Volunteer Trip in South Africa

I recently graduated with a degree in Biology at Penn State University, (The Behrend College). In October, I will be traveling to South Africa for four weeks to volunteer at Cheetah Experience. While there, I will be working to conserve various endangered species, with special focus on the conservation and breeding of the cheetah. Other species include lions, leopards, servals, caracals and wolves. South Africa is the country with the third highest biodiversity in the world. Despite these natural riches, there is very limited public funding for the conservation of the indigenous wildlife and its habitat, and much of it depends on private initiatives and volunteers. Cheetah Experience is funded almost entirely through the contributions of international volunteers. As a volunteer, I will be responsible for the care of animals, maintenance of the enclosures and nursing injured wildlife. I'm currently working as a part-time keeper at The Erie Zoo, working with small domestic and exotic animals. For as long as I can remember, I have had dreams of traveling to Africa and working with animals. With this trip, I will be living my dream, while saving the lives of countless animals, whose lives have been endangered due to poaching, habitat destruction, and insensitive farming practices.