Lion Ark Peru: Part 2.

Having arrived in the early evening in Lima, though unsure of what day I was experiencing due to scattered sleep breaks, transfers and travelling, I eventually found my way (with thanks to the driver) to the apartment. 

Views from my apartment

My first day in the rescue compound was surreal, and a very vague memory. 

Yet every day, though interesting, fascinating, funny, hard, hot and relentless was routine; uncover the animals; breakfast for the monkeys and coati's; clear out the bowls from the nocturnals; water the wildlife; clear out the straw from the lions; feed the lions; water the lions; LUNCH; enrichments; clean out cages; afternoon snacks for monkeys; dinner for the noc's; cover the monkeys and lions; uncover the noc's. All the while doing regular water checks for wildlife and lions. 

Going back the apartment had its own routine - dinner, shower (freezing!!), sleep. 

No-one really tells you about the repetitive routine that comes with caring for captive animals (which is why they're so much better off in the wild!!!).

The Lions

The compound was purgatory; these animals had been through hell. 

A number of lions had their teeth cut and their claws removed, covered in scars and others demonstrating stereotypies from their years in cages. Teeth cutting and claw pulling would not have been done by a registered and experienced vet, without anesthetic and without care. Some had been through courses of antibiotics and operations to rid them of a lifetime of infections. It's incomprehensible to think that people could commit such atrocities to such magnanimous earthlings.  

Their ages varied greatly too, the oldest I noticed was 17 years old, and the youngest - brother and sister - were around a year (with Scarc, the male, in his awkward teen stage as his mane was growing in! Adorable!). Whereas the youngest ones still found fun in the day with their families, others, like Leo paced. He wasn't pacing due to his current facilities, but from his previous 12 years of cages and a denial of being allowed to act as his wild born cousins would. 

I adored my time spent with the lions. Providing fresh water in the morning was brilliant, up close and personal as these beautiful animals lapped water from the watering can just like my dogs would at home. 

I will never get that close to a lion again for the rest of my life, but that is exactly how it should be.

Their thunderous chorus would tremble in the air. 

Some standing as they bellow; others lying on the floor whilst they take deep breaths - roaring starts in the stomach, working its way out. I stood, mesmerised by their captive valour.

Lunch was being prepared! 

From what I was told, we managed to feed 24 lions in 2.3 minutes!! 

With, what is potentially, the worlds only Vegan Butcher Team!! 

I couldn't possibly tell you about every waking moment but just some highlights -  playing the Running Game with Kala was amazing (and knackering!); watching the cubs run up the sides of their enclosures chasing each other like kittens; trying to get the water tray from Chino (who thought it better as a chew toy) so he could actually have a drink; watching Amazonas flirt horrendously with Rey and Smith; giving Leo a branch from a very fragrant tree and scratching his head with it - briefly stopping his pacing - fascinated by the smells and relief of a good head scratch, he brought a lump to my throat! 

Each and every one of them, providing all goes to plan, should be going to their forever homes by the end of April. Knowing that they have such incredible facilities and a dedicated team at The Wild Animal Sanctuary in Colorado; knowing that they'll have space and room to roam, to play and bask in the sun (and play in the snow!), to form new friendships and families, to never have to perform another trick for the rest of their lives is one of the greatest feelings. 

The Wild Animal Sanctuary is the closest thing that these beautiful lions will get to truly being wild, and bloody hell, they'll love it!!  

I am privileged to have met them, to have spent a ridiculously fast two weeks caring for them. I hope I get the opportunity in the future to go to Colorado to see them again. 

When you realise that you never really spend money, you spend the hours of your life someone thinks you're worth, you realise that your time - your hours - is worth so much more than they're willing to pay.

You will decide to spend those hours differently; whether its with family or friends, or volunteering or travelling. I cannot think of a better way to have spent 14 days. And I would easily have given more! 

Lion Ark Peru: Part 3 - Monkeys, Coatis and Chosnas (Oh My!) to follow...

Lion Ark Peru: Part 1.

I posted a while back about a wonderful film called Lion Ark, over on Whimsical. 

Unlike many animal documentaries, Lion Ark never made you feel guilty, or want to wallow in a pit of despair, unable to think of how we can resolve such an issue as captive wild animals performing humiliating circus tricks, to entertain a few kids in South America. Never. 

Lion Ark saw Animal Defenders International (ADI) rescue 25 lions - among many other species - in Bolivia, where they successfully got a ban on wild animals in circuses, and transporting them to their forever home in Colorado. 

After seeing Lion Ark and being truly moved by the incredible work done by this small British team and their overseas posts, I felt compelled to ask about voluntary work that I could do - be it research or data entry, so I could at least contribute what little I could, to an amazing organisation. 

