Animal Welfare Volunteering (1 program)

Animal Sanctuary in the Amazon

About the institution
It is an animal rescue and rehabilitation center in the Amazon jungle of Ecuador working in partnership with an indigenous Quichuan community.

It provides a unique opportunity to actively work in an animal rehabilitation programme and to work with and help a Quichuan community of the Amazon. Its main goal is to rescue wild animals from unhealthy and illegal situations, which have been the victims of animal-trafficking or mistreatment. They work in collaboration with the Environmental Police (UPMA) and the Ministry of Environment. Operating since 2006, they have over 60 private hectares of primary Amazon forest within which some of the animals can live freely. The other ones have behavioural enrichment while they are in rehabilitation and can be released in a proper National Park or suitable area for them. The most commonly trafficked groups of animals are primates, birds, and reptiles.

Description of the work
This is a unique opportunity to actively work in an animal rehabilitation and release programme, and to work with and to help a Quichuan community of the Amazon. Volunteers will, also, be working alongside and contributing to the indigenous community. There may be opportunities to assist the children with school or other activities or to help the family's plant new crops, for example. A proportion of volunteer fees are also put directly back into this community.

Note: Transportation to the project is not included in the price.