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Background
The African Reptile Park was established in 1984 by the present owner and manager, Donald, and has through the years proved itself as a centre for research, education and development. Donald is extremely well known and respected in his field and the Park is often the recipient of film crews and documentary makers, including Sir David Attenborough with the BBC!
The Park is situated in the Limpopo Province, 12km outside of Hoedspruit town, surrounded by nature reserves and has become a well-known South African landmark. The Park has a variety of animals on display that are both indigenous and exotic. These include snakes (such as Mambas, Pythons, Vipers and Cobras) crocodiles, leguaans, a variety of bird species, amphibians, scorpions, spiders, turtles, lizards and monkeys. The Park is open to the public and plays a very important educational role for all age groups.
It is a prime location for reptile-related research and conservation work. The area has a high concentration of snakes and therefore there is high frequency of interaction with people occurring.
During any year there are more than 200 “problem” animals being caught and rescued and then later released through the park.
Conservation by Education and Research
The policy of the park is to conserve by education and research and you will experience this during your placement. Education involves giving lectures to school groups, as well as groups of professionals and the general public. Many of the talks are conducted in the grounds of the park, but you may also visit various venues outside, for example: Schools, Game Lodges, Shopping Centres, Exhibitions, Conferences etc. These activities occur on a continual basis throughout the year.
A lot of time is given to dispelling the myths and legends surrounding snakes in the African culture. The curators of the Park make a point to spend time with visitors and also on field visits, talking to the people, with the view to enlighten them about these animals.
Rescues and Releases
Winning the local farming community over has also been an on going project; the general consensus being that if you see a snake, kill it. Now a service is offered, to anyone in the area with a snake, which they consider a problem. The snake will be captured and the animal released into a safe area away from harm. This is a free service, which is offered to the local community, and is also extended to other animals such as the Leguaan.
Research
Research at the Reptile Park involves venom research, milking, field studies and husbandry of reptiles from around the world.
The indigenous animals at the Reptile Park usually only pass through, as the rehabilitation programme does not allow for any “long term guests”. The ideal circumstance is for immediate release into the area of capture. If medication, or treatment, is necessary the animals are brought in to the centre and only released when in good health. All relevant information is logged into a comprehensive database that helps with the ongoing research.
The staff at the Reptile Park are extremely knowledgeable and passionate about the programme and their work. Thus, you will find yourself learning on a daily basis and share their enthusiasm for not just snakes, but large Baboon Spiders, Crocodiles, Flat Rock Scorpions, and many more. Caring for these species will become part of your daily activities too.
Your Typical Daily Activities
Your working day usually starts at 08h00 and ends at 17h00, and you will probably have to work on Saturdays too, as this is the busiest time with tourists.
The Reptile Park is very much a "hands on" project and days start with a general cleanup and maintenance of enclosures. You will assist with medicating animals and doing a daily assessment of each sick animal’s health status e.g. checking through faeces for parasites and abnormalities.
Many days at the park involve going out and capturing problem animals from surrounding farm and you will be asked to assist with some of these captures. You will help collect and record all relevant information from each animal before they are released into local nature reserves.
The Park is in the process of building new specialised enclosures that the volunteers will help construct and maintain, so this involves a bit of daily manual labour.
Volunteers will also:
- Attend a Reptile Orientation Course
- Perform necropsies: This involves dissecting any animal, which may have died without cause, to understand the reasons behind its death
- Showing groups around the park, or participating in educational demonstrations and talks
- Learn how to safely handle all types of snakes and reptiles
- Cleaning out all enclosures, such as snakes and crocodiles
- Helping to design and erect new enclosures for various animals
- Attend and help with feeding sessions, including snakes
- There are also many documentaries filmed at the park, so you could quite well find yourself assisting in some of these aspects
Volunteers enjoy a very active participation in the daily events at the park, with no two days ever being exactly the same.
Every step of the way, no matter what is happening, one of the curators will be with you, taking you through the events, filling you full of information and answering all questions.
Project Support
During your time at the project, you will have the full support of Neil, the Volunteer Coordinator, and Donald, together with all the staff at the Park. They will be on hand to guide you through the welcome orientation and settle you into the programme when you first arrive. If you have any questions, they will be able to help you.
Project Orientation
All Volunteer’s will be briefed on the rules and regulations of the Reptile Park during the orientation, including:
- General health and hygiene (i.e. no smoking around animals)
- Volunteer, Animal and Visitor’s safety (i.e. lock enclosures behind you)
- Dos and don’ts (i.e. no handling of animals without permission)
- Correct Handling of all animals
Accommodation and Meals
Donald the Volunteer Co-ordinator lives very close by, and if you prefer, you are able to stay in his large house. There is a plunge pool, where you can cool off after long hot summer days.
There is no email available at the Park, but this can be done in Hoedspruit town, where there are good Internet cafés. A public telephone is available for use at the Park and pre-paid telephone cards can be bought at the front office, or in town. Mobile phones work in most regions – local SIM cards and pay-as-you-go top-up facilities can be purchased in South Africa. The Park will only allow overseas telephone calls in the case of an emergency.
Upon arrival you will be taken to do your weekly food shopping. You prepare your own meals with other volunteers and are responsible for keeping the kitchen clean and tidy. There is also a small restaurant at the Reptile Park and a few nice pubs and restaurants in town to visit in the evenings. Meals at the restaurant, or outside the park are at your own expense.
The Volunteer’s will have daily opportunity to visit Hoedspruit to do their shopping or correspondence – no set times – you can accompany whoever is making a trip during the day.
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