Phinda Wildlife Research Project

Experience wildlife management behind the scenes

As a conservation volunteer at Phinda, you’ll experience life behind the scenes on one of the largest private reserves in South Africa and get closer to the wildlife than you ever could as a tourist.

Protect one of Africa’s largest rhino populations

Assist in managing this critical rhino population through daily monitoring and periodic horn trimming, in order to deter poachers.

Supported by the WWF

By working with the wildlife in Phinda, you’ll support major international conservation organisations.

Owned by the Zulu community

Most of the Phinda reserve is owned by the local community so your placement will help to support this unique initiative.

Work side-by-side with experts

You'll play a valuable role and work with a team of dedicated conservation professionals who support the research department at Phinda.

Great cheetah viewing

Due to its growing cheetah population, Phinda plays a pivotal role in cheetah conservation throughout the whole of southern Africa.

Biodiversity hotspot

The Phinda reserve is situated within one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots known as the Maputaland Centre of Endemism.

As a volunteer on our Phinda Wildlife Research Experience, there’s always something to do. Your role will be varied and hands-on. Depending on the animals being managed and researched, you’ll be involved in the following activities:

Wildlife research

To maintain the perfect balance of species within the reserve, Phinda’s conservationists keep a close watch on population numbers.

• Record wildlife sightings and map their movements to build up a detailed database of animals’ territories
• Use VHF technology (telemetry) to track the movements of collared wildlife such as elephants and pangolins
• Monitor priority species such as black and white rhino, elephants, cheetahs and lions, to help protect them from threats such as poaching and wildlife diseases
• Study the behaviour and population dynamics of animals such as elephants and predators
• Assist the research team to determine prey utilisation by lions, leopards and cheetahs
• Assist the research team with game drive counts to determine general population numbers of animals such as giraffe, zebra and wildebeest
• Assist the research team with recording the activity of priority bird species such as the southern banded-snake eagle
• Assist the research team with bi-annual camera trap surveys to monitor elusive species such as leopard, hyena and serval

Wildlife management

Careful management of the wildlife is vital to Phinda’s conservation success.

• Help with rhino immobilisations and the notching of rhino ears, enabling researchers to identify, monitor and protect individual animals
• Assist with humane rhino horn trimming, an effective anti-poaching strategy
• Learn about the use of contraceptive programmes to effectively manage the populations of elephants and predators
• Learn about the use of vaccines to assist with the management of wildlife diseases that predators may be exposed to
• Manage and preserve wildlife habitats to ensure a sufficient supply of resources such as food and water

Community support

As Phinda is mostly owned by the community and is a major employer in the area, you’ll play a vital role in supporting the local people.

As well as gaining hands-on experience, you’ll also learn about the conservation, ecology, biology and behaviour of Phinda’s wildlife.

Conservation

• Priority species monitoring and building ID kits
• Anti-poaching methods in the field and relocation programmes
• Metapopulation management (introductions and translocations) of species, for example rhino, cheetah and lion
• Wildlife relocation programmes – including the WWF’s Black Rhino Range Expansion Project and lion relocation to Rwanda

Ecology

• The natural environment of the Big 5 and other African species
• The role of different species in the ecosystem
• The impact of population growth or decline of certain species, such as lions and elephants, on the ecosystem as a whole
• Interesting smaller ecosystems on the Phinda reserve, including a unique sand forest

Biology

• The physiology and natural diets of the Big 5 and other African species
• Native African plants, reptiles, amphibians and birds

Behaviour

• The relationship between predator and prey species
• Behaviour of animal groups, such as the social structure in a pride of lions and herds of elephants
• Predator hunting behaviour and the differences between social predators such as lions and hyena, compared with solitary predators such as leopards and cheetah
• Mating and breeding behaviour of Big 5 and other African species
• The movement of herd species such as elephant, buffalo and antelope