Watching wildlife abroad

What are dolphins?

• Dolphins, they swim in the water, but they are not fish! Dolphins are marine mammals that belong to the same group as whales.
• Dolphins can live almost as long as humans, they live between 55 and 60 years.
• The dolphins in the sea are the most well-known, but there are also four species of dolphins living in fresh water.
• They are highly intelligent animals. Like elephants, dolphins can form strong bonds and feel sadness. They are also among the few animals that have passed the mirror test (recognizing themselves in a mirror).
• Not only do dolphins help members of their group when they have problems or are injured, there are also known cases where dolphins helped other animals and even people.
• Dolphin populations are also threatened by human influences all over the world. The biggest problems are that they end up as bycatch in fishing nets and pollution of their habitats.

Where to see dolphins in the wild abroad?

• You can see dolphins in so many places all over the world. Make sure you go on an animal-friendly tour that follows clear guidelines. Here are some well-known places:
  • Australia: including Daintree in Queensland and Monkey Mia in Western Australia
  • Canada: Vancouver Island
  • Ecuador: Galapagos Islands and Isla de la Plata
  • Egypt: Marsa Alam
  • Indonesia: Bali
  • Mozambique: Inhaca, Pemba or Bazaruto
  • New Zealand: including Kaikoura
  • Portugal: Azores and Madeira
  • Norway: Lofoten and Vesterålen
  • Seychelles
  • Spain: Tenerife
  • Sri Lanka: Kalpitiya
  • USA: Hawaii, San Juan Islands (Washington)
  • South Africa: including Durban
  • Freshwater dolphins can be found in the Amazon and Orinoco rivers in South America and in the Ganges, Indus and Irrawaddy river systems.

Where is the best place to swim with dolphins abroad?

• Australia: Bunburry and Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia Monkey Mia
• Bahamas
• Brazil: Fernando De Noronha
• Curacao
• Ecuador: Galapagos Islands
• Egypt: Marsa Alam
• Indonesia: Bali and Raja Ampat
• Mexico: Socorro Island
• New Zealand: Kaikoura
• USA: Hawaii (Kona)

Are dolphins dangerous?

• Dolphins are usually not dangerous, unless you disrespect the space and behavior of the wild animal.
• In that case, dolphins can be a danger. Dolphins are very smart, strong and are quite similar to humans in terms of social behavior. There are even indications that dolphins can commit murder (and not for food, or to defend themselves).
• Fortunately, this does not seem to be aimed at humans. Collisions between humans and wild dolphins certainly do occur, but are usually not that serious. There have been cases of broken ribs and bites by dolphins, among other things.

What are the most dangerous species of dolphins and why?

• Orcas! Yes, orcas are also dolphins. They are the largest dolphin species and can therefore do the most damage, if they wanted to.
• Because in general, wild orcas are not aggressive towards people. However, orcas in captivity have attacked people several times, but what do you expect when you lead such a stressful, unhealthy and boring life.
• There are also known cases of bottlenose dolphins where they felt threatened and showed aggressive behavior.

What to do if you encounter a dolphin in the wild?

• Always keep sufficient distance (about 45 meters) and never approach the dolphin yourself, but let the dolphin come to you.
• Do not touch dolphins, but watch them with your eyes!
• Do not feed them either, no matter how tempting it is, because this can disrupt their natural behavior and affect their health.

What to do when a dolphin attacks you?

• Then try to get away quickly…

Can you volunteer or intern with dolphins?

• You certainly can! Most opportunities are found on research boats, but there are also some dolphin sanctuaries.
• For example, you can help with research (data collection), education and conservation.

What should you do if you are going to work with dolphins during your volunteer work, internship or study.

• Make sure you find a good, ethical organization. Some organizations are more focused on tourism and not good for the animals.
• For example, you can pay attention to whether the animals live in captivity or whether the organization focuses on wild animals, and for example whether they are education-oriented.

Where is the best place to work with dolphins?

• Australia: Bunburry
• Curacao
• Spain: Canary Islands
• Tanzania: Zanzibar

What are jellyfish?

