Work Behind The Scenes At
An Ethical Big Cat Sanctuary

Background to the rescue centre

Lions once led peaceful lives in the wilderness across Africa, enjoying the freedom and rich biological diversity it offers. However over time humans have posed several threats to their freedom and existence. Unfortunately a devastating number of big cats have been sold to the illegal wildlife trade, used in entertainment, bred for exploitation or abandoned once they are no longer profitable.

As well as this there are a number of other animals in South Africa which fall victim to human threat. Donkeys are mistreated or neglected, monkeys are exploited, injured or orphaned and rhinos suffer at the hands of poachers. The rescue and conservation centre is working tirelessly to provide a second chance for animals in danger and create a brighter future for them. They aim to provide animals an environment as close to their natural environment as possible, with their overall objective being to rehabilitate and release these animals back to the wild, where possible. Unfortunately for the big cats at the sanctuary, this is often difficult and, in most cases, not feasible at all. Being born into captivity many have never learnt to hunt, relied on bottle feeding or been declawed or defanged, leaving them with a small chance of surviving in the wild.

For those animals that cannot be re- wilded the focus is on rehabilitation, enrichment, and the highest standard of lifelong care, with the sole priority always being animal’s wellbeing.

This is an amazing opportunity to get involved with an ethical rescue and conservation centre, that is aiming to protect big cats and other animals, educate the public about threats to big cats and contribute to important conservation work which is essential for the survival of big cats in the wild.

Where will I be volunteering?

Located within a 1000 hectare reserve in South Africa, the rescue and conservation centre provides a lifelong sanctuary for big cats and other animals that are not able to return to the wild.

Once a neglected predator zoo, the original site has a trouble past. Here many predator animals were kept and bred unethically for years. Shocked by the terrible conditions the animals were facing, the local team decided to intervene. They took over the site, rescuing the surviving animals and transforming the zoo into a rescue centre.

The centre is passionate about providing ethical rehabilitation for the animals that have been rescued, not only from this predator zoo, but from circuses, conflict zones, private ownership and other traumatic situations around the world. They now care for more than 30 rescued big cats and a small number of tigers who are not able to return to their natural habitat. While tigers are not native to Africa, they too deserve the best possible life, and fortunately the South African climate suits them perfectly.

In line with their goal to provide a habitat as close to the natural environment as possible, these rescued big cats roam 1.5 hectares of natural environment, all within the protection of the reserve. The rescue centre is also home a number of other animals including wild dogs, hyenas, servals, mongooses and a donkey sanctuary.

The programme is situated around a 30 minute drive from Bela-Bela town and around 2 hours drive from Johannesburg.

What is my role?

Volunteer support is essential to the rescue centre and animals that call it home. You will spend your time across two sites - the big cat sanctuary and rescue and conservation centre - creating a varied and interesting experience.

Alongside the animal caretakers and reserve manager, your varied role may include the following duties -

• Prepare meat for the individual big cats and other animals
• Assist the caretakers with feeding the big cats
• Clean the feeding facility and materials after feeding
• Prepare and distribute behavioural enrichments
• Observe animal behaviour
• Clean enclosures, including scrubbing pools
• Assist the security staff at night
• Feed and groom the rescue donkeys
• Clean enclosures and help build new enclosures at the Rescue & Conservation Centre
• Assist the caretakers with feeding all animals at the Rescue & Conservation Centre
• Assist the reserve manager and staff taking care of and observing the reserve wildlife
• Place, replace and inspect camera traps on the reserve and watch and report on footage
• Carry out general reserve maintenance including maintaining fences, fire corridors and roads, plant grasses and trees
• Educate visitors on big cat rescue and conservation

As well as this you will be assisting with the ongoing transformation of the rescue centre. Unfortunately some of the enclosure they inherited from the previous zoo are still far too small and therefore not suitable. You will assist to expand enclosures and create larger, more natural spaces for rescues in the future.

What will a typical day look like?

Assisting at a busy sanctuary, your role may vary from day to day. The volunteer coordinator will assign you to a work group for each day, where you will be working as a team with other volunteers from all around the world.

After breakfast, your volunteering duties will generally begin at 7.30AM and finish around 5PM, with several breaks throughout the day for lunch, water and toilet breaks. The evening is free for you to relax at the accommodation with the other volunteers.

Volunteers are expected to work 6 days a week with one day off. The work can be quite physically demanding but the result is always well worth it.

Where will I be staying?

Whilst volunteering you will be staying in modern and comfortable accommodation within the beautiful 1000 hectare reserve that is home to a wide variety of native wildlife, including buffalo, zebra, giraffe, eland, wild dog and leopard. The reserve also provides habitat for smaller, free-living species such as porcupines, aardwolves, aardvarks, forest baboons and mongooses. There is also an abundance of birds that benefit from the diverse and natural environment of the reserve.

The accommodation is designed to blend into the surrounding landscape and facilitate wildlife observation, making for some incredible views!

There are plenty of communal areas to socialise with other volunteers, including a pool to cool down in on warmer days.

The town of Bela-Bela is around 30 minutes away where you can find shopping malls, supermarkets and other amenities.

Other things to consider

Hands off volunteering - Please be aware the programme is strictly hands off. Volunteers will have little physical interaction with animals but will provide the essential daily and long-term needs of the animals, such as feeding, cleaning enclosures, and providing stimulation in the form of behavioural and environmental enrichments. Only our donkeys need physical attention in the form of brushing and checking them.