As a volunteer on our Elephant Conservation Project in Sri Lanka, you’ll play a vital role in both field research and community development efforts aimed at protecting wild Asian elephants. Your work will take you beyond the typical volunteer experience, offering a combination of hands-on conservation, wildlife observation, and community outreach.
Each day, you’ll join our expert local team to gather essential data on elephant behavior, movement, and habitat use through tracking and field surveys in and around Wasgamuwa National Park. You’ll also collect environmental and socio-economic information to help researchers and policy makers design better strategies for coexistence between people and elephants.
A key part of your role involves engaging with local communities — participating in village meetings, documenting human-elephant conflict incidents, and helping to identify practical, sustainable solutions. You’ll also support environmental education initiatives in local schools, inspiring the next generation to value and protect their natural heritage.
Beyond research and education, you’ll gain unique insight into Sri Lanka’s diverse wildlife, from its elephants to its smaller carnivores and rich ecosystems. Every day in the field offers something new — whether it’s identifying animal tracks, spotting elephants in the wild, or helping strengthen relationships between people and wildlife.
By combining field science with community engagement, you’ll become part of a meaningful effort to ensure that humans and elephants can thrive together in Sri Lanka’s beautiful wilderness.
