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This placement would suit... anyone interested in monitoring and observing hippos from the waters of Lake Malawi in an effort to prevent this fantastic species becoming more threatened due to human activity.
 This is a four-week project where you will be taken by boat to monitor and take part in activities to prevent the extinction of the hippopotamus along the southern shores of Lake Malawi. You will be helping to contribute to the long-term survival of hippo in the lake. Volunteer role There are two species of hippopotamus and both of these live in Africa: 1. The common hippo (Hippopotamus amphibius)
2. The pygmy hippo (Choreopsis liberiensis)
The hippo need volunteers to start protecting them before they become extinct! The volunteer role includes the following activities: - Count and map all the hippos along the southern shoreline of Lake Malawi, information will be relayed to an environmental organisation in South Africa for analysis.
- To protect any larger permanent pods of Hippo, by monitoring the hippos and putting protective mechanisms in place (this is a long term objective and dependent on the availability of surplus funding).
- Educate locals on the important role hippos play in the lake ecosystem.
- Experiment with the planting of Jatropha (Jatropha curcas) trees as a barrier around crop fields. Jatropha has a toxicity that will hopefully deter hippos from entering the crop fields. Jatropha is being cultivated and used by an environmental organisation in the area to combat Elephant raids on village crops. The secondary advantage of this experimentation is that the seeds of Jatropha are one of the highest in producing oil, which can be utilised in the manufacture of Bio Diesel. Thus an economic value can be derived indirectly by the presence of hippos near the villages.
Location The southern shore of Lake Malawi from Palm Beach to Senga Bay. Accommodation and Meals Volunteers will be camping and will be required to supply their own tent, sleeping mat and sleeping bag. The cost of the project includes campsite fees and food. The team will camp at established lakeshore lodges as well as camps in local villages (with permission and payment to the local community). The ground support team will cater for volunteers.
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0845 344 7636 |
 | Real Gap Experience offers hundreds of exciting gap year and career breaks from two weeks to two years in over 40 countries. Real Gap and their partners have developed a wide variety of programmes to suit everyone, including adventure travel, sports training and coaching, conservation work, volunteering, paid work, teaching English and expeditions.
A team of experienced travel advisors, all of whom have taken their own gap years, can help you plan your life-changing trip. They can offer you lots of advice and support through the planning stages and get you off to the destination of your dreams.
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