• Jellyfish are simple, jelly-like marine animals. They often have tentacles, but no brain, heart or other organs like many other animals.
• Jellyfish can swim, but often go with the flow of the current.
• They mainly eat plankton and other small marine animals.
• Jellyfish are very special because of their simple, but effective structure. There is even a jellyfish that is described as immortal - the Turritopsis dohrnii. This jellyfish can revert the cells to a younger form when it is in danger and thus "restart" life.

Where to see jellyfish in the wild abroad?

• Jellyfish are found in all seas and oceans, both on the coast and in the deep sea. Some species that are closely related to jellyfish also occur in fresh water.
• Especially with offshore winds, there is a good chance that jellyfish will come near the coast due to the undercurrent.

How dangerous are jellyfish?

• You don't have to worry about jellyfish coming at you, because they have no interest in people. What usually happens is that someone accidentally swims into one or steps on a dead jellyfish on the beach.
• Some jellyfish are hardly dangerous, other jellyfish can be fatal in severe cases. Fortunately, most jellyfish fall into the first group.
• In most jellyfish, only the tentacles are equipped with stinging stinging cells. These many stinging cells release poison when touched, which usually causes itching and a burning rash.
• The tentacles of a dead jellyfish on the beach can still sting.

What are the most dangerous types of jellyfish and why?

• The 16 species of Irukandji jellyfish are the most poisonous group of jellyfish. With a mostly almost transparent body and a body of only one centimeter in size, these nasty creatures are easy to miss while swimming, snorkeling or diving. The jellyfish group is found around Indonesia, the Philippines and around the Great Barrier Reef.
• Stings from the Irukandji can be fatal and there is no antidote.
• Around Australia you have the box jellyfish (one of the Irukandji jellyfish), also called the Australian sea wasp. A not-so-nice friend with tentacles that can grow to three meters long.
• Watch out for the infamous "Portuguese man-of-war" (found in many places around the world!). An enormous jellyfish-like creature that can cause excruciating pain (go to the hospital!). The fact that this animal is actually a fascinating colony of clones of itself and not a jellyfish, will probably not matter to you after a sting.

What should you do if you are stung by a jellyfish abroad?

• Most jellyfish species only cause somewhat painful stings that can be somewhat combated with vinegar, Azaron or painkillers.
• Rinse the stung area with seawater or hot water. Cold tap water, on the other hand, seems to make the reaction worse.
• Remove the tentacles from your skin as soon as possible after the sting. Scrape the remaining stinging cells from your skin with a credit card, for example, to stop the skin reaction.
• Seek medical attention, especially in areas where dangerous jellyfish species live or when the symptoms are worse than mild pain and red skin.
• There is also water-repellent sunscreen that offers protection against jellyfish stings, even those from the "Portuguese man-of-war".
• The idea that urinating on a jellyfish sting helps is based on a myth, but it can give someone mental peace... the choice is yours.

What diseases can you get from jellyfish?

• Jellyfish are not long-term diseases, but some consequences of jellyfish stings are:
• pain and irritation of the skin.
• swollen welts on the skin.
• a delayed reaction that can cause blisters and a rash.
• less common, but serious is anaphylaxis - a severe allergic reaction.
• Irukandji syndrome when you are stung by certain box jellyfish. You may experience severe pain, muscle cramps and heart problems.
• You may get a wound infection if the sting penetrates the skin.
• If you start sweating profusely, have chest or abdominal pain, or have difficulty breathing, seek immediate medical attention.

Can you volunteer or intern with Jellyfish?

• You might not expect it, but it is possible to do an internship or volunteer work with jellyfish. This involves, for example, research projects where you can help with observations from the beach, or volunteer work in the lab.
• During marine conservation projects you also might encounter jellyfish

What are sea turtles?

• Sea turtles are large marine reptiles. They have an impressive shell, a good sense of smell and good underwater vision.
• They live mainly in the water, only the females that lay eggs and the newly hatched baby turtles can be found on land, and very occasionally a turtle that is just sunbathing!
• There are seven main species of marine turtles.
  • Flatback Sea Turtle
  • Green Sea Turtle
  • Hawksbill Sea Turtle
  • Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle / Kemp's sea turtle
  • Leatherback Sea Turtle
  • Loggerhead sea turtle / Loggerhead sea turtle
  • Olive Ridley Sea Turtle / Dwarf Sea Turtle (Warana)
• Turtles can live a long time. It takes 15-30 years for them to reproduce, and then they can live for over a hundred years!
• Unfortunately, sea turtle populations are threatened by hunting for their eggs, meat, skin and shell. They are also often bycatch in fisheries. Climate change also has a strong influence on turtle populations. Because the temperatures in the sand change, the sexes of the baby turtles in the eggs also change.

