World Wildlife Day 2023: Five volunteer sites to celebrate World Wildlife Day

Every year, March 3 is celebrated as World Wildlife Day to raise awareness about the world’s wildlife and animals – and what better way to mark it than by lending a helping hand to an environmental conservation project to be extended and to care for the sick, injured or abandoned. animals? In 2023, around 72% of Indian travelers intend to travel for a purpose. Volunteering and ecotourism can provide a meaningful opportunity to give back to local communities. There are many wonderful non-profit organizations and programs around the world. Booking.com has selected five incredible destinations where travelers can make a positive impact. From rehabilitating lions in South Africa to rehabilitating elephants in India, these award-winning wildlife tours will help make a difference.

Monitoring Singh – Limpopo, South Africa

Occupying the northern reaches of South Africa, Limpopo is a vast and diverse province characterized by vast open spaces and awesome wildlife viewing. Within Limpopo, the wildlife charity Global Vision International (GVI) ensures the long-term survival of lions with a team dedicated to ongoing research of these charismatic big cats. Located on a private game reserve that is home to lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo and rhinos, travelers can volunteer and live with these extraordinary animals and assist with important wildlife conservation work. Volunteers will help with all aspects of the research and monitor the behavior, movement, location and health of the lion cubs. While not working directly with the king of the jungle, travelers will have the opportunity to become involved in other important conservation efforts, such as the removal of invasive vegetation. Since the program began, volunteers have supported the management and conservation of more than three million hectares of protected areas in Limpopo.

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Saving Turtle – Puerto Ayora, Ecuador

The isolation of the Galapagos Islands from mainland Ecuador has allowed its animals to evolve in accordance with their surroundings, a fact that was instrumental in helping Charles Darwin formulate his theories on evolution and natural selection. Today, the islands are supported by volunteers who dedicate their time to the conservation of this extraordinary ecosystem, and have a range of opportunities including rescuing endangered giant tortoises. Santa Cruz is an island in Ecuador’s Galápagos National Park and home to the city of Puerto Ayora, where the Charles Darwin Research Station has a breeding program for giant tortoises. Volunteers will spend time at El Chato Nature Reserve, removing invasive plant species that are harmful and planting grass for their food. Free of natural predators, the island’s animal inhabitants roam freely and without fear, so volunteers can expect plenty of opportunities to respectfully observe these unique species in their natural habitat, including not only swimming near shore turtles, but also friendly sea lions and iguanas. To bask in the sun

Recovering Elephants – Jaipur, India

People who love animals will always have a special place in their heart for them. Whenever they come across an animal, they take good care of it, whether it is theirs or not. One species in particular, the elephant, is loved and cherished by people all over the world. By bringing you up close to them and showing you how they live their daily lives, Elephant Conservation Programs in India will help anyone learn more about these devoted creatures. The program will allow travelers to do all kinds of engaging activities with the elephants, such as bathing them, caring for their feet, and feeding them their favorite food. An opportunity to participate in an elephant care program in the historic city of Jaipur, India is through the Wildlife Volunteer India initiative. Elephant Village, located close to Amber Fort, is the first elephant-themed community in India and the third worldwide. The tola, which is spread over about 30 hectares, provides all the facilities including a large lake, which the elephants need to thrive and have fun.

Injured Bird Care – San Francisco, United States

Famous for its Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco is located in the northern part of California and is home to about 450 different species of seabirds, including Canada geese and mallards. International Bird Rescue (IBR) provides critical care to seabirds sick or injured by oil spills in California: since 1971 they have recruited over 125,000 birds but they can’t do it without the help of volunteers. The non-profit organization offers varying levels of volunteerism, so the more comfortable travelers are with birds, the more responsibilities they can take on, with the opportunity to help with all phases of care from rescue to rehabilitation and release . San Francisco is one of the most photographed places in the world, from its incredible city views to its eclectic neighborhoods and abundance of wildlife.

Jaguar Defense – Tortuguero, Costa Rica

Since the 1950s, the population of jaguars in the US has declined to an estimated 14,000. These dwindling numbers have resulted in an ongoing effort to create programs and policies that protect these elusive creatures. With the charity Global Vision International (GVI), volunteers have the opportunity to make a huge difference in jaguar conservation by monitoring and researching their prey species, feeding behavior and population numbers. Once collected, this information is used by the Costa Rican Ministry of the Environment to develop well-rounded and coherent conservation policies. The Kekoldi Indigenous Reserve is a species-rich and beautiful stretch of rainforest that is considered a global biological hotspot and is home to many endangered wild wild cats, from the largest jaguar to the smallest oncilla. Further up the coast is the village of Tortuguero, Costa Rica’s remote wildlife hotspot with freshwater canals and tropical foliage amid a lagoon and volcanic beaches along the Caribbean Sea.

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