Rainforest Animal Rehabilitation Centre - Ecuador

  Ecuador

• All Other Regions of Ecuador: 
Puyo

Durations of Program: 2-4 weeks and 5-8 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks
Dates: Throughout the year

Description: Volunteer in Ecuador in the Animal Conservation Project enjoying the magical Ecuadorian wildlife and midnight Jungle walks.

Rainforest Animal Rehabilitation Centre - Ecuador is a rescue and rehabilitation centre supported by the Ecuadorian Environmental Police and the Ecuadorian Environmental Ministry.

The aim of the Rainforest Animal Rehabilitation Centre Ecuador programme is to assist in the fight against animal abuse and trafficking.

Ecuador's rainforests are home to some of the world's most beautiful and exotic animal species. This has led to an increase in animal trafficking and the illegal smuggling of these animal species to those who seek these incredible animals as trophy pets. Many of the animals we receive at the volunteer centre have been taken out of the wild rainforest illegally and sold as domestic pets. Wild animals do not make suitable domestic pets and often they become aggressive and so are abandoned or neglected. The volunteering centre is reliant on the hard work and financial support of the volunteers, and in return you will get to experience the wonderful animals and unique environment of the Ecuadorian rainforest.

While volunteering on the project, you will be working with our residence professional conservationist who specialises in rainforest fauna. He works with us several days a week and is consulting for us in the future development of the volunteer programme.

When the animals come to our centre they are assessed, nursed back to health and then we work to find the best possible future for them. Currently, at the centre, we are caring for around 70 animals which include about 28 monkeys such as squirrel monkeys, woolly monkeys, zongo zongo and capuchins. We have peccaries, coatis, tayras, kinkajou, tortoises, turtles, raccoons and many species of parrots and macaws.

Your responsibilities as a volunteer are vital in the ongoing development and progress of the volunteering Rainforest Animal Rehabilitation Centre.

Highlights: An average week for a volunteer involves:

* Cleaning and feeding the animals on a daily basis
* Construction and maintenance of cages
* Observation and enrichment projects each week where you are encouraged to spend a couple of days observing the behaviour of their chosen animals. You will then have the opportunity to build a toy or game for the animal and then to observe how it uses it and what benefits the animal. This work is invaluable to the animals to relieve the boredom of their captivity and a contribution that the volunteers really enjoy.

The hours of work are Monday to Friday 8am to 1pm and 4pm to 6pm.

- Weekends -
On a Saturday you will work for a couple of hours to clean the volunteer houses and feed the animals, then you are free for the weekend to explore the country. Obviously animals eat every day, so each week we do ask for two volunteers to return to the centre on Sunday by 11am to feed the animals again. In return for this, you are free to leave on a Friday night so you still have a weekend!

Whilst volunteering at the project, there is also the opportunity to learn or practice your Spanish as we work with people from the local indigenous community.

We can also arrange Jungle Tours which will take you deeper into the rainforest. This usually includes a couple of jungle walks spotting some of the species that they will care for during the week, actually living in the wild! You also have the opportunity to take a Canoe Trip down the river spotting caiman and to stay with an indigenous family that live deep into the jungle, far away from any roads!

Qualifications:
* Minimum age: 18 years old
* You do not need any previous experience to come and work with us. Some of the work can be quite hard so a basic level of fitness is necessary.
* If you do have some working with animals experience or even a veterinary experience, this is the ideal programme for you.
* The more time and effort you are willing to put into this project, the more you will get out in return.
* And finally, you just need to be happy to work in a team and have a great sense of humour.

Cost in US$: From 350 GBP

* Dorm style rooms which sleep between 3 and 4 people with bedding provided.
* Hot showers which is a real luxury after a hard day's work.
* A kitchen is fully stocked and has a gas cooker and filtered drinking water on tap.
* A lounge room with comfortable sofas to chill out on and we also provide a TV and DVD player with an extensive DVD collection and a book exchange.

Outside we have a thatched area where volunteers often spend the evenings in hammocks chilling out around a camp fire.

In the evenings, the volunteers cook and eat together and share the events of the day. We regularly have vegetarians joining us and accommodating different people's preferences is not a problem. Shopping for the week's food etc is done by the volunteers at the weekends, which is the easiest way to accommodate for everyone's tastes.

Experience Required: no

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel to Ecuador Independently

Typically Participants Work Independently or in Groups

Application Process Involves:

• Online Application plus Application Assessment
• Other
• Phone Interview

Post-Program Services Include:

• Exit Debriefing Abroad
• Alumni Network
• Job and Internship Network

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Year Founded: 1993