The volunteer project takes place in a non-profit organization that runds an amazing wildlife sanctuary based in Costa
Rica. It focuses on rescuing and rehabilitating local wildlife. The continous environmantal destruction is also a main concern of the project, so it is also dedicated to finding long-term solutions to the
problems our planet earth is facing. They complement the rescue and
release programs for local wildlife with community work and environmental education programs for young and old. The goal is to increasingly sensitize local communities to the topic of environmental protection.
The wildlife sanctuary borders the Cabo Blanco nature reserve. Cabo Blanco is considered a pioneer in nature conservation. The current area of the park was declared a protected area in Costa Rica in 1963, making it the country's first protected area. The reserve is located on the southern tip of the beautiful Nicoya Peninsula. In total, it protects 1,788 hectares of sea and 1,270 hectares of tropical forest, where not only many people live, but where also native and endangered animal species find a home. It is one of the most important wildlife habitats in Costa Rica.
The
rescue and release center cares for a wide variety of animals. Among them you can find: different kind of monkeys, anteaters, opossums, squirrels, birds, iguanas, and more! With a dedicated and
well-trained team of volunteers, biologists, veterinarians and students,
the center works to provide the best possible care for each of these animals.
Animals that are sick, injured and orphaned for a wide
variety of reasons, most of which are directly or indirectly caused by
human activity, are cared for every day. Although many of the animals end
up being released back into the wild, others need to remain in the
center. Those animals that remain, help accomplish a mission by being a
part of the education program that aims to create awareness and to teach
people to respect nature and animals.
An average week for a volunteer involves feeding the animals on a daily basis and cleaning their cages. From time to time, helping with constructing and maintaining the cages may also be needed. There are also observation projects where you are encouraged to spend time observing the behavior of the animals.
As a volunteer, you should
have a genuine desire to work hard and understand the animals’
situation, since you will be responsible for the welfare and day-to-day
care of them. You will not only be involved in daily feeding and
cleaning duties, but also in construction and maintenance work that aim
to improve their living conditions. The rescue center also releases
animals that are ready to be reintroduced to their natural habitat.
Volunteers will support the release facilities, studying how, where, and
when is the best time to return animals to their natural habits.
The animals, especially the monkeys, love to play. Volunteers always have a lot of fun designing and creating toys for the animals to play with. This helps the animals overcome the traumatic experiences that they had in the past and reminds the staff and volunteers how lucky they are to have a center for these precious animals.
Further, the wildlife sanctuary supports education programs as a fundamental part of their conservation efforts. The goal is to inspire and educate the local community, students, and guests visiting from all over the world in order to bring a greater understanding of the importance of protecting the ecosystem and how its health affects humans. This task brings volunteers into the role of ambassador for wildlife while they help spread the core message to the public through school visits, workshops, educational tours, and special projects.
Note: The tasks may vary. They depend on factors such as number of volunteers, weather, season, current needs of the project, as well as self-motivation. Not every volunteer may be fully involved in all these tasks.
Weekends are the perfect time to enjoy an exciting hike through Costa Rican
nature since the main attractions of Costa Rica is its system of national parks
and protected areas, which cover around 25% of the national territory, in order
to protect the rich variety of flora and fauna, which is estimated to contain
5% of the world's biodiversity in less than 0.1% of the planet's land mass. In
addition, Costa Rica has countless amazing beaches.
Costa Rica is the perfect place to combine volunteer work with tourism, enjoy
activities like:
-
Adventure sport
- Dream beaches
- Ecotourism
- Local culture
- Bird / wildlife watching
- Visits to unique National Parks
- Rural tourism
- Sightseeing and history in San José
You will be picked up
from the airport and stay in a homestay in San José for between 1 and 3 nights, depending on your arrival day. After your orientation seesion, a
transfer will bring you to the bus station for your journey to the project
site (the costs for the bus to the project site is not included).
During your volunteer work you will
live in the volunteer house.
Living together with other volunteers is a wonderful
way to interact with other like-minded people from all over the worls. Bathrooms are shared and separated by men and women.
Full-board is provided (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
The volunteer work can be joined throughout the year. The start and end date can be set flexible, according to your availability and travel plans. Ask our experienced staff to coordinate your participation in this meaningfull volunteer project.
Wildlife Rehabilitation Supporter
Support wildlife protection in Costa Rica. Help provide care for exotic rescued animals in this meaningful wildlife sanctuary.
$383/week
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