Through its volunteer program, Cango Wildlife Ranch offers people of 18 and older from across the globe who are passionate about wild animals to experience all facets of wildlife in a zoological facility. The rewards, according to the co-ordinators of the volunteer program are two-fold; volunteers are given an experience of a lifetime to interact with 90 animal species and to contribute towards the conservation efforts of the ranch and its foundation.
Leopards, White Lions, Cheetah and a host of other endangered animals from Ring Tailed Lemurs to Pygmy Hippos and Cape Vultures are on the list of animals with which volunteers work on a daily basis. Andrew Eriksen pointed out that the volunteers are not only youngsters. "We have had retired people and even a grandfather who joined his granddaughter as a volunteer."
The volunteer program gives a wildlife opportunity during which volunteers gain practical experience in conservation and interaction with animals. The main aim of the volunteer program is to cultivate ambassadors for conservation who will go away with a better understanding of the problems faced by endangered species, as well as the work and challenges that conservation centres such as Cango Wildlife Ranch face daily.
Volunteers work side by side with the staff and are involved in every aspect of the ranch from cleaning to assisting with conservation projects and programs. Enrichment forms a very important part of their daily activities, which is where they assist the ranch in enhancing the quality of animal care by providing exciting environmental stimuli to ensure the overall well-being of our animals.
Since its inception in 2013, about 580 volunteers have been part of the volunteer program. There are 26 volunteers at the ranch at present and although the average time spent is about six weeks some volunteers choose to stay much longer. Apart from interacting with the animals and getting the day to day work done, volunteers are also crucial when it comes to working in the community.
Whenever there are initiatives which involve schools or youth groups the volunteers form part of the program. Cango Wildlife Ranch volunteers are often seen interacting with kids at nursery schools such as Vreugde Voetjies on the way to the caves as well as on projects where food, toys and clothes are collected and donated.
Being a volunteer is not all work and no play.
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