Overview of the Project

Elephants being the largest terrestrial mammals frequently range outside the borders of even the largest national parks resulting in human-elephant conflicts (HEC) in Sri Lanka . HEC is perhaps one of the biggest environmental issues Sri Lanka is facing today. Every year nearly 150 elephants and 60 people die as a result of HEC. Our partner, the Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society (SLWCS) has started an innovative approach to elephant conservation by combining scientific research and conservation with education and sustainable economic development of rural communities affected by HEC. The ongoing project has developed a holistic approach to elephant conservation and research by helping local people who are the most affected by wildlife and who in turn most affect wildlife . The project creates local support for long term elephant conservation efforts by offering tangible benefits to local people.

However, in most HEC hot spots there is a data deficiency in regard to elephant population density, population structure, ranging and feeding behaviors. Therefore the SLWCS through its "Saving Elephants by Helping People" project has established elephant research and HEC resolution projects in high conflict areas, where local young men and women are also trained to work as research assistants to make sure there is local support and participation in projects. Volunteers are needed to support the ongoing activities and programs.

Research Objectives

The main research goals of the project are to conserve endangered elephants, search for rare leopards and conduct biodiversity assessments. Specifically:

		To develop solutions to resolve HEC through a better understanding of elephant ecology, biology, human needs and aspirations and elephant management technology.
		To assess the human aspects of human-elephant conflict, and to resolve the conflicts with the participation of the villagers who are victims of elephant depredations. To develop processes to integrate community participation into human-elephant conflict management.
		To gather sufficient ecological data to promote the establishment of a Trans-Climatic Zone National Park, to mitigate HEC and to promote elephant and leopard conservation as flagships for better management and conservation of biodiversity.
		To conduct a survey of elephants to obtain data on their numbers, associations, family demographics, distribution and crop raiding behavior; to examine the impacts of neighboring communities on elephant habitat.
		To create species inventories of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and freshwater fish for the research area, to carry out tank and electric fence monitoring surveys to assess its effectiveness in controlling elephant movement.

Presently, a parallel research project is also ongoing which studies the growing conflicts of leopards and local people. Volunteers working in the elephant project also participate on the ongoing activities of the Leopard project, specifically to:

		To conduct a leopard survey by remote photography to estimate leopard populations across both protected areas and human dominated non-protected areas in this region.
		To provide baseline information on leopard densities in both protected and non-protected areas and along a rainfall gradient across the Central, North Central and Eastern Provinces.
		To provide the first density estimates for the Sri Lankan leopard in the Study Area by using statistically rigorous mark-recapture methodologies.

Project life/Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteers will be divided into smaller sub-teams and partnered with the local field staff to conduct research. The sub-teams will be given tasks to accomplish each day. Volunteers work as teams and the research activities will be rotated over the course of the project. The afternoons/evenings will be relatively quiet. Volunteers can rest after a tiring morning of field work in the hot tropical environment. But there will be elephant observations, tree hut monitoring and data entry tasks. Depending on current research needs, focus, and season local project staff will assign any of following research activities to volunteers,

Park Road Transects: Monitor different roads each day inside the National Park, drive along roads and look for dung from the Land Rover, carry out GPS mapping and data entry, lunch in park, possibility of bath in river

Park Elephant Identification: While driving around the park you will take pictures and notes from every elephant you meet and use GPS mapping and data sheet work

Electric Fence Monitoring : Each day you will monitor five segments of three electric fences (per day one segment) and make notes on damages and condition of fences. This work involves walking in the hot sun so good shoes, sun protection, hat or cap are needed.

Tree Hut Night: There are two tree huts for this activity spend one night in a tree hut (every 10 day interval) and watch out for elephants and other animals.

Road Transects & Dung Collecting: Drive along a road and look for dung from a car, carry out GPS mapping, walk around tanks (reservoirs) to record and collect fresh dung.

Trail Transects : Walk along trails and look for dung, signs of leopard and other mammals. Work involves walking in the hot sun in rugged mountainous terrain (good shoes, sun protection, greenish clothes are needed)

Human-Elephant Conflict: Involves surveying fields and homes damaged by elephants (t here are five different areas to be surveyed). Volunteers will walk/bike around the village accompanied by Field Scouts ask local people if elephants have caused recent damage. This involves data sheet and GPS work.

Tank Monitoring: Volunteers will walk around the tanks accompanied by Field Scouts looking for signs left behind by elephants, which is mainly dung and needs to be recorded, measured and analyzed. This includes data sheet work, short measuring tape, film canisters to store seeds found in dung. Easy walking in the hot sun (shoes, sun protection).

Human-Leopard Conflict (HLC) Surveys : This includes travel to villages where volunteers, along with local field scouts will hold community meetings to try and encourage villagers and leaders to report incidences of HLC. Volunteers will also go to the site of the HLC and interview the owner to assess the damages caused to his or her livestock.

Camera-Traps: Infrared cameras will be placed in the forests based on the information gathered from the Trail Transects and surveys to identify individual leopard

Field Conditions/room/food

The SLWCS has several projects to mitigate human elephant conflict in Sri Lanka based in the Central, North Central and Eastern Provinces . As facilities to accommodate volunteers are developed volunteers will get the opportunity to work in these projects as well and will be assigned to these projects as needed. The main elephant conservation and research project is located about seven hours north east of Colombo , near the Wasgamuwa National Park . The area is very quiet and serene and takes visitors on a true journey back to basics. Volunteers w ill live in either one of two remote field bases located in Pussellayaya and Irriyagasulpotha where living conditions are basic but comfortable. Volunteers will stay in project field bases that consist of a central dining hall, kitchen, a small library cabinet, veranda and garden. All meals will be prepared for the team and vegetarians can be catered for. Clothes can be hand washed at the base. Both the field camps have modern bathrooms, clean kitchens and shared sleeping facilities. Volunteers will be expected to assist in maintaining the camp and project field equipment.

The nearest Internet Café is about 5 hours away by bus in Kandy . There might be irregular mobile phone coverage. The placement is suitable for those who enjoy reading and solitude, as there is little to do in the evenings apart from some all-night research activities. Project location gives you a true Sri Lankan village life and wilderness experience.

Wasgamuwa Research Area

The total Wasgamuwa research area lies within the confines of the Central and North Central Province forests of Sri Lanka . These are some of the last large contiguous primary forests left in Sri Lanka . In the Elahera/Laggala Forest Reserve, there are many rivers with beautiful waterfalls that flow through the area and these offer a great opportunity to cool off after a hot day spent in the field. The area is also close to the Knuckles Mountain Range Conservation Area where the scenery is breathtaking with great birding opportunities.

The main livelihood of villagers living in the study area is mostly paddy (rice) cultivation. Getting around is not easy and bicycles are essential as one of the main forms of transportation. Buses run from the region to Kandy and Colombo , taking approximately five and nine hours, respectively. Buses run more frequently to Hettipola, which is the nearest town located about one hour away. Being surrounded by a large herd of elephants with small playful calves or facing a large bull ambling slowly towards your Land Rover may be some of the moments that you will cherish forever. Silently navigating thick forests looking for places to set camera traps to record the presence of the highly reclusive and elusive leopard has its own excitement. Coming upon an unexpected elephant or sloth bear is another event that is certain to make you feel alive and conscious of the wilderness around you. All these are possible in this wonderful Sri Lanka project.

Program Fees & Start Dates

Program start on the first and third Monday of each month. Volunteers can work from 2-12 weeks.