November sees the beautiful expanses of Malawi's wild landscapes regularly mystified by torrential downpours, as the rainy season draws in. But it is not just dodging the constant showers that staff at the Lilongwe Wildlife Sanctuary have to worry about this month. With the rains, comes prime 'orphan season' for the region's many species of wildlife and, in turn, a lot of new arrivals through the sanctuary's door.
Lilongwe Wildlife Centre is an award winning sanctuary for orphaned and injured animals right in the centre of Malawi's capital. Malawi is consistently voted as one of the friendliest nations in the world, and this is certainly tangible as the sanctuary's staff work tirelessly to give rescued animals the best care and rehabilitation they possibly can. Not only is this Malawi's only wildlife sanctuary, but it is the first 'people and wildlife' centre in the world, accredited by the Born Free Foundation, a charity centred on releasing and relocating rescued animals back into the wild.
Not only does this fantastic centre care for orphaned wildlife, it also supports initiatives aimed at improving life for local communities. Amongst such initiatives are the Malambe Juice Co-operative and the Adult Literacy programme, both of which have helped countless individuals to make a sustainable living which supports their families.
This project is a unique opportunity for volunteers and there are a number of projects to get involved in. The partner project in Kuti Wildlife Reserve, is a chance for volunteers to support a more rural project, working with both wildlife and local communities. The reserve's game count is always on the rise, and in April 2013 their game counters found 52 Zebra, 33 Sable, 16 Warthog, 2 Bush pig, 7 Reedbuck, 1 Serval, 29 Bushbuck, 21 Duiker, 12 Wildebeest, 21 Kudu, 38 Waterbuck, 22 Nyala, 27 Impala and 2 Giraffe within the reserve's boundaries. With the continued support of volunteers, these numbers will hopefully continue to increase, with many of the sanctuary's current occupants joining them,
The influx of orphans that is set to increase in the next few months, combined with a new lion-integration project and planned primate-release programme means that the sanctuary is more in need than ever of volunteer help. To get involved and help with the increased amount of animal conservation work, or for further details, please contact us via email (info@thegreatprojects,com) or via phone (+44 (0) 208 885 4987). Alternatively, you can have a look on the Lilongwe Wildlife Centre project page, found here.
