Bradt Wildlife and Conservation Volunteering: The Complete Guide

A unique feature of this guide is its dedicated focus on wildlife and environmental conservation volunteering. It is aimed at all three sectors of the age and career spectrum: young people such as gap year students and backpackers; the larger market of vacation conservation volunteers; and the early retired. Peter Lynch investigates rather than lists different types of organisations including charities, clearinghouses, eco-tour operators and travel agents. He audits, analyses and deconstructs them according to a range of verifiable criteria, including their scientific validity.

This second edition had been completely updated and expanded, including more organizations, updated assessments, more volunteer stories and more field adventures. There is also a new chapter on great wildlife migration events--how, when and where to see them, with more great photographs. The guide includes long- and short-term opportunities from roughing it in tents, through simple permanent accommodation to quasi-luxury. The extensive range of expedition opportunities include working with antelope, big cats, birds, coral reefs, dolphins, elephants, fish, hippos, monkeys, orang-utans, turtles, whales, zebras, injured wildlife and people--in every type of habitat--all over the globe. First-hand accounts by volunteers reveal the day-to-day life of being a volunteer.

Acknowledgements vi
Introduction vii
How to use this book viii
The Audit Criteria ix

Chapter 1 Conservation: what are the issues? 1
Chapter 2 Types of volunteer organisations 7
Chapter 3 Choosing an organisation 17
Chapter 4 The audit 41
Chapter 5 What is life like as a conservation volunteer? 166
Chapter 6 Great migrations 182
Chapter 7 Fundraising 199
Chapter 8 Before you go 207

Appendix 1 Country guide 229
Appendix 2 Further information 249
Appendix 3 What is BS8848:2007+A1:2009? 253

Index 254

This timely and important guide is a must-read for anyone who wants to contribute properly and positively to wildlife conservation.
- Kate Humble, TV presenter

"A comprehensive guide which helps to identify and explore the issues surrounding volunteering, whilst also providing a reliable and objective assessment of the companies offering volunteering experiences."
- Justin Francis, founder, responsibletravel.com

"An extremely useful starting point for any conservation volunteer faced with the tricky task of finding a project that is appropriate for them and also genuinely contributes to wildlife and environmental conservation."
- Richard Hammond, greentraveller.co.uk

Peter Lynch is a freelance travel writer. He has been on several conservation volunteer expeditions and is the author of the first edition of Bradt's "Wildlife and Conservation Volunteering".