The ADI team are amazing; 

just a quick look through their portfolio of work will show you how extraordinary they really are.

From watching this brilliant film in December, to emailing the team and a Skype chat later, I was invited to join the team working with the rescued lions and wildlife in Peru. 

Holy Smokes!! I had 5 weeks!! 

I must admit, my research project went slightly out the window for a short while; working with lions in Peru was a once in a lifetime opportunity for me and I couldn't pass it up. 

For the lions and wildlife, it's the next step in their journey - not that they're fully aware of the momentous task that lies ahead of the team! 

After a crazy day of work, presentations, packing and generally running round like a lunatic (trying to accomplish things whilst I did this, not literally just running around - I'm not that energetic!), I managed to drag myself out of bed - having slept a mere two hours - to make route to the airport. Despite a delay to fog, which seemed to have blanketed Europe, I boarded my 12 hour flight to Lima, from Amsterdam. 

I won't bore you with what 12 hours on a flight is like... well... grim, to be honest (particularly the bit where I fell briefly asleep, and the stewardess felt it unnecessary to wake me for food. Who needs to eat in a 12 hour period??!!).

One of my most favorite parts of travelling is when you first leave that air conditioned airport and breathe your first breath of that country. It can tell you everything. 

That wall of heat (I prefer hotter climes - why would I willingly travel to colder places than the UK??) that hits you, I sigh "I'm home!" - like a bloody good hug!! 

Grainy image of some very organised street lights going up a mountain, near the apartment

France à l'arrivée

Luckily it was only
for half an hour!

I arrive in Calais via the euro-tunnel, a surprisingly fast, convenient and only slightly nerve-wracking experience (for someone who has never used the service before and by themself!). I got onto a train 2 hours earlier than I had booked, with no extra charge, which was wonderful, as I was expecting to pay around £10.  

Upon arriving in Calais, I found my network provider had *poof* vanished, into thin air. Considering my phone (like many millions of other phone users), rely on their network providers not only for communication but as a satnav, I was quite at loss at what to do. I didn't have directions to the hotel as I assumed (as with my previous network), the service would continue through another provider. Alas, the lovely lady in the first petrol station out of the tunnel gave me directions to the general area of the hotel (as she wasn't too sure which one it was exactly). After only getting a little lost for a short while, I stumbled across the hotel. I requested a quiet room... I'm pretty sure I'm the youngest in this side of the hotel by a considerable number of years. But that's fine, youths (or yuv's) do my head in anyway!* 

Room with kind of a view.
You also have a lovely home, sir!

I immediately open the windows to my room, to let the stifling and still hot air out, just a stones throw from the beach and overlooking a mosaic of gardens. I hear the twittering of birds instantly and the sounds of lorries, trucks and revving engines slowly disappear.

I've come for nature, and nature pays me back tenfold.

*Retracting my statement about quiet old people, right load of noisy *****

France

...before I go

I mentioned in my last post, that I'm about to go volunteering in France. 

The placement came about through looking for volunteer placements that didn't cost too much, that had the combination of a holiday and working and was a new type of adventure. 

I found workaway; an organisation where you can search for a unpaid, voluntary work and contact a variety of hosts; this can be anything from conservation work to child minding to working in a hotel. 

This is by no means an endorsement of the company, and anyone interested must do their own research before commencing. 

I want adventure in the
great wide somewhere

I was quite keen to go to France; I've been once before, in my long-forgotten days of studying Art and Design, when we went to Paris to peruse the stunning Louvre and Rhodin galleries. I've always wanted to ramble through the French countryside and absorb the natural curiosities that it envelopes. It might have had something to do with Beauty and the Beast and their petites villes de province (small provincial towns). I've always wanted to road trip too. I love driving, it relaxes me and on a wide open country road, there's nothing more freeing! 

After plenty of scouring and some false starts, I emailed a family that sounded lovely with lots of land and work to be done. They asked if I could come to do some species identification and survey work, just so they knew what animals they had and how to find mega and mini beasties. In exchange for work, I am being fed and housed, which is brilliant; as most people know, money is mostly spent on accommodation and food when traveling. 

So I go, tomorrow. I start my epic (mini-epic - epic for me) road trip to France. I've very excited. I haven't quite packed just yet, and still have a million and one, normal everyday things to finish. I have gone much further than France but this is my first time driving abroad. As I mentioned earlier, I'm always looking for a new type of adventure; some trips are big and daunting, others can be something small but equally as rewarding. 

