N/A’AN KU SÊ’S CARNIVORE CONSERVATION RESEARCH VOLUNTEER PROGRAMME - SOLITAIRE Our aim is to provide you with the wonderful opportunity of experiencing African wilderness whilst contributing to big cat conservation. Our volunteers are key to the success of this special place. All the money raised through our volunteering programme goes directly back into the project which ensures the rescue, survival and rehabilitation of orphaned and injured African wildlife and provides employment, healthcare, education and accommodation to the local Bushman community. Namibia truly is a wonderful country to experience, the scenery is spectacular and you will work with our friendly and dedicated team. If you come prepared to learn and to give your best you will be rewarded with a fantastic experience and wonderful memories to take home. We do hope you will come and join us! DR RUDIE AND MARLICE VAN VUUREN OWNERS, N/A’AN KU SÊ FOUNDATION CARNIVORE CONSERVATION VOLUNTEER This 10 day programme offers a unique opportunity to play a hands on part in the conservation of wild cheetah, enabling you to work up close with these incredible animals and contribute towards their welfare. N/a‘an ku sê plays a vital role in rescuing and releasing threatened cats in Namibia to help reduce human- wildlife conflict. The overriding aim of our study is to alleviate existing human-wildlife conflicts using new approaches and assess whether translocations of cheetah and leopard are a viable long-term option for dealing with so-called ‘problem animals’. Since our programme began in 2008 we have rescued and released 41 cheetahs, 20 leopards and 3 brown hyena. We have 4 release sites: NamibRand Nature Reserve, Sandfontein Nature Reserve, Solitaire and our Windhoek study site. Our new research base in the stunning area of Solitaire hosts a 500 hectare soft release boma for cheetahs. Only large carnivores who have been held in captivity for long periods of time, or who have been rehabilitated from ill health, undergo a soft release rather than a hard release back into the wild. Cheetahs stay in this soft release site in order to acclimatise to the area and learn how to fend for themselves once again. The duration of their stay depends on how successfully the cat adapts to their new environment but can be between 6- 12 months. You can also combine your 10 day programme in Solitaire with an additional stay at N/a’an ku sê Wildlife Sanctuary and Windhoek Research Study Site, which you can do before or after your Solitaire trip. SOLITAIRE RESEARCH BASE AND ACTIVITIES Situated at the edge of the Namib Desert, Solitaire is a small settlement in the Khomas region of central Namibia near the Namib Naukluft National Park. The surrounding area is sparsely populated and is a common stop-over for tourists travelling between Soussevlei and NamibRand and Windhoek or Walvis Bay. The area consists of open grass plains, speckled with camel thorn trees and other mature trees, rough mountain ranges with stunning mountain features and dry riverbeds. Here, the N/a’an ku sê Research team re-introduce previously captive-held cheetah into a soft-release camp and monitor their adaptation to the environment. In addition to the daily maintenance of the cheetahs (feeding and enclosure maintenance), we carry out research into the resident free-ranging large carnivores in the area to provide sound scientific data on the densities, home ranges and territories of cheetah in the Solitaire area. Research on site may include: • Enclosure patrol of 500 hectare boma • Camp maintenance • VHF tracking of cheetahs in soft release camp • Feeding and observations of carnivores in soft release camp • Game census • Research into resident free-ranging large carnivores • Capture and collaring of resident free-ranging wild cheetah • VHF and GPS tracking of wild cheetahs • Camera trap setting and collecting • Data entry and analysis A TYPICAL DAY AT SOLITAIRE On most days volunteers will get up at dawn for a quick breakfast; to increase the chance of observing the carnivores in the field it is crucial to get started as early as possible. Based on the carnivores’ movements, the specific monitoring needs and prevailing weather conditions, a decision will be made as to which cheetahs will be tracked during the day. Volunteers will spend time at the soft release camp, ensuring the fencing is in tact and feeding the resident cheetahs. Lunch may be taken in the field (sandwiches) or depending on the day’s events the group may return to base around noon for cooking. Field work is resumed in the afternoons and then the group returns to the base in the late afternoon/early evening for cooking, resting and showering. On request we can also arrange a day trip to the incredible red sand dunes of Sossusvlei for just N$500. A stunning pan in the Namib Desert, this is one of the world’s most spectacular sights and an opportunity not to be missed. OPTIONAL STAY AT