Tiger and Wildlife Conservation

Product Details

Ever wondered what it would be like to walk freely in a jungle where tigers, elephants and bears live? This is your opportunity to work on this exclusive GapGuru program with Forest Rangers helping with the anti-poaching campaign in the forests of South India.

Tracking tiger and elephant and researching the habits and environment of the animals are examples of the tasks you would be expected to undertake. Your stay will be in an eco camp located on the banks of a beautiful lake in the midst of very rural Indian countryside.

Where you will be based
During your project you will stay in an eco-wildlife camp run by a young, enthusiastic and experienced wildlife/adventure activity leader. The camp is around 3 hours from Bangalore. The area is home to a number of animals and birds, as well as Tigers, Leopards, Sloth Bear, many types of Deer, Wild Dogs and of course Elephants. Birds include Brahminy Kite, Eagle, Pearl Spotted Dove, Peacock, Indian Small Lark, Egret, Jay and Flycatcher.

This is an interesting area and shows you very rural, rustic India. Women still take the washing every day to the river in a bucket on their head and grind the rice and dal (lentils) by hand to cook the family’s food. Oxen are still used to pull the plough and the main crops in the area are tobacco, rice and potatoes.

Life at the project
After arriving at Bangalore airport you will be met and transferred to your overnight accommodation in the city. In Bangalore you will receive an initial induction and meet with the other volunteers before leaving the next day for the wildlife camp.

Once at the camp a full and thorough induction will be undertaken by the local conservation society before you enter the jungle so that you have a full understanding of the history, context and practice in relation to tiger conservation in India. Training will be given on the tasks expected of you. There will also be safety training in relation to jungle living and how to react to wildlife encounters in the forest.

Working directly with the Chief Ranger and his forest guards you will be patrolling dense deciduous forest looking for signs of Tigers, Elephants, Sloth Bear and Wild Boar. There are around 10 Tigers in the forest where you will be working and the guards have assessed each territory of the male cats and monitor them on a daily basis to ensure they are still around. Other tasks include counting prey animals such as deer and monkey in defined research areas and monitoring water hole visitations.

There will also be opportunities to accompany the guards on their night patrols and stay in their shelters in the centre of the jungle.

On return to Bangalore you will have a day for further sightseeing and/or shopping before the end of this GapGuru programme.