Where can you encounter sea turtles in the wild when traveling and abroad?

• Sea turtles can be found in almost all oceans, except for the very cold areas and the polar regions.
• They are usually found in the shallow coastal areas around coral reefs, seagrass beds, lagoons and estuaries. There is a lot of food for them here.
• The best places to snorkel or dive with them include:
• Australia: at the Great Barrier Reef or Cook Island
• Costa Rica: at Tortuguero National Park
• Ecuador: at the Galapagos Islands
• Egypt: in the south at Marsa Alam
• Hawaii: a.o. at Maui
• Indonesia: near Bunaken. Pulau Weh or Raja Ampat
• Maldives: at various islands
• Malaysia: at Sipidan or the Perhantians
• Mexico: near Playa del Carmen
• Nicaragua: at the La Flor reserve
• Oman: at the Daymaniyat Islands

Are sea turtles dangerous?

• Although sea turtles can bite, they usually do not bite people. They are gentle creatures that rarely show aggression.
• However, with their exceptionally powerful jaws they can cause damage. Sea turtles do not have teeth, but on the inside of a sea turtle's mouth there are backward-facing cartilaginous barbs.
• They defend themselves when threatened. If you try to pick up a sea turtle, for example, it may bite you in self-defense.

What to do if you encounter a sea turtle while snorkeling?

• If you see a sea turtle in the wild, try not to get too close, do not disturb the turtle and certainly do not try to pick the turtle up.
• During egg laying, you should always stay far away. Do not touch the turtle or stand in its field of vision. This can seriously disrupt the egg laying and have major consequences for the population.
• Especially with baby sea turtles, touching can cause harm. They can become disoriented, they can injure their shell (which is still soft) and eventually they can die.

What to do in case of a turtle bite?

• Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water to prevent infection.
• Put antiseptic on the wound and keep an eye on it to make sure it doesn't get infected. 

What diseases can you get from sea turtles?

• Sea turtles can carry bacteria and diseases that can be harmful to humans.
• Eating sea turtle meat is not safe. Salmonella and chelonitoxism (a type of food poisoning) are a major risk.

Can you do volunteer work or an internship with sea turtles? Or help protect sea turtles?

• You certainly can! There are many great projects to help protect sea turtles.
• For example, you can help with projects that protect the eggs. Here you contribute to the
  • protection of eggs by placing fences
  • counting and locating eggs
  • building breeding sites
  • collecting of data, for example by patrolling the beach during the egg-laying period.
• You can also help care for injured turtles.
• Research is another sector that sometimes needs help. For example, there are sometimes projects from universities that need volunteers or interns to carry out research tasks.
• Read more about: Protecting sea turtles: what is it, where can you do it and are you insured?

Why should you protect sea turtles abroad?

• You can have a wonderful time with other passionate individuals.
• All seven species of sea turtles are (seriously) endangered: the Flatback sea turtle, Green sea turtle, Hawksbill sea turtle, Kemp's sea turtle, Leatherback sea turtle, Loggerhead sea turtle and Dwarf sea turtle can use your help.
• Knowledge of a special group of animals.
• Images of sometimes thousands of small turtles.
• What do you need to protect sea turtles abroad?
• A love of nature and animals in general and marine life in particular.
• A flexible sleep schedule.
• Limited sensitivity to less pleasant odors.
• In some cases, a lot of stamina (the nesting sites are sometimes a bit further away on remote beaches).
• If you have experience working with animals or medical care of animals, you can be deployed in more diverse activities of a project.

What is the best place to work with sea turtles?

• Read more about working with sea turtles: Protecting sea turtles: what is it, where can you do it and are you insured?

What are seals?

• A seal is a marine mammal that belongs to the carnivores. Seals have fin-like forelimbs with which they propel themselves in the water, somewhat less flexible hind legs, a soft coat and an excellent ability to dive. Seals do not have protruding auricles (they do have ears...).
• There are different types of seals that vary in size and color. Most species have a somewhat spotted coat.
• Seals usually eat fish, shellfish and other marine animals.
• Seals are often found in somewhat colder water, but they can also survive well in warmer temperatures.
• Seals are also called sea seals
• Elephant seals, leopard seals and the hooded seal are also species within the seal family.

What is a sea lion?

• A sea lion is also a marine mammal that belongs to the carnivores. Sea lions are somewhat larger, slimmer, faster, noisier and somewhat more aggressive than seals. Sea lions also have external ears. The sea lion is a social animal that often lives in large colonies.
• Sea lions, together with the fur seals, form the group of eared seals.
• Sea lions and fur seals live in the United States, the South American coast, Australia, New Zealand, North-East Asia and the waters around Antarctica.

Where can you see seals and sea lions when traveling?

• Argentina: large colonies of sea lions can be seen in Patagonia.
• Australia: swimming and snorkeling with the sea lions at, for example, Hamelin Bay or Ningaloo Reef. (Western Australia)
• Greenland and Spitsbergen: walruses, hooded seals and seals
• Ecuador: on the Galapagos Islands you will find the fur seal that you can see up close
• Mexico: in Baja California you can swim with sea lions
• New Zealand: sea lions at Kaikoura on the South Island
• Namibia: ...beaches full of sea lions
• Spain: on the Canary Islands La Graciosa and El Hierro you can see sea lions well
• United States: along the Californian coast
• South Africa: the coastal strip near Cape Town
• In the Netherlands and Belgium you can mainly encounter the common seal and the gray seal on the beach

Are seals dangerous?

• In general, seals are not dangerous to people, and rather shy and very calm. While surfing you can sometimes come across a sudden, curious seal, but it will quickly disappear when you try to approach it.
• If they feel threatened and you are close by, they can bite viciously. There are also known cases of seals and sea lions pulling people and dogs into the water. This is often due to confusion because people feed the animals.
• Sick and injured seals can also react unpredictably.

Are sea lions dangerous?

• A sea lion is generally not dangerous to people.
• In places where sea lions are often fed by tourists or local fishermen, they can sometimes become a bit pushy.
• If a sea lion is threatened, or if you enter their territory, you should be careful. Sea lions are quite large and powerful, with their length of 2 to 3 meters.
• They can behave aggressively if they feel unsafe or if they want to protect their young.

What to do if you encounter a seal or sea lion in the wild?

• The best thing, as with all other animals, is to keep your distance (20-30m) and not to interact.
• Never approach the animals yourself. You can wait and see if they come to you (but don't feed them!). Enjoy the moment and relax, stay calm and move slowly so you don't scare them away.
• You sometimes see videos of people swimming with seals. It looks fun, but they can suddenly bite and then you have a big wound.
• If you have a dog with you, make sure it is on a leash. That is better for the dog and for the seal or sea lion.
• Make sure the escape route for the animal (the open sea) is always clear. Never surround an animal.

What to do if a seal or sea lion attacks you?

• Try not to get pulled under and get out of the water if you can, that's what seals are good at and where it gets really dangerous.
• If you get pulled in, try kicking them on the head. Hopefully they'll let go. Or call your friends to hold on.

What to do if you get bitten by a seal or sea lion?

• Wash the wound and get medical help.

What diseases can you get from seals and sea lions?

• There are several diseases that you can get from the saliva, feces or a bite from seals and sea lions:
• Toxoplasmosis
• Tuberculosis.
• Brucella
• Q fever - Rare, but possible by inhaling contaminated dust from feces.
• Spekkfinger - an infection that can occur after a bite or scratch. 

Can you volunteer or intern with seals and sea lions?

• There are several organizations around the world that focus on sea lions and seals. They are often research organizations or non-profits that take in injured or sick animals. Sometimes they are also temporary projects that you can contribute to.
• So you can do an internship or volunteer work in the research corner, animal care or nature conservation projects.

What should you do if you are going to work with seals or sea lions during your volunteer work, internship or study?

• Most sanctuaries avoid human contact to keep the animals wild. Therefore, it is unlikely that you will have direct contact with the animals, unless they are babies that need to be fed or you have been specifically trained for this.
• Follow the instructions and safety training protocols.
• Avoid unnecessary actions.

