If you have just finished school, it can be a daunting task indeed to jump straight into a university degree For this reason, it is often an excellent idea to take a gap year

Are you looking for a way to spend your gap year that combines adventure with making a real difference If so, volunteering at a wildlife conservation centre in South Africa may be just the thing

Does the idea of going straight from secondary school to university bring you out in a cold sweat Or are you at a bit of a loss as to what you actually want to study at university

Africa has sharp toothed animals both on land and off the shore If you are looking for a gap year project with bite, then you should consider heading to South Africa where you can experience extreme adrenaline highs working with big cats on land, and tiger and great white sharks off shore

If you want to take a gap year out from your studies or you feel like you are in a rut in your professional life and you want to rediscover the world, then undertaking a conservation project in South Africa or India might be just the eye opener you need To Gap Year or Not to Gap Year

So you’ve taken the plunge You’re off on a gap year to an exotic country abroad to work on an animal conservation project

When it comes to wildlife conservation gap year projects, unfortunately, there is no shortage of animal species’ in need of help These days the subject is becoming more and more high profile and our collective social consciences are being pinged by the desire to do our part

Hopefully you’ll forgive the rather obvious pun of the title because shark conservation breaks offer the possibility of a fantastic and rewarding ‘new experience’ A quick reality check Perhaps the use of the word ‘shark’ has just sent you diving for cover behind the couch with a blanket over your head

Nowadays, more and more people are beginning to take gap years between the years of their education Between school and college, college and university, halfway through university and even before venturing into the real world to get a job, are just some of the times when people decide to take a year out and discover what the world is really about

Since the release of Jaws, numerous shark-related cartoons have been released with the fearsome shark often playing a formidable character These cartoons have a lot to answer for in the eyes of shark conservation, as they have all helped to stereotype the shark into the role of the predator that we perceive it to be today

If you’re looking for a holiday that combines new experiences with ‘giving something back’ to the planet, why not think about a wildlife conservation holiday They’re becoming increasingly popular with people of all ages

Of all the members of the animal kingdom, the shark is perhaps the one who would come off worst in a popularity contest Mainly fear-based, prejudices against sharks are widespread and because of this, the very real danger that some species face is often overlooked

Wildlife conservationists are battling alarming trends both in Britain and abroad to protect the future of endangered species Already in 2010 there have been a number of important scientific press releases regarding the future of our animals and their habitats