🐾 About This Program

The Wildlife Rescue Centre cares for more than 800 rescued animals, many of which were saved from extremely poor conditions or surrendered after being kept as unsuitable pets.

The centre primarily cares for primates, including gibbons, macaques, slow lorises and langurs. You may also encounter:

• Asiatic black bears and sun bears
• Small wild cats
• Civets and otters
• Birds
• Reptiles
• Many other rescued species

This is a strictly hands-off program. Volunteers do not have direct physical contact with the wildlife, as the aim is to rehabilitate and release as many animals as possible.

Animals that cannot safely return to the wild are provided with appropriate care and sanctuary for the rest of their lives.

💚 Why Choose This Program?

Since it was founded, the Wildlife Rescue Centre has provided shelter to thousands of rescued wild animals.

Many animals are successfully rehabilitated and released back into the wild. Those that cannot be released are given a safe home and lifelong care at the centre.

Dedicated volunteers are needed throughout the year to help provide daily care for a wide variety of rescued wildlife.

Thailand has rich biological diversity. However, wildlife is increasingly threatened by:

• Overexploitation
• Habitat loss
• Habitat degradation
• The illegal wildlife trade
• The exotic pet trade
• Tourism and entertainment activities

Young gibbons, macaques, lorises, bears and other wild animals are commonly taken illegally from the wild. They may be sold as pets, used as photo props or exploited in other inhumane tourist attractions.

The centre works to rescue animals from these conditions while educating local and international communities about animal welfare and wildlife conservation.

The animals at the centre have been rescued from situations including:

• The illegal wildlife trade
• The exotic pet industry
• The tourism and entertainment industries
• Poor or unsuitable living conditions
• Road traffic accidents
• Dog attacks
• Other human-related injuries and emergencies

Where possible, rescued animals are provided with an environment that is as close to nature as practical.

The long-term objective is always to rehabilitate and release animals back into the wild. Unfortunately, this is not possible for every animal, particularly those that have suffered serious injuries or spent extended periods in captivity.

Volunteers usually work long days of approximately eight to nine hours. The work can be physically demanding, but it is highly rewarding and makes an important contribution to the daily running of the centre.

As this is a strictly hands-off program, volunteers support the animals by:

• Preparing and distributing food
• Cleaning enclosures and pools
• Creating behavioural enrichments
• Assisting with environmental enrichments
• Maintaining habitats and surrounding areas

✅ What Is Included?

Your program fees include:

• Accommodation
• Three meals per day
• Clean drinking water
• Shared Sunday airport collection
• On-site support staff
• Volunteer Coordinators
• Wi-Fi access
• Welcome orientation and site tour
• A contribution towards the animals’ food, care and accommodation
• Registration fee

Please see the relevant sections for full details about accommodation, meals and airport collection.

🏡 How Do I Get to the Placement?

You will stay on-site at the main volunteer camp, within the same sanctuary as the Elephant Refuge.

The volunteer accommodation is surrounded by lush greenery, natural scenery and countryside views.

You will receive a welcome orientation and tour after arriving, where you will learn more about the centre, your daily schedule and the safety rules surrounding the rescued animals.

🦥 What Will I Be Doing?

Throughout the working day, you will help complete the core tasks required to keep the Wildlife Rescue Centre running.

Your duties may include:

• Preparing and distributing animal food
• Creating and distributing behavioural enrichments
• Assisting with environmental enrichments
• Cleaning animal enclosures
• Scrubbing and cleaning animal pools
• Maintaining habitats and forest areas
• Helping with general site upkeep

The working day normally begins at approximately 6:30am and finishes at around 5:00pm.

There are several breaks throughout the day for:

• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Drinking water
• Rest
• Toilet breaks

Volunteers normally work six days per week, with one scheduled day off.

The work can be physically demanding, but the contribution volunteers make to the animals’ welfare is extremely worthwhile.

Each day, Volunteer Coordinators assign volunteers to working groups. You will work alongside experienced team leaders who help guide the group through its daily responsibilities.

Everyone has different abilities, strengths and working speeds. Volunteers are expected to be patient and respectful towards other members of the team.

Please speak to a Volunteer Coordinator if you feel you have been assigned too much or too little work. There are a variety of tasks available to suit different abilities.

Volunteers may also be asked to assist with additional duties that help the volunteer camp run smoothly.

This can include Doggie Duty, which involves helping to:

• Bathe the resident dogs
• Prepare their food
• Feed them
• Walk them
• Support their general care

Volunteer Coordinators will be available to answer questions and monitor the working groups throughout the day.

Volunteers contribute significantly to both daily animal care and larger ongoing projects. Their support is essential to the work of the centre.

🌍 Who Will I Be Working With?

You will work alongside:

• The Wildlife Rescue Centre team
• Volunteer Coordinators
• Experienced volunteer team leaders
• International volunteers from around the world

You will also live alongside volunteers supporting different animal welfare programs, creating a friendly and sociable experience outside working hours.

🎒 What Should I Bring?

We recommend bringing:

• Lightweight work clothes that you do not mind sweating in or getting dirty
• Comfortable shorts and T-shirts
• Long-sleeved tops and trousers for protection from mosquitoes
• A sunhat, cap or bandana
• A torch or flashlight
• An alarm clock
• A suitable power adapter
• Your own towels
• Comfortable shoes or sandals that can get wet
• Lightweight waterproof clothing or a poncho
• An unlocked mobile phone if you plan to purchase a Thai SIM card
• A basic personal first-aid kit
• Plasters, bandages and antiseptic
• Medication for common stomach problems
• High-factor sunscreen
• Sunglasses

Working gloves are strongly recommended when harvesting food and are essential when helping with composting.

Your feet may get wet throughout the year due to the nature of some tasks, so practical footwear is important.

🤝 What Can You Expect From Us?

Volunteer Coordinators are available to help whenever you require assistance.

They can support you with:

• Scheduling questions
• Animal-related concerns
• Illness
• Personal difficulties
• Emergencies at home
• General support while you are away

The coordinators can be busy, but they operate an open-door policy, allowing volunteers to speak with them whenever support is needed.

A volunteer meeting is normally held each week to:

• Provide updates about the animals
• Discuss issues from the previous week
• Resolve work-related concerns
• Answer questions
• Allow volunteers to provide feedback about their experience

🙋 What Do We Expect From You?

Volunteers are greatly appreciated and play an essential role in the daily running of the rescue centre.

However, in everything we do, the animals must always come first.

Volunteers are encouraged to make friends and socialise after work. However, everyone must remain respectful towards:

• The animals
• Local staff
• Other volunteers
• The surrounding community

Noise and disturbance must be kept to a reasonable level because volunteers live within an active animal sanctuary.

Unruly partying, reckless behaviour or actions that could disturb the animals will not be tolerated.

To join the Wildlife Rescue Centre program, you must:

• Be 18 years of age or older
• Be in good physical and mental health
• Be able to tolerate a hot and humid climate
• Speak a suitable level of English or Thai
• Have a positive and practical attitude towards animal welfare
• Have a genuine interest in wildlife conservation
• Be willing to complete physically demanding and practical tasks
• Respect the program’s strict hands-off policy