Description

The zoo in Santa Cruz de la Sierra is a wonderfully diverse habitat for the conservation of South American animals. The Zoo opened in 1979, and today has an ongoing contract with the Natural History Museum in order to facilitate environmental education classes for the public.

As a volunteer on the Zoo's premises, your duties may include:

- Feeding and preparing food for the animals
- Species-specific nutrition research and development
- Maintaining zoo grounds, and cleaning animals cages
- Preparing educational workshops for the public
- Assisting veterinary work - all ill or injured animals are treated on zoo grounds
- Volunteering hours vary but are generally 4-5 hours a day, from 7-11am, Monday through Friday

While volunteering at the zoo, you will be placed in homestay accommodations. The program includes accommodations as well as 3 meals a day. Meals consist of primarily Bolivian cuisine, such as vegetables with rice, noodles, or potatoes, and occasionally red meat, poultry or fish. Vegetarians should have no issues eating with their homestays.

Highlights

Volunteers only work Monday through Friday and are encouraged to take their weekends to travel and explore the surrounding area of Santa Cruz. Some tourist highlights are Yvaga Guazu, an ecological park just outside the city, and La Rinconada, an enchanting rainforest oasis, home to the largest rainforest lily pads in the world!

Santa Cruz is one of the safest regions in Bolivia, and you should feel comfortable travelling around this region. Bolivia is a beautiful country, and we encourage you to additionally take advantage of your time here and travel further outside the Santa Cruz area, but please do so responsibly and intelligently.

Qualifications

The following is required of the volunteer:
* Good level of English
* Minimal Spanish: we strongly recommend taking a class prior to departure. The more Spanish you are familiar with, the more comfortable you will be with your surroundings. If you would like, we can arrange Spanish classes during your stay in Santa Cruz.
* Flights
* Travel, and Medical Insurance
* Additional travel and personal expenses
* A love for animals and an open mind

Languages

• English
• Spanish

Cost in US$:

630 for 2 weeks, 150 for each extra week

Cost Includes:

• Food
• Housing
• In-country orientation/Training
• In-country staff support
• Registration fees

Program Fees Include:

* Accommodation: Bolivian Home Stay
* Food: 3 meals a day
* Airport pickup: Included on arrival day
* Orientation kit: Full project details will be sent following reservation
* Training: Pre-departure preparation and training in Santa Cruz

What's Not Included:
* Flights
* Insurance
* Personal expenses
* Local transportation
* Tourist visa

Experience Required

no

Volunteer Types

• Animal Welfare
• Wildlife Surveying

Age Range

18-60

This Program is open to

American, Asian, Australian, Canadian, European, Kiwi, South African and Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Couples and Individuals.

Typical Living Arrangements

• Home-stays

Participants Travel

Independently

Typically Participants Work

Independently or in Groups

Application Process Involves

• Phone/Video Interview

GoEco - Volunteer Abroad's Mission Statement

(1) Encourage ecological and volunteer tourism that promotes sustainable development (2) Enable travelers to experience different and more rewarding kinds of tourism. (3) Encourage travelers to volunteer for the benefit of others and thus to serve as a good-will ambassador to other countries in the world. (4) Encourage travelers from all over the world to come to Israel for ecological and community-based projects, in both the Arab and Jewish sectors, and experience firsthand the unique cultural and natural diversity in this region. (5) Support environmental and humanitarian projects that promote understanding and good will between ethnic societies in Israel. (6) Conduct further research in the field of ecological tourism, such as the 'