Carnivore Conservation and Research Assistant

You will make a positive impact every day, surrounded by a team of passionate, like-minded people, who are all striving to make a difference in Namibia. Your time will be focused on researching the free-roaming populations of carnivores to support the important role in mitigating human-wildlife conflict.

The unique location of Kanaan, offers serene surroundings in the heart of Namibia – a true desert gemstone. With endless red sand dunes, imposing mountains, vast grass plains and crystal clear night skies you will discover all of what this beautiful 33,000-hectare estate has to offer.

Rehabilitate the land, environment and ecosystems for uninhibited movements of local fauna, including; cheetah, brown hyena, spotted hyena, leopard, springbok, oryx, ostrich, kudu, bat-eared foxes and many other desert-adapted animals.

Our aim is to find a balance between the needs of Namibia’s human inhabitants and its spectacular wildlife. Home to a wide variety of large carnivores, has resulted in Namibia being the centre of the battle to ensure these beautiful animals are around for the future generations.

Previously utilised as a film, photography and holiday destination, the plan here is to establish an unfenced wildlife reserve in order to provide a refuge or safe haven for an extensive array of endangered species.

Kanaan encompasses 352km2 of desert scenery in which volunteers will get involved in vital research and conservation. During your stay, you will be able to help record statistical data of the wildlife species, ultimately contributing to the long-term management of the area. Explore the mountains as you search for caves and hyena movements, marvel at the vast expanse of open grasslands as you help further wildlife population numbers.

Carnivore numbers are starting to fall and several different species are becoming endangered – something we as a whole have to address. The large majority of these wild animals live outside of the protected conservation areas, which often results in them being killed by farmers who view them as a threat to their livestock.

Mapping
You will join the researchers and use a GPS unit to map anything important, from wildlife observations to habitat features. You will also have to note infrastructures, such as roads, water holes and fences. Once collected, the positional information will continually be processed into up-to-date reserve maps, which are used by management and for publication of scientific results. Mapping means quality time in this fantastic environment on foot, where encounters with different wildlife are almost guaranteed!

Capture Mark Release
To understand how wildlife utilise the reserve and how they interact in a challenging and demanding environment, requires indirect monitoring techniques such as GPS satellite tracking. The volunteers will help researchers identify areas of regular carnivore activity such as dens, riverbeds and marked trees etc… You will place cage traps (for cheetahs only) and when a species of interest are captured, the animals will be immobilised on-site and fitted with suitable GPS trackers for continued monitoring. After release, the work continues at the computer following the satellite information from study animals and putting them in a scientific context. Please note this activity is dependent on carnivore species present and the availability of camera’s and equipment.

Radio Telemetry Tracking
Collaring animals with GPS trackers is only one piece of the puzzle. Direct observations are often necessary and is done by telemetry tracking out in the field. This will give you the chance to explore this beautiful terrain to track collared individuals and to make direct assessments on their health and location. This will involve long days in hot terrain with a certain amount of walking. However, the rewards of finding wildlife in the desert and collecting meaningful information at the same time are unrivalled.

Game Counts
The herbivores that roam these vast desert lands are an integral part of the African ecosystem. You will participate in regular game counts on either horseback or car to assist with the overall monitoring efforts. It is critical to understand the local populations dynamics and migrations to ensure there is sufficient water supply as well enough vegetation. The data collected will also be used to answer some questions such as, how do wildlife utilise this semi-arid landscape on a seasonal basis and how does this correlate with predator populations?

Camera Trapping
You will assist with setting up and monitoring camera traps that are placed in strategic positions around the region. These additional eyes often observe species of wildlife that are sometimes overlooked and helps research teams determine which animals are present and where they are most active. The cameras are non-invasive and sometimes record interesting behavioural data that we would otherwise have no access to. Volunteers will help setup cameras in the field (water points, cheetah marking trees, caves etc.), maintain them (refresh batteries and memory cards) but also go through the abundance of images to assess and structure the data recorded.

Hiking and Exploring
You will have the opportunity to enjoy a lot of hiking to explore this stunning area where you will get to learn about the native fauna and flora as a group.

Cheetah Feed
Kanaan is home to two rescued cheetahs from the Namibia Wildlife Sanctuary who are now the lucky residents of a 7 hectare enclosure on the red sand dunes. Volunteers will be involved in the food preparation, feeding and caring of these cheetahs, as well as enclosure cleanings on a regular basis. Caring for these two cheetahs has become a vital aspect of the program and seeing them up close is a truly inspiring opportunity that is not to be missed.

Maintenance and Security
Work on site does not end with science and research though. For the ecosystem to function adequately, several maintenance activities are compulsory, especially in very dry areas like Kanaan. It is important to conduct regular anti-poaching patrols and help with other security efforts as well as getting your hands dirty with other activities like fence removal and water hole maintenance.

Sunsets and Camp Outs
One of the must-do activities in the Namib Desert is the sun-downer. Enjoy the tranquillity and breath-taking scenery of the Namib when the sunsets and paints the desert in unimaginable colours. We will also be conducting night drives or sleep-outs as part of our security protocol, but also to observe some of the nocturnal desert wildlife. While your here, make sure you sit back and let your mind wander away from the buzz of civilisation – Kanaan is the ideal place for relaxation. The Namib night sky with its ever-prominent Milky Way is another highlight not to be missed.

Every Friday

After a hard days work, there is no better place for everyone to come together and talk about their day and share stories than outside around the large fire pit. Relax and unwind as you watch the sunset behind the mountains and sand dunes and then stare up to the clear night sky with the stars shinning so brightly!