Elephant Conservation in Sri Lanka

( 3 Reviews )

Company : Oyster Worldwide
Location : Small village, 4 hours from Kandy
Duration: 1 week to 3 months
Approx Costs: 1000 to 3000+ £ Pound (UK)

Become part of an important initiative to help local communities in Sri Lanka to live peacefully with their giant neighbours. Help to conserve these endangered animals and to promote their future survival in this stunning country.

Once boasting a population of 20,000 elephants, Sri Lanka now only has 5000 of these beautiful, gentle giants left living outside captivity. With increased farming destroying the elephants' natural homes, the future of the Sri Lankan elephant is bleak. In Sri Lanka, the elephant is a symbolic creature and the local communities are desperate to protect these sacred animals. That's why you are needed!

What will I do in Sri Lanka?

As a volunteer, you will be working all over the elephant’s natural habitat. It is a hands on programme and some of the tasks you will be getting involved include

Researching and surveying
Observing the animals' behaviour
Trekking through the jungle to follow elephant grazing trails
Identiying and photographing the elephants
Teaching local children about environmental issues and promoting awareness

All of these task will help to preserve these magnificent creatures so that they thrive in future generations. As one of the top 25 most bio diverse countries, Sri Lanka strives to protect its wildlife and ensure that humans and animals live alongside each other successfully.

What about my free time?

The area that you will be working with is absolutely jaw-dropping. Surrounded by mountains, jungles and wetlands, there certainly is enough to explore. You can mingle with the locals, swim in nearby lakes and soak up the vibrant atmostphere. With accommodation overlooking a ring of mountains and the forest, near a small villiage, you will be happy to call it home. It is close to the Wagmamuwa National Park, meaning you will get to see a fanastic range of animals- it is a real must for any animal lover!

Start Dates

Starting every Sunday throughout the year

Costs / Benefits

See website for full inclusions

Booking / Enquiry

Booking Enquiry

Sri Lankan Elephants

This programme was very good and just what I expected. It was full of great people and surroundings involved in the project. Thanks for everything.

By: Paul
Nationality: UK
Age: 24

Working with Elephants in Sri Lanka

The information provided by Oyster was incredibly helpful and the work was interesting and not repetitive. Its an awesome way to learn about conservation work as well as experience the Sri Lankan culture.

Enjoy it! The heat might be overwhelming and the transects can be a struggle but push through it and you'll find yourself enjoying every minute of it. I also would say not to be afraid to ask as many questions as possible! The guys who work for the conservation are incredibly knowledgable and passionate about the work they are doing. I think this has to be one of the best ways to experience Sri Lanka because of the way you are submerged into the lifestyle and culture of the people.

By: Adria
Nationality: USA
Age: 21

Elephants in Sri Lanka

The volunteers I was with were very friendly. The permanent staff were amazing and knew so much about elephants in the wild. The country is beautiful and I was able to do some exploring of other parts of Sri Lanka at the weekends.

It teaches you to understand the struggles of both humans and elephants in human-elephant conflict and it gives you the opportunity to meet and become friends with some amazing local people.

Bring lots of snacks, if you're a girl bring a sports bra (the roads are VERY bumpy) and bring a pack of cards!

By: Phoebe
Nationality: UK
Age: 19