Save Wildlife in Thailand!

  Thailand

• All Other Areas in Thailand: 
Hua Hin

Durations of Program: 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks, 9-12 weeks and 3-6 months
Typical Duration of Program: 5-8 weeks
Dates: Open

Description: The Global Volunteer Network has opportunities available to work with wild animals through our partner organization in Thailand. Most of the animals residing at the sanctuary were maltreated before they arrived here, suffering from abuse, malnutrition, neglect and improper care, rescued from the illegal pet trade, or have previously been exploited for the tourism industry. Many of the animals arrive with permanent disabilities and hence, cannot be returned to the wild. The centre's mission is to give these animals the best quality of life possible in captivity.

The program is located in Kao Look Chang in the Petchaburi province, close to the beaches of Cha-am and Hua-hin and approximately 160km south of Bangkok. The reserve includes a lake where there are seven gibbon islands, which allow the gibbons to move about freely, to establish territories and mates, and to live a life as close as possible to a life in the wild. Animals you can expect to work with at the centre include a variety of macaques, two species of gibbon, several species of civets, loris, leopard cats, tigers, bears, crocodiles, and exotic birds. The center tries to provide these animals with enclosures as close to nature as possible or, where possible, reintroduction to the wild.

You can join the program from 4 to 12 weeks initially. After this period you may negotiate with the program director to stay longer. You will be accommodated on the reserve in houses and provided with three meals a day. Depending on the duration of your stay, your education and experience, you may participate in the following activities:

    * Preparing and distributing food for the animals and helping to buy food at the market;
    * Building and maintaining the cages, enclosures and gibbon islands; ;
    * Daily cleaning of the cages and other enclosures;
    * Maintaining the centre's grounds;

Highlights: The program is located in Kao Look Chang in the Petchaburi province, 24 kilometers from the beaches of Cha-am and Hua-hin and less than 200 kilometers from Bangkok. The wildlife program aims to take in and care for wild animals that have been domesticated or maltreated, and to rehabilitate those that are fit back into the wild. The project was founded by Mri Wiek, a Dutchman, who has been volunteering for years with other wildlife foundations, and set up his own organization in early 2001.

Qualifications: As a volunteer you must be in good physical condition, be able to walk long distances and be able to tolerate heat, be 18 years old or over, be available for a minimum of four weeks, be able to speak English, and be able to work without assistance.

Cost in US$: See Website

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: Someone willing to give up a few comforts for the good of the world we live in.

Age Range: 18 - 60

This Program is open to American, Australian, Canadian and Kiwi Participants.

Participants Travel to Thailand Independently

Typically Participants Work in Groups of 10-20

Application Process Involves:

• Other

Post Services Include:

• Alumni Network

Global Volunteer Network's Mission Statement: The Global Volunteer Network (GVN) is a private, Non Government Organization (NGO) based in Wellington, New Zealand. Our incorporation number is WN/1194442. Our vision is to support the work of local community organizations in developing countries through the placement of international volunteers. We believe that local communities are in the best position to determine their needs, and we provide volunteers to help them achieve their goals.

Year Founded: 2000