Thai Resident Bear Care

The Project

The bears receive medical treatment and are nursed back to health so that they can live out their lives with many other bears in large enclosures. Many bears are sick and disabled and will require permanent care for the remainder of their lives. There are sun bears and Asiatic black bears at the centre.

The centre campaigns against the illegal wildlife trade of bears for the pet industry, the bile industry and discourage the use of bears for entertainment, for example in live animal shows.

The centre aims to educate Thai people, particularly children, to end cruelty to animals. This is achieved through education programs held in schools and at the centre.

By educating local people, tourists and the international community to appreciate, understand and protect wild animals and their rainforest habitat, the centre hopes to promote the conservation of all natural resources, fauna and flora alike.

***This project starts and ends on a SUNDAY so please apply from a Sunday to Sunday***

The Location

The centre is based on temple grounds near Tha Yang, a district in the Southern part of Phetchaburi province in central Thailand, about 160 kms/100 miles South of Bangkok.

Phetchaburi province is famous throughout Thailand for its Thai desserts - Khanom Thai - delicious candy-like finger food made from egg, palm sugar, coconut, and a binding agent, usually crushed beans or flour.

The centre also lies approximately 25km from the beaches of Cha Am and Hua Hin, both popular holiday destinations for locals and tourists. While Cha-Am successfully caters for foreign tourists, it remains favoured by the Thai people with a large majority of Thai tourists visiting this beach destination. So if you are looking for the real Thailand, for an authentic experience, this is it!

Your Contribution

You will be responsible for feeding and watering the bears, cleaning enclosures, providing enrichment, planting trees, assisting with tours for visitors, the construction and maintenance work of cages and enclosures and keeping the centre's grounds clean.

You will make a positive difference to the lives of the bears at the centre by caring for and enriching their lives

Special projects for long-term volunteers include the care of baby primates, working with animals in the quarantine area and animal rescues.

Conditions Onsite

It can be very emotional work treating and caring for sick and abused animals so you should try to be prepared for this. Be rest assured that you are amongst like-minded people who are experiencing the same feelings and emotions as you and will be there to support you. The work at the centre is both demanding and physical, especially in the hot months.

There is no maximum age, however, you will need to be able to stand for long periods of time, work in humidity or wet conditions, travel to and from the project and perform basic manual labour tasks. 

Thailand has rich, biological diversity. However, sadly increasingly, human pressures such as overexploitation, habitat loss and habitat degradation, are pushing many of Thailand creatures to the brink of extinction. In Thailand, as in every country in the world, animals are abused and exploited for profit and human gratification. There are many examples of animal exploitation for the tourist industry, such as animals performing in degrading shows and elephant riding camps. There is also a thriving illegal trade in wild animals for pets.  O2E ask that volunteers do not engage in activities that involve animal exploitation.  

Please Note

The second instalment of your project fees is due within 1 week after you paid the deposit on Volunteer World. This is a total of $495 AUD and comes off your balance. The balance is due 90 days prior to travel. For all further information about the fees, please scroll down to the section "Program Fees“.

After work you can relax at the centre and socialise with other volunteers. There is a variety of local activities available which are scheduled on a weekly basis. These include night market visits, dinner outings, trips to Cha Am and National Park wild elephant spotting. 

On days off, you may choose to spend the day or an overnight stay in Cha Am or Hua Hin relaxing on the beach, shopping, tasting the local cuisine or getting pampered. There is a weekly night market in Cha-am which sells lots of cheap clothes and souvenirs. 

Spend the day at Phetchaburi, the capital city of Phetchaburi Province and one of the oldest settlements in Thailand. Mentioned in historical records dating to the 8th century, and having significant standing artifacts dating to the 12th century, there are numerous temples in and around the city center and market area, in addition to the Royal Palace known informally as Khao Wang that dominates the skyline. The city is situated on the River Phet ("diamond" in Thai), which originates in the Kaeng Krachan National Park and flows into the Gulf of Siam at Baan Laem.

Phetchaburi is a predominantly agricultural province. The city reflects this with a large and thriving traditional market which buzzes with activity from pre-dawn until mid-day and is filled with various aromas. It is very much a working city, with few tourists.

Visit the local spa resort for the day or evening and make use of the pool, spa facilities and restaurants. A massage is the best way to work out those aches and pains!

A few minutes' away from the centre is the local village where you can stock up on snacks and personal items or visit the Buddist Temple and big Buddha. 

Please note

Thailand offers many activities that include animals. Do not ride an elephant, have your picture taken with an animal or visit a zoo or animal entertainment venue. These activities exploit, abuse and overwork animals and many are considered illegal by the Thai Government. 

Any tour, activity or show that involves the use of animals in Thailand falls outside the O2E Policy for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.