Volunteer Abroad Slovakia: Wolf and Lynx Research

If you want to join this project, you need to be at least 18 years old and have solid communication skills in the English language. It is important that you are physically fit and able to walk 10-20 km per day in hilly to mountainous terrain with snow cover. This is why we ask you to hand in a medical questionnaire, signed by your doctor, confirming that you are healthy and fit. Most of the terrain is gentle to moderately difficult, although some places may be characterised by deep snow, steep slopes, uneven ground or fallen trees to negotiate.

Furthermore, you need to be passionate about nature and wildlife, willing to learn and work, be a team player, open-minded and flexible. Please note: Depending on which country you come from you may need a visa for your time in the project. To make sure you are provided with accurate and current information, please contact the foreign department of your country. Last but not least, obtaining travel health insurance is also obligatory before departure to Slovakia.

At Natucate, we will arrange your placement in the volunteer project and provide you with comprehensive support during your travel preparations. Our team is always happy to answer your questions, advise you on the choice of travel insurance and help you book your flights. Furthermore, we provide you with a pre-departure information pack and will be available 24/7 during your time in the project.
On site, the programme fee includes transfer from Bratislava main station to the project site and back, daily meals (incl. drinking water, tea, coffee, juice) and accommodation during the project period, training on-site, project-related equipment and project-related transfers. The programme fee does not include flights, visa fees, travel insurance costs, airport transfer to/from Bratislava main station, additional drinks and snacks and other personal expenses (e.g. souvenirs, calling card, individual trips/transfers etc.).

Depending on where you come from, you do not need to take care of any special vaccinations in advance. In general, however, it is advisable to get the following vaccinations before travelling to another country: hepatitis A, hepatitis B, polio, meningitis, measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis), rabies, chickenpox and shingles. More information/advice can be found, for example, on the pages of the CDC.

We also recommend taking your own personal first aid kit with you. This should include items like plasters, antihistamines, electrolytes, diarrhea medication and pain killers. In addition, you should not forget to take sufficient amounts of medication with you that must take on a regular or even daily basis. Before starting your journey to Slovakia, please make sure to talk to your doctor about possible risks and recommended vaccinations. Authorities such as the foreign office of your country may also provide you with comprehensive travel and safety information. Obtaining travel health insurance is obligatory for all volunteers.

Please bring waterproof hiking boots, warm clothes, wet weather gear (rain jacket, pants), gloves, a hat and a scarf with you. Don’t forget sunglasses with UV protection, sunscreen, a refillable water bottle, a thermos flask, a lunch box and a day pack. A pocket knife, a headlamp, a wash kit, a small first aid kit, an alarm clock and, if necessary, an adapter should not be missing in your luggage, either. Last but not least, we suggest packing skiing goggles and balaclava, your smartphone, binoculars and swimming gear. You will receive a detailed packing list before your departure.

You can participate in the project for three weeks.

You need to arrive in Slovakia’s capitol of Bratislava. You and your team meet in the entrance hall of Bratislava main station at 11:30 AM on the day the project starts. Afterwards, all of you will take the 12:13 PM train to Liptovský Mikuláš where you will arrive approx. 3 ½ hours later. If you arrive at Bratislava Airport, you need to make your way to the main train station. Instructions will be given to you. Depending where you come from you may need to arrive one day earlier and spend one night in the city to be in good time for the pick-up at 11:30 AM.

On the last day of the project your team will travel back to Bratislava main station together, where you will arrive at around 02:00 PM.

During the first two days after your arrival, the project scientist – your team leader – will prepare you and your group for your fieldwork tasks. He will explain the research methods and goals to you and make you familiar with safety, equipment, research, your role and the project area. Both theory and practice sessions will teach you how to identify and interpret animal tracks, how to conduct survey work and how to use equipment and tools such as GPS, map and compass.

