Rescue place and wildlife refuge, where the volunteer can support and develop specific projects.
This volunteer program is especially suitable for:
As a volunteer, you will be helping at the Animal Refuge, a refuge for animals that need to recover from poaching or other human actions.
Many of these animals are endangered and really need the help provided at the Refuge in order to return to the wild and perpetuate their species. The Refuge also has many rare and important plant species, many of which have great medicinal, ornamental or nutritional value. Many of these plants are also endangered Panamanian native plants and also plants that have lived for centuries, making this an extremely important area for both local flora and fauna.
The center consists of a botanical garden where these plants are found, a wildlife refuge where animals are helped, and also places that can be visited by families, friends and nature lovers who want to learn about and help the species in the center.
Some of the animals that can be found at the center are jaguars, ocelots, pumas, red foxes, harpy eagles, white-tailed deer, peccaries, raccoons, macaws, white egrets, tapirs, anteaters, black cats, white-faced capuchins. There are four areas in the park where you will be able to volunteer to work as a volunteer.
As a volunteer, there are four areas in which you can contribute directly. The volunteer's involvement in each of these areas will depend on his or her skills and knowledge.
Fauna (To do this work you will first have to spend the first 3 or 4 weeks in the other areas described below.)
- This area consists of the direct care of the animals in their multiple needs:
- Some of the tasks volunteers can expect to perform are:
- Preparing and distributing food to all animals.
- Cleaning the animal enclosures
- Checking on the animals on a regular basis
- Supporting in the veterinary clinic, assisting the professionals working there.
Flora
- Activities within this area revolve around caring for the plant life in the park, which is extremely important to the overall functioning of the Refuge.
- Some of the tasks volunteers can expect to perform include:
- Planting new trees
- Identifying pests and helping to eliminate them
- Identifying plant species
- Watering the park
- Sanitary pruning
- Transferring species from germinators to bags
- Fertilization
Environmental education
- The main focus of this area is to raise awareness about nature preservation and reducing risks to local flora and fauna, such as poaching or habitat destruction.
- Some of the tasks volunteers can expect to perform are:
- Visitor management
- Deliver workshops to local communities on recycling and nature conservation.
- Delivering educational workshops in local schools and public centers.
- Create and teach educational activities for children to learn more about the flora and fauna.
Maintenance
- Here are all activities related to maintaining the refuge and its grounds in good condition.
- Inorganic maintenance requires volunteers to do things like:
- Collecting inorganic waste.
- Cleaning concrete poles and ditches
- Scrubbing garbage tanks
- Organic maintenance requires volunteers to do things like:
- Collecting organic waste and disposing of it.
- Collecting leaves and putting them at the base of trees.
- Cleaning roads and trails
- Removing invasive plants
Volunteers work on weekdays (Monday through Friday) from 7:00 to 15:00. Weekends are free for volunteers to go explore and discover all the beautiful places Panama has to offer. If a volunteer has to be absent from the Shelter on a weekday, they have to inform their project coordinator beforehand.
A rich cultural heritage, beautiful mountains, tropical beaches, historical monuments, and a bustling capital city —Panama has it all, directly within your reach to discover while you volunteer in this exciting country. Panama is a rather small country with a high density of remarkable and memorable locations, which is something you can completely take advantage of, through cheap and accessible transportation, ease of visiting, and a welcoming people.
Some of the sites most enjoyed by our volunteers are:
- Panama city: a modern and bustling city, it's a city that may offer you both big malls and modern architecture, as well as the scenic old city (in Casco Viejo), old monuments (such as the Panamá Viejo colonial area), a natural park filled with sloths and ñeques in the middle of the city (Parque Metropolitano), plenty of museums and seaside spots (such as the Amador area). In the city you can also go visit and discover first-hand how the Panama Canal works.
- Portobelo: a city in the Colón province, it has history that dates centuries back to the colonial era, some very picturesque traditions such as the yearly Cristo Negro festival, and it has direct access to beautiful Caribbean beaches and tropical islands (most famous is Isla Grande).
- Bocas del Toro: A province in the northwest of Panama, near Costa Rica; its archipelagos and beaches are very famous among tourists, as they provide near pristine sands, near transparent water, a lot of wildlife you can see in some of its islands, and activities such as partying, scuba, or just swimming in the beach.
- Guna Yala: An indigenous region, it has 365 islands which all have a fair share of white sand and crystal clear water. The Guna people that inhabit this region have a culture that is very tied in to the Ocean and to life in these islands, so coming here will not only allow you to enjoy the beautiful and picturesque beaches on these islands (each island having something particular, such as Isla Estrella, an island filled with Sea Stars or Isla Perro, an island filled with corals and fish), but also to appreciate a unique culture tied to life in these islands.
- Valle de Antón: A very famous valley with cool weather and lots of nature, you can go hike the famous mountain of La India Dormida (the sleeping indian woman, tied to a well-known local legend), see lots of native flora and fauna, and also enjoy the beautiful scenery.
- Boquete: Located in the Chiriquí province and known as the "Switzerland of America", it's a small yet very beautiful city in the middle of the mountain, known for its tasty coffee, colourful yearly flower festival (although flowers are an important part of the city any time of year), scenic trekking routes, and all the nature around the city.