What are the best places to work with seals and sea lions?

• Popular countries are the Netherlands with several sanctuaries, Ireland, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia.

What are starfish?

• Starfish are marine invertebrates, animals without a backbone just like sea urchins and sea cucumbers.
• So they are not fish, despite the fact that they are called starfish in English.
• Starfish have no brain and not even blood. They eat by filtering seawater with their nervous system.
• Starfish can live up to 35 years! So do not disturb them, so that they can reach their old age.
• The 5-armed stars are the most well-known, but some starfish grow up to 40 arms!
• If a piece of their arm breaks off, they can simply grow it back themselves. But this does take a lot of time and energy.

Where can you encounter starfish in the wild while travelling and abroad?

• The more than 1,900 species of starfish are found in seas and oceans worldwide.
• At low tide you can often find starfish on rocky coasts in tidal pools
• With strong wind or heatwaves starfish are sometimes found washed ashore in large numbers

Are starfish dangerous?

• Starfish are rarely dangerous if you step on them or if you touch them. Exceptions are mainly the specimens with large spines, such as the crown-of-thorns.
• Some starfish species are poisonous if you want to eat them. Since starfish are hard and calcareous and have no fleshy parts, there are only a few cultures in the world that include starfish in their diet.

What to do if you encounter a starfish in the wild?

• Above all, let the starfish continue to live in peace, observe it and go your own way.

Where can you work with starfish and protect coral reefs?

• Some starfish species are seen as pests, especially on coral reefs. Large groups of starfish can completely destroy a coral reef and thus threaten the local ecosystem.
• The North Atlantic starfish and the crown-of-thorns are, for example, being combated by conservationists on the Australian great barrier reef.
• Removing large numbers of starfish is very labor-intensive and can only be done by divers. Volunteers are often used for this.

What are whales?

• When people go whale watching in nature, they usually mean the so-called baleen whales (from fin whale, the 'pirates', to the pygmy whale).
• Well-known whale species are the Blue whale, the Northern and Southern Right whale, the Greenland whale and the Humpback whale.
• Whales often live in the open sea, because they have baleen instead of teeth, they only eat plankton and small crustaceans.
• The whale shark is not a whale but a shark, which resembles a baleen whale in its way of eating.
• The different whale species often live in the open sea, but in certain periods they come closer to the coast or have their young in shallow coastal zones. These are the moments when many travellers try to spot a whale from the coast or from a boat.

Where can you encounter whales in the wild while travelling and abroad?

Argentina

• Puerto Madryn: September and October in particular are fantastic for seeing Southern Right Whales.

Canada

• Vancouver:
  • in the long summer you can see blue whales (fin whale), humpback whales (humpback whale), minke whales (minke whales), orcas (killer whales).
  • in the spring 10 to 20,000 gray whales pass by every year.
• Québec: in the somewhat shorter summer you can see blue whales, humpback whales, minke whales, right whales, orcas and white dolphins (belugas).

Colombia

• Places like Nuqui, Solano and Málaga are on the route of the annual humpback whale migration.
• Dominica (island in the Caribbean).
• Sperm whales (winter), humpback whales (spring), false killer whales.

Greenland

• Humpback whales at Disko Bay.

Iceland

• Reijkjavík and especially Húsavík: humpback whales, minke whales, pilot whales, orcas, sperm whales and fin whales in various species.

Mexico

• Baja California Sure and Bahia De Banderas: in spring you can see humpback whales, blue whales, humpback whales, minke whales and sperm whales.

New Zealand

• South Island: humpback whales (in summer), orcas (winter), sperm whales (all year).

Portugal

• In the Azores, in the nutrient-rich waters in spring and early summer, blue whales (fin whale), humpback whales (humpback whales), minke whales (minke whales), orcas (killer whales) and sperm whales all year round.

Scotland

• In West Scotland you can encounter a whale all year round, but during the migration in the long summer you have the best chance on humpback whales, sperm whales, orcas at the Shetland Islands and minke whales at the Hebrides.

Sri Lanka

• In the south of Sri Lanka you can spot blue whales, humpback whales and sperm whales in early spring.

South Africa

• Western Cape: at Hermanius is a humpback paradise where you can see humpback whales from May to December.

Are whales dangerous?