A typical volunteer day looks like this:

• Morning: Buffet breakfast in the volunteer house, transfer to the start of the assigned route or “transect” (some routes begin from base, others from another starting point)

• Late morning until midday: Following the assigned route on foot or snow shoes, recording tracks or signs of wolves, lynx, etc. using a handheld GPS, digital camera and datasheet or following wolf and lynx tracks, mapping their territories, searching for feeding or territorial signs and collecting samples for later analysis

• Midday: Lunch out in the field

• Afternoon: Continuing research along the assigned route to the designated pick-up point

• Evening: Data entry, photo and GPS data upload, group discussion, dinner, leisure time

Activities will usually be decided each evening on the basis of the day’s findings and confirmed in the morning, according to the weather conditions. Each day, the team will divide into groups of two to four people and each group will be assigned a route to cover. There is some flexibility in the programme which allows us to assign you to tasks taking account of your skills, ability, confidence and preference.

Main volunteer tasks include:

• tracking wolves and lynx
• recording wildlife tracks or signs using a handheld GPS, digital camera and datasheet
• installing, checking and evaluating camera traps
• collecting samples for DNA and dietary analyses
• data storage
• discussing findings with the team

There are usually a total of between 10 and 18 people in a team, of whom usually 3 to 5 are staff. For daily fieldwork the team is split into subgroups of 2 to 3.

Volunteers will stay at the edge of Nízke Tatry National Park in a family-run guesthouse providing comfortable accommodation with modern amenities. Two, three or four volunteers share a bedroom and use shared bathrooms. There is also a dining room and lounge. Electricity in the house is 220–230 V, 50 Hz, with plug types C and E.

You will receive three meals per day – breakfast, packed lunch and dinner. Drinking water, coffee, tea and juices are available throughout the day. For any other drinks or snacks, please bring / purchase your own.

Yes, vegetarians can be catered for. We ask you to let us know about any special dietary requirements in advance so the team on site has enough time for arrangements.

Each day will be filled with essential conservation activities. However, in the evening you will have time for your own activities. We recommend packing some recreational items to enjoy your leisure time.

For leisure time in the evening you should pack some books, card/board games or music. During the week there will be a chance to relax and regenerate with an optional trip to a nearby spa/swimming pool.

Yes, in case of questions or concerns you will always be able to talk to your supervisors who assist and instruct you. Furthermore, you can always contact the team at Natucate 24/7.

Slovakia’s official currency is the Euro. In the project area itself there won’t be a lot of opportunities to spend money except for some occasional stops for personal shopping after fieldwork (e.g. extra drinks or snacks, souvenirs or gifts). There is also the opportunity to go to a spa/swimming pool during the week. If you do not come from a Euro-country, please make sure to exchange your currency into euros before the pick up in Bratislava. The easiest way is to bring along a credit card and to withdraw money from an ATM at the airport or at the train station.

There is no wifi in the guesthouse, but good mobile coverage in most of the project area – except some remote spots like deep valleys. We recommend buying a Slovakian SIM card after your arrival in Bratislava so you can contact friends and family at home. If you come from a EU country you can also activate international roaming so pretty much no additional fees for contacting your home country apply. We strongly advise to contact your mobile phone provider to make sure these conditions also apply to you.

Project work always takes place in Slovakian winter. In a typical winter, temperatures rarely rise above 5°C in January and early February. Typical temperatures during fieldwork are normally between 0°C and -10°C. Snowfalls tend to be interspersed with cold, dry and sunny days, although some winters are more mild and bring some rain.

A moderate consumption of alcohol after field work is allowed. You will not be allowed to be under the influence of alcohol or any other drugs during working hours, though – failure to comply with this rule will result in immediate termination of participation in the project, without any refund of costs.

Each volunteer group will carry a basic first aid kit in the field. A comprehensive medical kit will be available at base, the volunteer house. In the unlikely event of an emergency, there is a network of mountain rescue stations and helicopters. The nearest hospital is in Liptovský Mikuláš, approx. 12 km from the accommodation base. Our partner has set up strict field safety procedures which you will be familiarised with in the beginning of your stay.

If friends or family need to contact you due to an emergency situation, they should get into touch with Natucate directly. We will then reach out to our partner immediately.