15 trips for animal lovers
Riding on elephants is cool, but helping them live well is cooler. That's the thought behind the rise of what's known as voluntourism.
Here are 15 ways animal lovers can contribute to the welfare of their furry, feathered and finned friends all over the world.
1. Wash elephants in Thailand
The Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai province of Northern Thailand was established in the 1990s to provide a sanctuary and rescue center for elephants. You can make a difference to the lives of these basts by becoming an Elephant Nature Park volunteer.
There is a variety of programs to choose from, with the most popular running for between seven and 28 days, allowing participants to get involved in the day-to-day life of the park: feeding and bathing the animals, learning about elephant communication and family groups and experiencing the secret life of the pachyderms in their natural environment.
Price: US$400 per week (including on-site accommodation and meals).
Elephant Nature Park; +66(0) 53 818754; www.elephantnaturepark.org
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2. Research koalas in Australia
In Victoria's Great Otway National Park you can conduct valuable research on koala habitats to understand the impact of climate change on their population and behavior.
The 10-day expedition, which departs from the town of Apollo Bay, allows volunteers to work closely with koalas and be involved in all aspects of the research, including: capturing and handling koalas under close supervision of an experienced handler, radio tracking koala observations, tree measurements, habitat assessments and nighttime spotlighting for animals.
Price: US$3,115 (including on-site accommodation and meals).
Earthwatch Institute; +61 (0)3 9682 6828; www.earthwatch.org
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3. Fund-raising horse treks in Turkey
Relief Riders International is an award-winning adventure travel organization that combines tourism with humanitarian projects.
They host 14-day horse treks through the stunning scenery of Turkey's Cappadocia region, with riders in the saddle for up to six hours per day.
Participants (the trip caters for a minimum of six and maximum of 12 riders) will not only experience Cappadocia's ancient villages, handicrafts and culture, but will also help set-up and run dental camps and distribute free educational materials.
Villagers in rural Cappadocia have access to basic health care, but accessible and free dental care is vital. Riders of all abilities are welcome.
Price: US$5,800 (including equestrian costs, most meals, accommodation and some transfers).
Relief Riders International; info@reliefridersinternational.com; www.reliefridersinternational.com
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4. Release Przewalski horses in Mongolia
The Przewalski horse, or takhi in Mongolian, is a small, sturdy animal that was almost hunted to extinction by Kazakh tribes.
This volunteer program accepts participants for a minimum stay of 10 days, between March and November, in the Hustai National Park, west of the Mongolian capital of Ulaanbaatar, where a sanctuary prepares Takhi for release back into their natural environment.
Volunteers live in shared Mongolian gers and participate in the research of released takhi: observing newborn foals, the behavior of horses and their locations, as well as wildlife and vegetation in the region.
Price: US$85 per day (for stays between 10 and 21 days, including accommodation, transfers to and from Ulaanbaatar and meals).
Samar Magic Tour; +976 11 311051; www.ecovolunteer.org
5. Spread turtle awareness in Malaysia
Help Our Penyu promotes turtle conservation and marine awareness volunteering opportunities on one of the most beautiful island chains in Malaysia -- the Perhentian Islands.
Green turtles are in dire need of help in Terengganu, where multiple breeds of marine turtles traditionally nest, but populations have decreased by 80 percent in the last 50 years. Volunteers collect vital sea turtle nesting data and help provide marine conservation awareness to tourists and school children.
The program runs between March and October and volunteers commonly stay between seven and 28 days, departing for the islands on Mondays from Kuala Besut.
Price: US$250 per week (includes return boat transfer to Perhentian Islands, marine park entrance fee, accommodation, meals and a snorkel tour).
Help Our Penyu; +60 12 605 3449; www.helpourpenyu.com
6. Live with orangutans in Indonesian Borneo
Steppes Discovery, in co-operation with the Orangutan Foundation, are offering voluntourists the opportunity to go behind-the-scenes of orangutan conservation in the lush rainforests of Indonesian Borneo.
Based in an eco-lodge, overlooking the Sekonyer river, this adventure grants up to 10 participants per tour unique access to orangutans in their fragile natural environment.
Gain a deeper understanding of the role the forest plays in securing the animals' future and meet the communities who live in the region. These nine to 12-day tours are available on several dates until September, 2011.
Price: US$3,756 - 4,900 (including accommodation, meals and domestic flights).
Steppes Discovery; +44 (0)1285 643 333; www.steppesdiscovery.co.uk
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7. Play with pandas in China
The China-based Panda Tour company runs a variety of tours for panda fans who want to volunteer with the country's most recognisable creature at the Bifengxia Panda Base, 150 kilometers from Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province.
Volunteers will be put to work assisting the park's keepers, cleaning the panda's living areas, preparing food for the animals and collecting behavioral data. These tours are highly customizable, depending on the length of stay and areas of volunteer interest.
Price: US$460 for a seven-day tour (including hostel accommodation with bathroom, meals and transportation to and from Chengdu).
Panda Tour; +86 28 8889 8804; www.pandatour.com.cn
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8. Study tigers in India
This 12-day tour starts in November, 2011, and is organized in support of Global Tiger Patrol and Travel Operators For Tigers. Led by India's most experienced tiger researchers, it is designed to offer participants an insight into tiger behavior and research, which the cost of this tour helps support.
Whilst the focus is very much on tigers, there will also be opportunities to search for a whole range of animals -- including leopards, sloth bears and wolves -- who call Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve home.
Activities include guided walks with park rangers, animal census, night safaris, traditional game drives and elephant-back safaris.
Price: US$4,250 (including accommodation, meals, domestic flights and transportation, based on twin share and minimum group size of six people).
Responsible Travel; +44 (0)1273 600030; www.responsibletravel.com
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