The goal of the human-elephant project is to use scientific research, community engagement, best practices, and education to improve conservation and coexistence challenges for elephants and people in both rural and urban settings near Victoria Falls. With the human population predicted double in this area that is home to the largest elephant population in Africa, we need strong solutions to decrease habitat loss, competition for water and food, and violence between humans and elephants.
What will I be doing?
This is a hands-on experiential internship. As an intern, you'll actively participate in a wide variety of activities that will allow you to positively impact that people, elephants, and other organisms in this biodiverse area.
A typical week may include:
assessing health and behavior of elephants, preparing food and feeding elephants, camera trap research and analysis, working with communities to install and maintain elephant deterrents like chili fences, bee hives, track elephants in rural and urban areas to determine when and where the most detrimental behaviors occur, work on tree protection to improve habitat for all local species, clean up plastic waste and see what types of plastic elephants are finding and eating, interacting with local communities to teach English and help with honey sales, and attending lectures about human dimensions, conservation, anatomy and physiology, wildlife crime, and ecology
as with all field work, weather and local conditions play a role in the schedule and can lead to last minute changes in the planned activities
What will I learn?
Previous interns often tell us that the biggest impact of these internship programs are the increase in self-confidence, the ability to get out of your comfort zone, the cultural learning, and the friendships made.
Below, are the methods and focus areas that are currently a priority at the project.
Methods:
Camera trap deployment and data analysis of elephants
Telemetry to track collared elephants
Night monitoring of elephants in the town of Victoria Falls
Assessing body condition, health, and learning captive wildlife techniques
Learning to identify species of local plants and animals
Maintaining enclosures to ensure animal safety and health
Building chili fences, making chili bricks and constructing bee hives to deter elephants
Protecting important trees from elephants through several hands-on methods
Cataloging plastic consumption by elephants
Focus Areas:
How can elephants and humans best co-exist?
What methods can deter elephants from eating human crops and causing destruction of village buildings?
What physiological problems are common in captive animals and how do we prevent and monitor for them?
How does ecotourism, hunting, and international politics impact the local community?
What previous experience or skills do I need?
General interest in human-wildlife conflict, elephants, community service, human dimensions, African wildlife, veterinary skills, and captive animal management Interns need to show enthusiasm, positivity, maturity, and independence, adaptability, and willingness to work in a team
You will be living in the heart of the beautiful town of Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. You will be working with communities within a 30 minute drive of Victoria Falls. You will fly from Johannesburg to Victoria Falls airport with the other interns on this project.
How does housing and food work?
The interns stay within a gated upscale hotel complex where you will stay in tents and have access to showers, bathrooms, the swimming pool, wifi, restaurant and lounge of the hotel. Breakfast buffets will be served each morning at the hotel and most days you will get a packed lunch to each during your time at the community. Dinners are a mix of meals at the hotel, cookouts with the villages, meals you prepare with the local community with ingredients you shop for at the market, and dinners out in Victoria Falls. Dietary requirements like vegetarian, vegan, or other allergies can be accommodated.
What’s included?
Transfer to the project, meals at the project, housing, all the research, educational, and cultural activities, tour of Victoria Falls, sunset cruise on the Zambezi river, transportation to and from the rural communities, wifi, laundry, local experts talking with the group, pre-departure support, a field study abroad t-shirt, and logistic support at the internationals airport at your arrival and for your return flight home.
How can I get academic credit?
If you need academic credit, we will work with your university advisor or study abroad office. Generally, this internship will satisfy any field course or experiential learning requirement you might have. There is also an option to take a course through Michigan State University for credit.
You will also receive a certificate of completion from Field Study Abroad and post-trip resume help.
What did previous interns say?
“Enjoyed the project in the community as well as the insight into how elephants view the world. Seeing the work they're doing with positive reinforcement training was inspiring and, of course, getting to actually touch and feed an elephant was absolutely incredible!”
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“The people here are invested in ways to protect elephants and allow these animals and humans to coexist using natural methods. The entire experience was worthwhile and I was happy to participate in a natural encounter with these beautiful and unusual animals.”
Methods:
Focus Areas:
