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Natuwa Macaw Sanctuary is a place that provides refuge and protection to the wild animals that have been victimized by human actions such as hunting, removal from their environments, and deforestation. These actions allow species to become vulnerable within their natural habitat, which can cause immense damage to natural ecosystems. The results of these human actions often include a displacement of animals from their natural habitat.
Many of these displaced animals find the care and rehabilitation that they need at the NATUWA Santuario de Lapas. At our sanctuary, the dislocated animals are given a chance to return to their natural habitat. Unfortunately, due to the actions of humans, reintroduction is often quite difficult. This is where you as a volunteer get to help!
As a volunteer, you play a very important role in the direct care of our animals. Here at NATUWA Santuario de Lapas, we have many animals that require daily care. Volunteers work alongside our workers with feeding, cleaning enclosures, and providing enrichment for all of our animals. Currently, we have six species of macaw, umbrella cockatoos, four species of amazon parrots, seven species of parakeets, Eclectus parrots, spider monkeys, marmoset monkeys, squirrel monkeys, tamarin monkeys, collared peccaries, deer, tapirs, ocelots, and jaguars. The workers that the volunteers will be assisting are from Costa Rica, and most of them only speak Spanish.
Not only do volunteers get to interact with our workers who are from Costa Rica, but our project also has the support of local universities. Costa Rican students come to the sanctuary to do their graduation thesis, business practices (ecotourism), and also schools that send their students to perform a required volunteer work of 300 hours. This offers a great chance for our volunteers to be immersed in the Latin American culture.
NATUWA Santuario de Lapas is located in Aranjuez, Puntarenas Province, Costa Rica. Aranjuez is a quiet country town with dirt roads. The locals all know about our sanctuary, and they are very friendly! Volunteers are encouraged to bring board games and outdoor toys like footballs, frisbees, etc. About 1km from the sanctuary, there is a grass soccer field that volunteers are welcome to use and play with the locals. There is also a small supermarket located next to the soccer field.
Due to the environment that our volunteers work in, we require pants and rain boots to be worn while working. Rain boots can be brought, or purchased here for around $15 USD. It is also highly recommended that each volunteer bring a mosquito net for a twin-sized bed. Volunteers sleep in housing inside of the sanctuary, and all bedsheets are provided, but volunteers are welcome to bring their own! We also provide and cook all of the food for our volunteers. We expect nothing more than a positive attitude and willingness to work from each of our volunteers!
This volunteer project is quite different from other projects around Costa Rica. We never have a shortage of work, in fact, we are almost always looking for more hands to help! We have over 500 animals that need daily care. If you are lack motivation or passion for animal care and conservation, this may not be the project for you (and that's ok!) Our daily schedule can be intense, but the work at the Sanctuary is extremely rewarding!
6:00 am-8:00 am - Morning feeding of animals with light supervision after an introduction period (minimum 3 days).
8:00am-8:15am - Breakfast!
8:15 am-10:30 am - Daily tasks (see list below)
10:30 am-10:45 am - Juice break!
10:45 am-12:00 md - Daily tasks (see list below)
12:00md-1:00pm - Lunch, WiFi, and nap time!
1:00 pm-3:00 pm -Afternoon feeding of animals with light supervision after an introduction period (minimum 3 days).
After the afternoon feeding, volunteers are free to do whatever they would like for the rest of the day! Dinner is ready by 6:00 pm.
List of Daily Tasks:
Cleaning under animal feeding stations, providing water to animals, washing enclosure floors, moving animals, sanctuary maintenance, feeding baby animals, sorting macadamia nuts, providing fresh-cut grass to our mammals, and anything else that needs to be done to benefit the wild animals we take care in our Sanctuary!
Every week, volunteers receive one day off to be able to relax and explore surrounding areas, you can coordinate with the Doctor. The staff of the sanctuary can help organize places to visit. Options include the
beach, a local river, Puntarenas,
Monteverde, etc. Because the COVID-19 volunteers are not allowed to use public transportations only taxis under our recommendations. The cost will be depending on where you will go.
A taxi service can be requested to bring volunteers to the sanctuary. From Puntarenas to the sanctuary, volunteers can expect to pay about $35 for a taxi, and $100 from the airport (Alajuela) to NATUWA. Remember that while we re under the effects of the pandemic cause by COVID-19 the transportation from the airport must be only using the taxi provided by our organization.
This price includes three meals, dorm style housing. This price does not include public transportation or personal expenses outside of NATUWA.
Currently, volunteer housing is in two separate buildings. The first building is a typical Costa Rica country style house with one room including three bunk beds, a fan, storage space, and windows. The house is typically reserved for long-term volunteers (4 weeks or more). The second building is a modified shipping container with three rooms. Each room of the container includes two bunk beds, a fan, and storage space for personal items. It is advised for volunteers to bring their own mosquito nets. Volunteers are expected to keep their areas clean and respect the property of others.
The bathroom and shower are located in a separate building adjacent to the container. No hot water is available for the showers.
Laundry is typically done by hand, but a laundry machine is available for free. Drying of clothes is done on clotheslines.
WiFi is currently available in the volunteer housing. Also, WiFi is available in the sanctuary gift shop.
The meals are typical dishes of Costa Rica. Almost every meal includes rice, beans, or salad. Juice or coffee is offered for every meal.
Example Breakfast Meals:
1. "Gallo pinto" with: egg, plantain, or sausage.
2. Cereal
3. Fruits (watermelon, banana, and papaya).
Example Lunch Meals:
1. Rice and beans with a meat
2. Rice and beans with spaghetti
3. Meat and vegetable soup with rice
Example Dinner Meals:
1. Rice and beans with a meat
2. Hamburger
3. Cold cut sandwich
Note:
It is very important that you inform us if you have any special diets or food allergies.
Volunteers may arrive at any time of day, any day of the week, any week of the month, and any month of the year! Transportation from the airport is not provided, but can be arranged - just let us know if you'd like help getting here!
Assistant in Wildlife Sanctuary
Be part of the NATUWAS's team assisting in feeding the animals, animal enrichment, cleaning enclosures, maintenance of the sanctuary, and guiding tours for visitors.
$294/week
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