• Fortunately, there are few accidents with whales, but whales can be dangerous.
• This is especially the case if you get close to the whale or its calf and it does not feel like it or feels threatened. They can then hit with their gigantic tail, or even bite.
• There is also a small chance that you will get diseases and parasites if you come into contact with whale saliva or urine.
• Conversely, people are also a danger to whales. For example, the chemicals in sunscreen are bad for whales and other marine life. Disruption by overly enthusiastic tour guides still occurs regularly

Where can you work, volunteer or intern with whales abroad?

• Counting, observing and protecting whales is a possibility to work with whales as an intern researcher or volunteer abroad.
• There are opportunities in Canada, Australia and Scotland, among others.

Why “kangaroo"?

• There is a funny, but untrue, myth surrounding the word kangaroo. You may have heard the embarrassing story about James Cook and the naming of the animal. According to a story from 1888, which is still widely told, James Cook asked a local man in northern Queensland what kind of animal he saw. The man replied "kangaroo", which according to the story means something like "who knows/I don’t know". James Cook supposedly copied the word without further ado. Well, it turns out that none of this is true. In the local language of the Guugu Yimithirr people, gangurru was the word for a large grey species of kangaroo. So it is more likely that the name comes from this native language.

What are kangaroos and wallabies?

• The 54 species of kangaroos are marsupials that stand out because of their large feet and the use of their tails as a kind of support when they are standing still.
• The best-known kangaroos are probably the giant kangaroo and the wallaby. The wallaby is actually a group of 30 species of somewhat smaller kangaroos.
• Tree kangaroos, quokkas and pademelons are less well-known animals, but when you come across them you immediately recognize them as family of 'the kangaroo'.

Are kangaroos dangerous?

• Kangaroos are not dangerous unless you provoke or threaten them.
• Injured or sick kangaroos can feel threatened when you think you are helping them, this miscommunication can cost you a nasty blow, scratch or bite.
• The larger kangaroos in particular regularly cause collisions when they cross the road (or actually the motorist who drives through their habitat). These collisions are often fatal for the kangaroo but can also be dangerous for the occupants of a vehicle.

Where to see kangaroos in the wild abroad?

• Although kangaroos are found in Australia and New Guinea, Australia is the hotspot for spotting kangaroos in the wild.
• These animals are easiest to spot in open areas: grasslands, savannah and steppe landscapes and even in parts of the desert or on beaches you can encounter kangaroos. The species that live in the forests require a bit more effort, but with tips from locals you can add to your species score list.
• Near Perth: Yanchep National Park
• Near Canberra: Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve
• In South Australia: Kangaroo Island
• In Tasmania: Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary
• In the state of New South Wales: Mungo National Park and the Southern Highlands

What to do when you encounter a kangaroo in the wild?

• Try to keep your distance. Stay at least 20-30 meters away and enjoy the huge animals from afar!
• Pay attention to their posture. If a kangaroo stands tall, leans back, or raises its front paws, it may feel threatened.
• Do not feed them. This can make them dependent on humans and more aggressive.
• Be mindful of your behavior. Avoid sudden movements, loud noises, or direct eye contact, which can be seen as a challenge.

What to do when a kangaroo attacks you?

• Do not panic or run! Running may trigger their instincts to chase you. 
• Use a deep and calm voice. Don’t shout. 
• Stay sideways and back away slowly, because this makes you look less threatening. 
• If you’re already under attack, curl into a ball and protect your head and vital organs from the powerful leg kicks. 

What to do in case of a bite or scratch from a kangaroo?

• In case of a bite or scratch - Wash the wound with soap and water. 
• Apply antiseptic and seek medical attention if necessary. 
• Monitor for infections. 

What are the most dangerous kangaroo species and why?

• Red Kangaroo (Macropus rufus) – The largest species, up to 2 meters tall, with strong kicks and punches.
• Eastern Grey Kangaroo (Macropus giganteus) – Generally docile but can become aggressive if cornered.
• Western Grey Kangaroo (Macropus fuliginosus) – Smaller but still capable of causing injury if provoked.

What diseases can you get from a kangaroo?

• Toxoplasmosis – A parasitic infection transmitted through kangaroo feces.
• Salmonella – Can be contracted through handling the animals/feces or contaminated meat.
• Leptospirosis – Spread through urine in wet environments.
• Q fever – Rare, but possible through inhaling contaminated dust from droppings.