N/A’AN KU SÊ WILDLIFE SANCTUARY AND WINDHOEK STUDY SITE The Windhoek study area comprises of a total of 17,700ha of free-hold farmland, including 14,500ha of commercial farmland as well as 3,200ha of private conservation land (N/a’an ku sê). The area is a natural savannah paradise with riverine vegetation, lush grass plains and magnificent mountain views. There is a large variety of wildlife freely roaming including leopard, cheetah, brown hyena, game (kudu, oryx, hartebeest), warthog, porcupine, jackal, wild baboon, vultures and various other bird species. Here, the N/a’an ku sê research team aims to provide sound scientific data on the densities, home ranges and territories of cheetahs, leopards and hyenas. The programme works with the farmers to assess their problems and provides assistance with regard to livestock/carnivore management practices to mitigate human-wildlife and livestock-carnivore conflicts for the benefit of all. The study site has a core area of about 250 km² where most research activities such as capture, mark and release, telemetry, spoor tracking and counting prey animals take place. A TYPICAL DAY AT N/A’AN KU SÊ WILDLIFE SANCTUARY Volunteers head out at 8am to the study area for their morning activities led by the project coordinator. Regular activities include game counts, camera trap setting and collecting, footprint collecting, spoor counts, box trap checking, waterhole observations, radio-telemetry tracking of collared animals and search for cheetah marking trees. You may also join in with the Wildlife Volunteers, feeding the large carnivores and farmyard animals at the Sanctuary and enjoying walks with the baboons, caracals or spending time with our Wild Dogs. After a 10.30 tea break, activities resume at 11am, continuing those listed above. You have free time during lunch, which is served between 1-2.30pm. The working day finishes around 5.30 with a hot cooked dinner and volunteers have their own free time in the evenings, as well as all day Sundays. EXAMPLE ACTIVITIES ON BOTH SITES CARNIVORE REHABILITATION & MONITORING: Volunteers will be introduced to the various techniques for VHF and GPS based carnivore tracking and the use of equipment like receivers, antennas, GPS devices etc. The aim is to collect data to assess the density, home ranges and movement patterns of large cats in the area, gain a better understanding of the animals’ ecology and to evaluate whether cheetah can be re-released successfully into conservation areas to which they were formerly indigenous. Field monitoring can be a strenuous activity, including long hours of walking and climbing and observing, but it is extremely important to the success of this programme. Volunteers will experience magnificent vistas and a diverse array of unique landscapes as they track the cats across their local habitats. GAME COUNT: The conservation research team carries out regular game censuses recording the numbers, age, sex and group compositions of local mammals. The information gathered from this data will help the research team understand on which prey base and in which carrying capacity the large carnivores subsist. Volunteers enjoy their role as spotters and recorders during these scientific game drives as they are exposed to the diversity of environments whilst collecting crucial information. FEEDING AND OBSERVATIONS: Feeding time is an important part of the daily activities. Volunteers will use VHF telemetry tracking to locate the carnivores within the 500 hectare camp and throw prepared meat for the large cats (this will be in addition to small free-roaming game for them to hunt in their enclosure). During this time, the animals’ behaviour is observed and documented to help establish trends and patterns in their acclimatisation. Here, volunteers will play a crucial role in helping identify the cheetahs’ progress and suitability for full re-release. ENCLOSURE PATROL: The large cheetah enclosure must be checked on a daily basis for holes and electricity levels. Volunteers and our research staff are responsible for the safety of the cheetahs and so must carry out any fixing of the fences required. During the patrol around the 500 hectare camp, volunteers will be looking out for identifiable footprints around the outside of the camp, particularly those of wild carnivores. Footprint identification will be recorded and documented in a database to confirm population estimates and dynamics. Very detailed cheetah tracks will be photographed and processed for use in the development of footprint ID software for the species. SIGHTINGS DATABASE: During the daily activities, volunteers will encounter other species of flora and fauna which carry ecological importance. Detailed observations will mainly be made on rare and unknown species, raptors (birds of prey) and carnivores. However, records may include anything from mammals, birds, reptiles, invertebrates, plants to footprints.