Description

Assist in a wildlife rescue centre in the Petchaburi province of Thailand, feeding, maintaining, and caring for mistreated and domesticated animals.

The Global Volunteer Network has opportunities available to work with wild animals through our partner organization in Thailand. Most of the animals residing at the sanctuary were maltreated before they arrived here, suffering from abuse, malnutrition, neglect and improper care, rescued from the illegal pet trade, or have previously been exploited for the tourism industry. Many of the animals arrive with permanent disabilities and hence, cannot be returned to the wild. The centre's mission is to give these animals the best quality of life possible in captivity.

You can join the program from 2 to 12 weeks initially. After this period you may negotiate with the program director to stay longer.

Elephant Refuge and Education Centre

There are approximately 3,500 domesticated elephants in Thailand. It has been estimated that there are around 200 elephants begging on the streets in the larger cities in Thailand. Cities are harsh environments for such a large forest animal, with the elephants under constant threat of road accidents, pollution and a scorching heat that can be fatal to a large mammal such as the elephant.

Volunteers are needed to assist the local staff at the Refuge Centre to ensure that from now onwards the elephants have a better quality of life in their natural environment.

Volunteers will have the opportunity to work hands on with the elephants. The main duties include:
* Cleaning elephant enclosures
* Feeding and watering the elephants
* Harvesting food for the elephants
* Walking some of the elephants in to the forest at night and collecting them in the morning
* Bathing the elephants in a lake
* Maintaining the elephant refuge

Wildlife Rescue Centre
Animals you can expect to work with at the centre include a variety of macaques, two species of gibbon, several species of civets, loris, leopard cats, tigers, bears, crocodiles, and exotic birds. The center tries to provide these animals with enclosures as close to nature as possible or, where possible, reintroduction to the wild.

You will be accommodated on the reserve in houses and provided with three meals a day. Depending on the duration of your stay, your education and experience, you may participate in the following activities:

* Preparing and distributing food for the animals and helping to buy food at the market;
* Building and maintaining the cages, enclosures and gibbon islands;
* Daily cleaning of the cages and other enclosures;
* Maintaining the center's grounds

To apply for our Thailand volunteer program please visit our website.

Highlights

The program is located in Kao Look Chang in the Petchaburi province, 24 kilometers from the beaches of Cha-am and Hua-hin and less than 200 kilometers from Bangkok. The wildlife program aims to take in and care for wild animals that have been domesticated or maltreated, and to rehabilitate those that are fit back into the wild. The project was founded by Mri Wiek, a Dutchman, who has been volunteering for years with other wildlife foundations, and set up his own organization in early 2001.

Qualifications

As a volunteer you must be in good physical condition, be able to walk long distances and be able to tolerate heat, be 18 years old or over, be available for a minimum of four weeks, be able to speak English, and be able to work without assistance.

Languages

• English

Cost in US$:

Please see our website for costs

Experience Required

no

Volunteer Types

• Animal Welfare
• English Teaching
• Primary Education
• Public Education
• Wildlife Surveying

Typical Volunteer

Someone willing to give up a few comforts for the good of the world we live in.

Age Range

18 - 60

This Program is open to

Worldwide Participants.

Typical Living Arrangements

• Group living

Participants Travel

Independently

Typically Participants Work

in Groups of 10-20

Application Process Involves

• Online Application plus Application Assessment

Typically The Application Process Time is

2-3 days

Post Services Include

• Alumni Network
• Re-Entry Debriefing at Home

Global Volunteer Network's Mission Statement

The Global Volunteer Network (GVN) is a New Zealand Charitable Trust (non-profit NGO) based in Wellington, New Zealand. Our Charitable incorporation number is: CC46460. Our vision is to support the work of local community organizations in developing countries through the placement of international volunteers. We believe that local communities are in the best position to determine their needs, and we provide volunteers to help them achieve their goals.

Year Founded

2000