Help Care for Orangutans and Other Wildlife in Indonesia

  Indonesia

• Rural Areas: 
Rural Areas

Durations of Program: 1-2 weeks, 2-4 weeks and 5-8 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks
Dates: All year round

Description: Volunteer at a wildlife rescue centre set along a mangrove forest and private beach on the tropical island of Sulawesi. Your help is actively needed to care for a number of victims of the illegal wildlife trade that now find refuge at our centre.

Volunteers will spend a significant amount of time preparing food for the animals, serving it to them and cleaning their enclosures. This includes a variety of ancillary jobs, such as cleaning food bowls, equipment and food preparation areas. The enclosures are set up so that they can be cleaned and the animals can be fed without any contact with the animals (for health and safety reasons, a strict hands-off policy is in place). Other time is spent preparing enrichments for the animals and also giving tours to visiting tourists. Depending upon the number of volunteers and ongoing activities at the time, there will also be work in connection with building/upgrading enclosures, usually involving a lot of digging and painting.

The types and variety of duties will depend largely on the duration of stay of each volunteer and number and skills of volunteers participating. Some of the work is also seasonal and dependent upon available resources on-site at the time.

The construction of this wildlife rescue centre started in 2001. This center was one of the 15 wildlife rescue centers and wildlife transfer stations that had to be built to care for the ever increasing inflow of confiscated illegally kept and traded wildlife within Indonesia. The centre however had a second and probably even more important objective; the cross-border trade from Indonesia towards the Philippines and onwards to China, Taiwan and Japan was out of control, Sulawesi being the closest Indonesian island to the Philippines was being used as a consolidation point for illegal shipments of wildlife and wildlife products from Java, Sumatra, Borneo and the islands in the Eastern part of the Indonesian archipelago, especially Papua. Orangutans, Malayan sun bears, Gibbons, Tarsiers, Lorises, and pangolins were some of the most endangered mammals smuggled out of the country; however Cockatoos, Hornbills, birds of paradise as well as turtles and other reptiles were shipped out in even bigger quantities. The wildlife rescue center was supposed to be a material tool in the stopping of this trade, without a sustainably run rescue facility the authorities would not be able to enforce, raid and confiscate live animals as there were no other options than this wildlife rescue center. In addition there is a thriving bush meat trade in North Sulawesi that brings in bush meat of protected species such as the Sulawesi Macaques, the Anoa dwarf Buffalo and the very rare Babirusa or Deer Pig, from all over the island of Sulawesi. This project was involved in many raids on such bushmeat transports. In addition the former headhunter tribes of the North Sulawesi highlands use primate and hornbill skulls to decorate their red and fierce costumes, again necessitating the hunting of the little remaining wildlife in this densely populated province with little forest habitat left undisturbed. Last but not least Sulawesi is one of the islands with a huge degree of endemicity, making it even more important to have a center here that could contribute to stopping wildlife trade.

This rescue centre changed hands since it was set up in the past and the level of care dropped until 2009, when Wildlife Friends Foundation took over the running and set up this volunteer scheme to improve the animal welfare standards of the primates in care at the centre (orangutans, gibbons, macaques) as well as a host of other animals including bears, a javan leopard and over 100 birds all confiscated from the illegal wildlife trade and at this time unable to be returned to the wild. Following successful rehabilitation, it is hoped that many of the native wildlife can be rehabilitated and released into reserve areas.

Highlights: Volunteers gain satisfaction from this project knowing and truly feeling that they have made a significant contribution to the welfare of the animals at this project. The project cannot exist the way it does without the support from paying volunteers. Apart from the enriching experience of taking care of such fascinating animals as orangutans, gibbons, monkeys, bears and even a leopard, this project is unique in its location.

Situated only a few hundred metres away from a mangrove forest along a tropical beach in north Sulawesi, this is one of the most beautiful areas in the world for reef diving and snorkelling. The nearby city of Manado also offers diving schools for those wishing to take up this activity.

Qualifications: Volunteers with enthusiasm and interest in animal welfare are sought to help take care of orangutans, gibbons, sun bears, macaques, a host of cockatoos, parrots and other Indonesian birds and other animals at this rescue centre situated in a tropical paradise in north Sulawesi.

You will require a reasonable level of fitness to be able to work in this tropical climate and need to be open-minded and easy going. Indonesia has a non-confrontational culture, hence volunteers are expected to behave in a respectable manner at all times.

Speaking Indonesian is not necessary for volunteers, however it is highly recommended that you attempt to learn a little bit in advance to enrich your experience. It is a relatively easy language to learn.

Cost in US$: 30 USD/day

It also covers the admin cost of your application process, whereby we will provide you with a detailed information pack to prepare you for your placement as well as answering any questions you may have before you arrive.

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: Typical volunteers are those concerned with animal welfare and interested in contributing to a project whilst on their travels in Southeast Asia. Some examples of our volunteers: - gap-year students - graduates or undergraduates of zoology, animal management, animal science, veterinary science, veterinary nursing, biology, wildlife conservation or related fields. - career breakers, looking for a change in life and wanting to do something more worthwhile (25-35yr bracket) - concerned individuals that have not had the opportunity to travel before or are seasoned travellers always volunteering in such projects all around the world (35-60+ bracket)

Age Range: 18-60+

This Program is open to American, Asian, Australian, Canadian, European, Kiwi, South African and Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to Indonesia Independently

Typically Participants Work in Groups of 5-10

Application Process Involves:

• Online Application plus Application Assessment

Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand's Mission Statement: Rescue, rehabilitate and care for wildlife that has been exploited by people or otherwise come into human conflict. Raise awareness and concern for wildlife and its habitat in Thailand and Southeast Asia.

Year Founded: 2001