Volunteers Needed: Gibbon Rehabilitation in Thailand

  Thailand

• Phuket: 
Phuket

Durations of Program: 2-4 weeks and 5-8 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks
Dates: See website for dates

Description: Rehabilitate gibbons and release them into the rainforest when you volunteer with our Gibbon Rehabilitation Project on Phuket Island, Thailand. In the unique Gibbon Rehabilitation Project, you will help save the population of white-handed gibbons--the smallest species of ape--and their rainforest habitat through rehabilitation and education. All nine of Southeast Asia's gibbon species are listed as endangered. The gibbon's number one threat is rainforest degradation, although many are illegally hunted and sold for meat, medicine and profitable pet trade.

As a volunteer on our Gibbon Rehabilitation Project, you will conduct routine health checks on the gibbons to make sure they are free of diseases and to monitor female pregnancies. You will research the animals' development and encourage their maximum interaction with other gibbons. Volunteers will help clean cages, prepare food, and feed the animals using baskets and pull ropes. Once the gibbons are released, you can map their territories and record their behavior and eating patterns.

Highlights:
As a volunteer you will:
* Prepare food and feed the gibbons
* Construct and clean cages
* Build entertainment activities, such as rope swings
* Conduct physical examinations
* Map and record territories of gibbons released into the forest
* Observe the animals' behaviors after release
* Give educational tours to the public

Qualifications:
* Must be at least 18 years old
* Must be in good physical condition
* Must have relevant vaccinations (see website for details)

Cost in US$: See website

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: Volunteer Adventures makes it easy to live your dream of volunteering. Anyone can volunteer, as long as you have the desire to help others and an open mind.

Age Range: 18 and older

This Program is open to World Wide Participants.

Volunteer Adventures's Mission Statement: The mission of Volunteer Adventures is to create and promote volunteer opportunities that improve the lives of others and the environment in which we live. We seek to achieve this goal by connecting worthy local projects with volunteers around the world. Many local organizations are doing great work in their communities, but don't have the resources required to recruit international volunteers. Volunteer Adventures serves as the link between these organizations and the volunteers needed to make these projects a success. All volunteer programs depend on the skilled coordination of a variety of elements: enthusiastic volunteers, meaningful work, organized projects, and supportive staff. It is our goal at Volunteer Adventures to orchestrate this process for you. We use our global experience and resources to provide volunteer experiences that bring pride and satisfaction to everyone involved.