Sri Lanka Elephant Care Volunteer Program

Last Updated: January 15, 2024

Sri Lanka is a fascinating island to explore. The pearl-shaped nation of the Indian Ocean is a biodiverse and agriculturally valuable land. Sri Lanka entices visitors with its infinite beaches, ancient ruins, kind people, elephants in plenty, rolling waves, inexpensive prices, fascinating trains, famous tea, and wonderful cuisine. This island packs an incredible variety of things to see into its little space. The Indian Ocean laps the coastline, which is surrounded by stunning – and often refreshingly untouched – beaches, while the mainland provides a broad range of landscapes, from wildlife-rich lowland jungles to misty hills swathed in tea plantations.

The elephant care volunteer program allows anyone to help care for the world's largest living land mammal. Elephant volunteering is popular among visitors who want to work with elephants and learn everything they can about them. Elephant care is a volunteer effort aimed at assisting domestic elephants and protecting their natural environment. Due to poaching and habitat destruction, both wild and farmed elephants are at risk of extinction. There are no creatures that prey on healthy adult elephants.

Volunteer’s Roles Responsibilities and Activities

This is our Elephants' daily care and upkeep to ensure that they have the greatest possible living circumstances while in our care. Preparing vitamins and prescriptions, cleaning elephant beds and enclosures, doing foot inspections and vitamin/medicine feeding, preparing and administering treatments as needed, and providing daily baths are all part of the work. The Elephant's mahout and volunteer organizers will accompany you at all times, and it is vital that you observe their safety regulations. You will be in charge of monitoring the elephant's living conditions and health, as well as reporting any indicators of impending illness. This necessitates getting your hands filthy as well as serious attention and accountability. This involves monitoring and reporting their working days as well as how much time they spend wandering about. You will get the opportunity to experience and immerse yourself in a foreign culture as a volunteer. You will undoubtedly confront daily difficulties and obstacles in Sri Lanka, yet you will be greeted with the warm Sri Lankan grin and warmth, and stunned by the sheer beauty of your surroundings.

Arrival and Orientation

Our team will meet you at Katunayake’s Bandaranaike International Airport and transport you to your community house or host family lodging. The rest of the day is free for you to relax and enjoy Sri Lankan hospitality. You will formally meet your coordinators and fellow group members. You will learn more about Sri Lanka and your program at orientation. Later in your holiday, you'll visit Sri Lanka, a country known for its history and generosity.

Accommodation

The shared house can accommodate 10 to 15 people. There is hostel-style group housing available, with gender-specific dormitory rooms. Group leaders have their own sleeping quarters. Wi-Fi is available, as well as eating and living facilities and indoor showers. Depending on the size of the group, host families may also be assigned. Our host families have been thoroughly vetted, have been a part of our program for many years, and come highly recommended by previous participants. Upgraded accommodations are available upon request.

Free Time Travel Activities in Galle

Galle, in the south of Sri Lanka, is well-known across Asia for its palm-fringed beaches and water activities like surfing. It is a historic city with historical mosques, churches, and walls. Galle's UNESCO World Heritage Site architecture eloquently depicts Portuguese, Dutch, and British history. In the meantime, you may relax and explore Galle. If this is your last day in the program, our team will assist you in planning your future steps. Those that stick with the program will be rewarded with a two-day weekend to unwind. Placements that last longer than a week are handled similarly. You'll be working on the project Monday through Friday. Saturday and Sunday are fully free for exploring.