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City/State: Petchaburi province |
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Country: THAILAND
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Program description: |
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Globalteer is a registered charity in the UK providing ethical and affordable volunteering with the amazing wildlife of Thailand. The Thailand Wild Animal Rescue Centre is located approximately 2 to 3 hours south of Bangkok. This sanctuary is dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of wild animals previously exploited as pets, used for profit within the tourist industry or rescued from the illegal wildlife trade. Most of the animals residing at the sanctuary were maltreated before they arrived here, suffering from abuse, malnutrition, neglect and improper care. Many of the animals arrive with permanent disabilities and hence, cannot be returned to the wild. The mission is to give these animals the best quality of life possible in captivity. Construction of seven gibbon islands have been completed, allowing 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. The project also has an education centre as it is considered that educating the locals and future generations is essential to the survival of Thailand's wildlife.
Volunteers work a 6 day week, the amount of hours worked depend upon the amount of volunteers and current needs at the project. Daily activities are rotated amongst volunteers and include:
Preparing food for the bears, moving them inside and then scattering and hiding the food in their enclosure to provide a environment close to natural as possible where they would need to forage for food.
Preparing food and feeding the primates.
Creating the special diets for the other animals.
Enrichment for the animals to provide stimulation, thought and fun. Including making puzzle feeders and watching as the primates work out how to get to the food inside, freezing their food on hot days, or smearing honey in hard to reach areas in the bears enclosure.
Cleaning the cages and enclosures.
Providing the animals with water.
Walking in the forest to collect the best leaves for the primates.
Maintaining the centre.
Giving tours to visitors (experienced and willing volunteers only)
When new enclosures are being constructed volunteers can assist, as well as in the continual maintenance and re-design of existing enclosures. You will work closely with the animals but we have a no contact policy for the safety of you and the animals. The animals are wild and can bite and scratch. Disease transmission is possible between animals and people, and can be fatal to young or weak animals. The work can be hard in the tropical climate, but as always, you only get out what you put into this unique and rewarding experience.
The project is located 2 to 3 hours south of Bangkok near a small village. The centre is next to a lake, surrounded by dense forest and near some of Thailand's least visited National Parks. Less than an hour away are the beach resorts of Cha Am and Hua Hin where the volunteers go for shopping, days off and nights out. The local village has fast internet access, shops and bars but has no tourists so is a real insight into the Thai way of life. Volunteers can arrange camping trips into the remote National Parks or go on night safaris to spot Thailand's wild animals.
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General program information: |
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Program open to: Everyone
Age range: 18 to 70
Travel to site: Independent Travel
Is opportunity more independant or group orientated: Group
No. in group: 12
Living arrangements on the program: Group living
How long does the program last?: Various Durations
What are the dates of this program: Any, 365 days a year.
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Benefits and advantages of the program: |
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Volunteers work closely with an amazing variety of animals including tiger, gibbons, bears, macaques, birds, civets, otters, langurs and mongoose. As part of your wildlife experience, volunteers are taken into the National Park on a night safari. The local staff often join on a night time expedition to see the wildlife of Thailand in its natural environment.
If you volunteer for 8 weeks or more, you will be given three days off work to join an "Elephant refuge and Education centre". You will ride the domesticated elephants into the forest, take them for bathing and help collect their food. This centre gives refuge to domesticated elephants that have been roaming the streets of Bangkok and other cities.
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Cost or price of this program: |
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From £518 for a three week placement
Includes a free night Safari into the rainforest. Also three days at an Elephant Refuge for volunteers staying 8 weeks+
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Typical person for this program: |
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The majority of volunteers do so alone, and then meet up with existing volunteers at the project. The majority of volunteers come from the UK, USA and Australia with significant numbers from Canada, Germany, Ireland, and New Zealand. Although volunteers are welcome from any nationality.
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Qualifications required: |
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No qualifications are required for this volunteer programme
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Application process Involves: |
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Online application form
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