Harnas wildlife sanctuary volunteering, Namibia

Planet

The word 'Harnas' translates to armour or protective shield, which is the perfect name for a sanctuary that protects the lives of conflict animals and the Ancient San way of life.

The animals at the sanctuary usually arrive in 1 of 4 ways; they may have an injury, were orphaned, have come into conflict with humans, or were raised as pets and need an alternative and more natural home. Harnas sanctuary aims to release all animals successfully rehabilitated to survive on their own. Wildlife such as cheetahs, lions and wild dogs have all been released previously after following the stages of rehabilitation. First and foremost, the animals need to express and sometimes relearn natural, wild behaviours, which the sanctuary tries to encourage through enrichment.

For those sadly too habituated or injured to be released, the sanctuary intends to provide safe, natural environments that imitate life in the wild. Unfortunately, due to human involvement, there is a large number of animals that are not suitable for release. For instance, many baby baboons need to be hand-raised and become reliant on humans. When an animal is no longer wary of humans, they lose a protective element that stops them from running into further human-wildlife conflict.

Volunteers are crucial to the sanctuary running smoothly. Due to volunteers' help, the sanctuary is able to seamlessly care for over 300 animals and can continue to focus its attention on new rescues, ongoing rehabilitation and educating local communities on how to co-exist peacefully with wildlife.

People

Harnas has a large San Bushmen community, some of which have lived on the reserve for over 50 years. It is the ambition of the team at the Harnas Wildlife Sanctuary to empower the San people who work with them, protecting and celebrating their ancient traditions in an ever-modernising world that could otherwise be lost.

The sanctuary is dedicated to providing vital healthcare and food through the nearby Lifeline Clinic, alongside education and job opportunities to members of the local community. The interactions between volunteers and the surrounding communities help to build a positive relationship between the project and the locals through multiple initiatives including providing daily meals and education facilities. Farmers and other community members who once felt tensions around wildlife, which have previously resulted in conflict, now confide in the sanctuary, resulting in safe relocations of animals and less conflict overall, making the project work a 'win-win' for everyone involved.