departure orientation/Training
• Registration fees
• Written materials pre-departure

Program Fees Include:

- Training: GoEco volunteer and travel orientation in Jerusalem
- Accommodation: Shared apartment on the reserve
- Food: Meals are self-catering (budget around USD 80)
- Training: Pre-departure assistance, local in-country team and 24hr emergency support

Experience Required

no

Volunteer Types

• Eco-tourism
• Environment
• Tourism
• Volunteering
• Wildlife Surveying

Typical Volunteer

Volunteers with GoEco are united by their passion for travel and desire to help people. Our volunteers are from all over the world, representing a host of religions, cultures, and languages. Ultimately, GoEco volunteers are fun-loving, adventurous, and outgoing agents for change.

Age Range

18-60

This Program is open to

Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Couples and Individuals.

Typical Living Arrangements

• Apartment/Flat
• Group living
• Guest House

Participants Travel

Independently

Typically Participants Work

in Groups of 6-10 international volunteers

Application Process Involves

• Online Application plus Application Assessment
• Phone/Video Interview

GoEco - Volunteer Abroad's Mission Statement

(1) Encourage ecological and volunteer tourism that promotes sustainable development (2) Enable travelers to experience different and more rewarding kinds of tourism. (3) Encourage travelers to volunteer for the benefit of others and thus to serve as a good-will ambassador to other countries in the world. (4) Encourage travelers from all over the world to come to Israel for ecological and community-based projects, in both the Arab and Jewish sectors, and experience firsthand the unique cultural and natural diversity in this region. (5) Support environmental and humanitarian projects that promote understanding and good will between ethnic societies in Israel. (6) Conduct further research in the field of ecological tourism, such as the 'Ecological Footprint' as a tool for sustainable tourism development. (7) Establish an in-depth and up-to-date data base of the relevant projects worldwide. (8) Create a platform from which to explore the various organizations that support the environment and actively encourage volunteering.

Year Founded

2005