Can you volunteer or intern with kangaroos?

• In Australia you can also volunteer with kangaroos, there are also internships available in shelters.

What should you do if you are going to work with kangaroos during your volunteer work, internship or study?

• Most sanctuaries will avoid human contact to keep the animals wild. Therefore it is unlikely that you will be in direct contact with the animals unless they are babies or you are specifically trained for it. 
• Follow the instructions and safety training protocols. 
• Avoid unnecessary handling. 

Where is the best place to work with kangaroos?

• Australian Wildlife sanctuaries (e.g., Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park, Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary), Rescue and rehabilitation centers (e.g., WIRES Wildlife Rescue, Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital) and National parks with conservation programs.

What are wombats?

• Wombats, you can find them rocking on a stage in Liverpool, or digging in the ground on the other side of the world.
• Wombats, like kangaroos and koalas, are marsupials. Not just any marsupials, but animals with special characteristics that you don't often see in other animals.
• In terms of genes, they are most similar to koalas. They also have, like koalas, inverted pouches so that no soil gets into their pouch when they are digging.
• They can weigh up to 20 kg and grow to 85 cm.
• The babies (joeys) live in the pouch for 6 months, but must stay with their mother for 18 months.
• A few more special facts:
  • You could easily confuse wombats' poop with a Minecraft block - square!
  • When they feel threatened, they run to their burrow and block the entrance with their large behinds. They can run as fast as humans - up to 40 km/h.

Where to see wombats in the wild abroad?

• Wombats are mainly found in Tasmania and the south coast of Australia.
• Some well-known places to see wombats are:
  • Cradle Mountain in Tasmania
  • Maria Island in Tasmania
  • The south coast of NSW - such as Bournda National Park and Kangaroo Valley.
  • Namadgi National Park in Canberra
  • Wilsons Promontory National Park in Victoria
  • Or one of the “open range wildlife parks”

Are wombats dangerous?

• Wombats are not dangerous to your life in principle, but they can attack if you do not treat them respectfully.
• They can display aggressive behaviour, especially if they feel threatened, have a young one, are stressed or have mange.
• For example, they can attack with considerable force or use their sharp incisors and powerful claws. This can cause painful injuries.

What to do if you encounter a wombat in the wild?

• Keep your distance from the animal and avoid interaction. Just watch from a distance, that will make both of you happiest.
• If you see a baby wombat, leave it alone. The mother will return after a while.
• It is illegal to touch wombats without a permit! They are a protected species.
• If the wombat is injured, contact a local animal welfare organization. Often you will have to remove the wombat from a danger zone, such as the road, yourself, but do so carefully.

What to do when a wombat attacks you?

• If a wombat comes running towards you, walk away calmly, without turning around, and leave the wombat alone. Make sure you are safe and the wombat is too.
• Try to find a place where you cannot be attacked further. For example in a car or building. 

What to do in case of a bite or scratch by a wombat?

• Wombats have sharp teeth and claws and can cause serious wounds with them. The biggest risk is that the wound will become infected.
• Wash the wound with soap and water.
• Disinfect the wound and seek medical help.
• Watch for signs of infection.

Which diseases can humans get from a wombat?

• Wombats suffer greatly from scabies. When you touch a wombat, you as a human also run the risk of getting scabies. Unfortunately, many wombats suffer from these mites that bury themselves in the skin.
• Another danger is a bacterial infection after a bite or scratch.

Can you volunteer or intern with wombats?

• There are certainly opportunities to do volunteer work or an internship with wombats.
• There are many organisations in Australia that work with wombats and other wildlife. Just Google “wombats” and “volunteering” and you’ll have a laundry list to choose from.

What should you do if you are going to work with wombats during your volunteer work, internship or study.

• Always think about what’s best for the animal. Many wildlife organizations opt for a hands-off policy. With koalas, you may have to hold them to feed them and help with medical care.
• It’s useful to read up on how wombats live, what they eat and what health problems they can have.
• Always make sure you get good guidance and training in advance.

Where is the best place to work with wombats?

• Australia is by far the best place! If you find one outside of Australia you’ll probably have a lot of work to do…