Fund Raising (Crocodilian research for Dissertation)

[Akro]

Hello all,
Strange request i know BUT im looking into fund raising for two reasons,

1, a 6-8 week long trip to India to work at The Madras Crocodile Bank Trust in order to work with many species of crocodilians and gain experience in handling, husbandry and just plain understanding. This is for my work based learning module at uni which is to be assessed and go towards my final grade.

followed by.....

2, a 4 week long trip to Peru to undertake work with wild Caimen for my dissertation which involves understanding the niches of the three native species and what their diet consists of/relies on in the name of better understanding of their needs in order to conserve them.

Combined these two trips are key to the not only the outcome of my degree but the beginning to a brighter future in the field of the conservation of Herpetofauna around the world.

I was wondering if anyone here knows of any fund giving bodies, grants, bursarys or awards that i could apply for to aid the horrendous expense of all this travelling, OR if anyone has any ingenious ideas for fund raising that i could put into motion?

Any help would be VERY much appreciated.

Thanks a lot guys
Chris

[Zak]

Out of interest is the Peru trip with Operation Wallacea? If so PM me got some insights into the company as have known people who have been with them before and also an ex-employee.

It doesnt sound like you've really planned the money aspect of all this, i mean your talking a good £2000+ arent you?

In terms of fundraising, write to old schools and say you'll give them a presentation on your work in return for money. International companies such as BP etc have interests in conservation and its good for their image to fund conservation research data, however contacting them is quite hard and time consuming but worth a go. Can your university department offer you any money? Peru government or any of uni's there which could use your data? Then theres journals such as Nature etc which might help. It really is a case of asking anyone and everyone.

Fundraising you can do yourself includes bake sales, charity discos/club nights, bag packs at supermarkets, getting old school to do none school uniform day for you. Again imagination is limit with this.

[Reptilerescueden]

What about approaching the larger reptile suppliers to see if they would sponsor you in exchange of advertising for them.

[Akro]

Zak,
no im only just beginning the planning etc for it all now, im working and saving what i can from my wages and using my bursary towards the costs but every little bit helps.
Yes the Peru bit is with operation wallacea as they are arranging these dissertation topics with my uni (and many others im sure), id apprecate anything you can tell me about them.

Reptilerescueden,
i dont suppose you could suggest any inpaticular could you? im not too up on dealers.

Thanks for the ideas guys much appreciated.

[Reptilerescueden]

companies like Zoomed or Exco Terra that kinda thing