Volunteer with Elephants in Sri Lanka
Location
Sri Lanka: Kegalla
Description
Elephant conservation in Sri Lanka
At LEO Project Foundation we believe in providing you a safe and secure volunteering experience which will be fun packed with many special and incredible moments, a placement where your time and efforts will make a visible change to the welfare of the elephants, their keepers and the local community.
The elephants at the projects belong to families who have had elephants for many generations. Unfortunately they are no longer able to financially maintain these magnificent animals and have loaned them out to the project. As you can imagine looking after an elephant is a costly business and this is where the volunteers help immensely.
The tourist at the project contribute to a fraction of the costs incurred when looking after elephants, they also provide the exercise needed to keep these animals active. The tourist rides that take place at the project are done on padded cushion and not on a hard harness which can be very uncomfortable for the elephant and cause distress and long term health effects to the elephant.
The volunteers contribute significantly towards the welfare of the elephants at the project whereby helping the project to purchase the elephant food, cover healthcare costs, help the elephant keepers (mahouts), and their families and a lot more. The mahouts in Sri Lanka struggle on a day to day life to maintain their families, your contribution will also help their kids to get a sound education and have the simple necessities such as school bags, pair of shoes and socks, a clean uniform and food.
The project needs you to continuously improve the well-being of the elephants by educating tourists, the elephant keepers and the community alike in better ways to look after elephants and understand the importance of protecting these endangered species.
Our young and dynamic elephant conservation project not only needs your dedication, enthusiasm and hard work, it also needs you to tap into your creative side and help to expand the information centre which plays an important role in our education and elephant conservation efforts. You will also be involved in enrichment activities for these elephants and are always encouraged to suggest any new enrichment programmes.
* The Project Site, Food and Accommodation
The project is set on a 10 acre site on the outskirts of Kegalle. With a river, a dense jungle area in the back, big bamboo trees and lots of green it has a real potential to become one of the most beautiful projects around.
Your accommodation will be at the project site itself in the volunteer house overlooking the river and into the project. You will be provided with 3 meals a day from Monday to Friday. Weekends most volunteers set off to explore Sri Lanka therefore meals are not included on weekends.
The project site is not too far from Kegalle (the nearest large town). Tuk tuk rides to town are very cheap, especially if booked as a return from the project site. The bus is even cheaper, an interesting way of finding your way around and a great way to meet new people. Your project coordinator will be at hand to help you with all your travel enquiries.
A nice swimming pool to cool down during those warm days is only about 5 km from the project site.
* Elephant Conservation
This is a young, dynamic and ever growing elephant conservation project. The project was started because we wanted the elephants at the project to have a better life and not a life of just elephant rides all day long. Our past volunteers have really made a positive impact on the life of the elephants and the project as a whole. The elephants now even get to eat the fresh pineapples grown by the volunteers at the eco farm. The elephants are certainly well cared and for, loved and looked after by the mahouts and you, the volunteer.
We strive to make tourists and locals alike to look differently at elephants and see them as more than money making tools only. With your help, and with your help only, can we make a real change and ensure a brighter future for the elephants, their keepers and the local community. Our past volunteers have succeeded in this that we have had tourist who have come back as volunteers to the project because they have fallen in love with the elephants and want to play their part towards elephant conservation.
* Excursions and Touring Sri Lanka
Most volunteers at our elephant and other wildlife conservation projects love to explore Sri Lanka. We will gladly answer any questions you may have about touring the island and are happy to help you find out the best deals and give you a good indication of activities, quality, pricing and distance.
There is something for everyone in Sri Lanka. Be it cultural or historical sightseeing, jungle trekking, surfing, whale watching, mountain climbing or just hiring a bike and taking in the hidden sights or simply chilling out on the beach, our project coordinator will be able to provide you help with where to stay, how to get there, how much and much more.
Highlights
Care for Asian elephants whilst building a better future for these gentle giants, their keepers and the local community, all at our young and dynamic elephant and community development project in Kegalle, Sri Lanka.
Help with the washing & feeding of the elephants, carry out standard health checks, clean the elephant beds, expand and improve the information centre, grow food for the elephants in the eco garden, teach English at the Girls Home, take care of local disabled people, learn Sri Lankan cooking and more.