Long Term Wildlife Reserve Program

Project Description

Location

The Negev is a desert region that covers the southern half of Israel. The least populated area in Israel, it is a home to (among others) the nomadic desert people known as the Bedouin and unique African wildlife. The Negev offers some spectacular scenery and is home to captivating sites and places.

Orientation in Jerusalem

The volunteer adventure will start off with a GoEco orientation at the Abraham Hostel in the center of Jerusalem. The orientation is a great base to meet fellow volunteers / travelers and includes the following:

Volunteer preparation and travel directions to the program

Expert travel advice in Israel for during and after your volunteer placement

Walking tour of Jerusalem, including the Old City and the famous Machane Yehuda market

Discount card to experience Jerusalem's vibrant night-life

1 night dorm accommodation and breakfast (private rooms available for extra price)

The GoEco orientation will begin at 10:00 AM on arrival day. The next morning, volunteers will travel to the volunteer project with public transportation. Full travel details to Jerusalem and the project will be provided upon registration.

Volunteer work and contribution

During the project, volunteers will become an integral part of the staff at the Wildlife Reserve. Duties include:

Preparing food and feeding animals

Cleaning and maintaining reserve facilities

Observations and data collection,

Accompanying & assisting park rangers

Constructing enrichment facilities

During the summer long-term volunteers may be asked to lead short- term workcamps of 10 volunteers at the preserve.

Its important to note that work tasks are likely to change and be unpredictable due to that dynamic nature of the reserve.

Timeline

Located in the Arava valley, the mission of Wildlife Reserve is to establish reproduction groups for populations of wild animals that are mentioned in the Bible; but have disappeared from the landscape, as well as for other endangered desert animals. The reserve is dotted with Acacia trees and includes a variety of desert habitats: an Acacia forest, a salt marsh, and sand dunes. The reserve has three parts: a three-acre penned-in open area, where herds of herbivorous animals live in conditions similar to those in the wild; the Predators Centre, where reptiles, small desert animals, and large predators are on display; and the Desert Night Life Exhibition Hall, where night and day are reversed so that visitors to the reserve can observe nocturnal animals during their active hours.

GoEco volunteers will join the Wildlife Reserve staff with its on-going conservation and animal care work.

Accommodations

Volunteers will stay in a basic apartment situated on Kibbutz Grofit, 10 minutes by bus from reserve. The apartment includes 2 rooms (4 people per room, mixed gender), bathrooms, AC, hot water and fully equipped kitchen. Please bring linens and towels. Other facilities include: Mini-market located on Kibbutz to buy food. Laundry machines available (7 NIS per load). Swimming pool access (June - September). There is a computer with internet for volunteers in the apartment. The kibbutz bar is open on the weekends.

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