Making a difference to wild elephants in Sri Lanka

We discuss the importance of the volunteer project with the Elephant and Wildlife Conservation charity team in Sri Lanka: 

“When people ask what keeps the charity moving forward after nearly three decades, we always mention our team in the field, the communities we work with, the organizations that have supported us, and—just as importantly—our volunteers.

Our volunteering program isn’t an add-on or a side activity. It’s part of the lifeblood of the Elephant and Wildlife Conservation project in Sri Lanka. Every volunteer who joins the team brings not just an extra set of hands but fresh energy, skills, and perspectives that enrich their work.

When you volunteer with us, you’re not here to watch from the sidelines. You’re working alongside our researchers, conservation officers, and community partners. One day, you might be helping track elephants through the forest, recording their movements for our elephant ethogram project. The next day, you could be teaching in a village school, helping children understand why elephants raid crops and how we can reduce those conflicts.

Volunteers contribute directly to the data that shapes our projects. They help maintain field equipment, support our biodiversity surveys, and assist in community outreach. Every task, no matter how small it may seem, feeds into a bigger picture—protecting Sri Lanka’s wildlife while improving the lives of people who live alongside it.

What is unique about the program is that it’s not one-way. Yes, volunteers give their time and resources, but they also gain something equally valuable: a deep, firsthand understanding of the challenges and complexities of conservation in a developing country.

They see the realities we face—nights when elephants are in the fields and we have to respond quickly, mornings spent repairing an electric fence after a large crop-raiding bull had pushed through, and long, thoughtful conversations with farmers about their losses and fears. These experiences stay with volunteers long after they’ve left Sri Lanka, shaping how they see wildlife, conservation, and even the choices they make back home.

Over 3,600 volunteers have joined us over the last 30 years. Our volunteers come from all over the world, and in many ways, they are ambassadors for Sri Lanka’s wildlife. When they return home, they carry our stories with them—stories of elephants walking through the mist at dawn, of farmers protecting their crops without harming the animals, of communities learning to see wildlife not as enemies, but as part of their shared environment.

Many go on to become lifelong advocates for conservation. Some even return to visit us again, bringing new skills and knowledge to our projects. 

In conservation, resources are always limited, and the challenges are immense. Our volunteering program expands our capacity, connects us to the global community, and keeps our mission vibrant and dynamic.

But beyond that, it builds something harder to measure: a network of people who care deeply about coexistence between humans and wildlife. Each volunteer becomes part of our extended family, linked by a shared experience of working in the heart of Sri Lanka’s wilderness.

We’ve seen volunteers leave herewith tears in their eyes—not because they’re sad, but because they’ve been changed by what they’ve seen and done. That, to us, is the power of our volunteer project. It doesn’t just make a difference for our conservation charity—it makes a difference in the world.

Step into the heart of Sri Lanka’s wilderness and join a movement where your actions matter. As a volunteer, you’re not just visiting—you’re helping to solve some of the planet’s most urgent conservation challenges. From tracking wild elephants to restoring habitats and supporting local communities, every moment in the field leaves a lasting impact.

This isn’t ordinary travel. It’s purposeful, hands-on, immersive and enriching—an opportunity to protect endangered wildlife, foster coexistence, and shape a future where nature and people thrive together.”

Are you interested in joining the team in tropical Sri Lanka —tracking elephants, restoring habitats, and learning about conservation? Find out how you can join the Elephant and Wildlife Conservation team in Sri Lanka here: www.podvolunteer.org/projects/elephant-wildlife-conservation-sri-lanka