--------- Here I will be posting weekly updates from The Global White Lion Protection Trust in South Africa---------
Will include: new skills i have learnt and experiences i have had: personal accounts of the Reintroduction Programme: photos of the people and animals of South Africa: etc.
Sunday, 16 March 2008
Friday, 7 March 2008
Internship with the Global White Lion Protection Trust
Hi everyone, most of you know me and some of you dont, for those that dont, those that do would tell you that big cats have been my life since i was a little girl!Over the last 7 years (wow, has it really been that long??!!!) i have dedicated my life to learning about and getting experience with big cats! in this time i have undertaken a foundation degree in Zoological Conservation, a Btec in Tropical Habitat Management, 3 months Phase One Tropical Habitat Survey, a course in captive feline husbandry, 4 years of ex-situ wild feline husbandry experience and a position of Volunteer Co-ordinator for an exotic animal sanctuary! Currently I’m a Conservation Biology and Ecology Undergraduate at Exeter University.
I hope to apply the theory of conservation which has been imparted to me in my current degree, and all these years of experience to a very worhty cause; PROTECTING THE WHITE LIONS OF TIMBAVATI FROM THE CRUEL WORLD OF CANNED HUNTING AND REINTRODUCING THEM TO THEIR ENDEMIC BIRTHPALCE, TIMBAVATI.
I am honoured to have been offered an internship this summer with the Global White Lion Protection Trust in South Africa, they are an amazing, non-profit organization (check out the link ) and although they have only been established since 2002 they have already achieved so much!Not only the worlds-first reintroduction of White Lions back to their home land but also a community craft project and prehaps most importantly engaging South African government in talks regarding moratorium on canned hunting and new legislation. With every new person that becomes aware of the horrors of the canned hunting industry thats one more person that can voice their outrage ,together we can make changes! During the one month internship I will be trained as an active member of the scientific monitoring and research team, headed by Lion Ecologist Jason Turner Msc. I will gain hands-on experience within a unique reintroduction project, whilst contributing to the long term conservation of the White Lions and their habitat through educational outreach, habitat management, anti-poaching patrols and data collection through lion monitoring and tracking.
This kind of oppourtunity does not befall everyone and i am so excited for this expereince! It is what i want to do with my life; research cats in the wild and work with a reintroduction programme. I aim to make such a valuable contribution to the project that a job offer may entail in the future. I thank you for taking the time to read this and for your interest in the most endangered cat in the world, (300 alive,in the world and only 4 not in captivity!).
I hope you find both the Global White Lion Protection Trust and also my own personal cause worthy of support. The internship is due to cost me in total: £2000 /U.S $4000 and as a full time student this kind of money is not found easily! If you feel you are able to donate (please see the pay-pal link below) then i cant tell you how gratefull I am!!
In return if you are a buisness and would like some free advertising I would be more than happy to provide links from this blog to your buisness, and also mention your support in any future press articles that I am hoping to use to raise awareness. thank you again for your time,
for the cats-
NIKKI WILKINSON BSc.Hons.
Wednesday, 20 February 2008
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