There are so many things that are baffling my brain about driving abroad, that go beyond just the wrong side of the road; making sure I have enough of and the right type of fuel... going the wrong way round on a roundabout... what do I do if I get a flat tyre... they're actually all basic worries, that when you're travelling in the UK (if this is where you normally drive!) you don't even think about. But the prospect that you have to navigate your way around this in another language, makes the whole thing ten times scarier! 

One thing I haven't addressed is that I'll be travelling by myself. 

This is not the first time I've traveled abroad as a single traveler. I've been called all sorts of names because I'll to go places by myself: brave, idiot, nutter, bonkers, fool, insane... mainly by family and friends. 

I got fed up of waiting for friends to go travel; travel somewhere further afield that the all-inclusive pool and bar. I enjoy being busy, investigating and going on an adventure. 

A sunbathing holiday is nothing less than the most incredibly boring thing you can possibly do (or at least, it is for me). 

I used to work with a couple who went to Cuba for their anniversary. I've seen so many National Geographic images of Cuba; their vintage cars and painted buildings, parties in the streets... it looks incredible, and is high on my list of places to visit. 

I asked if it looked as amazing as the photos I'd seen, if the cars are really 1950's American vintage, to which they replied "we didn't leave the resort". 

Such a wasted opportunity. 

So I have my survey equipment, including bat detector, pooter and quadrat and I'm eager for this little adventure...

I'm hoping, when possible, to keep you updated on our finds and sightings, and how you can conduct your own surveys in your gardens or by getting involved with local charities. 

Any questions about volunteering abroad, please contact me through the comments section! 

Volunteering: An Introduction

I've recently finished my degree in Wildlife Conservation, it was stressful and occasionally infuriating, but I loved it. Every minute. Apart from the minutes where I wanted to go Hulk on certain individuals for making the experience - and my life - an unnecessary nightmare. But this isn't the place for that!

It was volunteering that made me go back to school as a 'mature student'. By school, I mean college and university. Which I never thought I'd ever do.

Regardless of if you're after a career change or just want to try something different, volunteering is an amazing thing to do. 

What's more valuable than time? 

What's more rewarding than knowing you're helping a cause that means so much to you? 

There are so many places that need volunteers, whatever cause is closest to your heart, I guarantee, volunteering will add something to your life and something crucial to your chosen organisation. 

The latest Dementia Friends ad is so lovely. Something as simple as speaking to someone has a profound effect - it helps them socially, allows them to air their worries, stresses and helps develop friendships.

I volunteer with my local RSPB group; I started in 2011, when they opened their new reserve (which is stunning, by the way!) and even though I could never help as much or as often as I wanted (due to uni and working) every time I could volunteer, it was always a warm welcome, carrying on as though I had never left. 

The staff and volunteers have always been amazing; you meet new people, share stories, work as a team - you are valued beyond belief. 

More than any paid employment can be - where you're just a number and are easily replaceable. 

In exchange, I've had some fantastic experiences; helping RSPB and Wirral Country Park rangers with a 'Tea at Hilbre' event (Hilbre is a stunning little island off the coast of the Wirral, with birds, seals and dolphins - dolphins aren't always guaranteed), venturing out with Mersey Ferries for some seabirding (that might be a word) and high tide at Parkgate (which is quite an event!). Sometimes I think I've got more back than what I've given! 

I first volunteered for a local AmDram society, helping on productions of Terry Pratchett's Wryd Sisters and Calamity Jane. It was awesome, at the time I was still interior designing and wanted to move into stage and set design (some long-forgotten pastlife, though occasionally getting the urge to redecorate). 

You don't have to volunteer for a charity, if that doesn't float your boat. You can volunteer for you local council run woodland rangers, at a school or hospital, amateur dramatics or football team. 

My bad?

The volunteering event that got me on the track to exploring nature and wildlife? 

A volunteer trip to Thailand - working with elephants. I did it as an 'experience' trip. I love elephants. Anyone who knows me, knows that. Always have. I blame Babar. 

It was incredible. Actually getting up close to an elephant was a life changer...I probably should have seen that coming.

But I'll waffle on about this and my other volunteer experiences another time; I will  also discuss voluntourism (volunteer-tourism) projects and the good and bad ones too - what you should look out for, really. 

This was just an introduction to volunteering; whether you volunteer abroad once, to help out a family or an organisation or you'd rather volunteer on a more regular basis locally, I promise you, you won't regret it! 

Volunteering has taken me to Thailand, Indonesia and Sri Lanka. 

My next volunteer project is with a family in France. I hope to be blogging about my experiences whilst I'm out there.

And, in the end, the love you take, is equal to the love you make 

(The End, The Beatles)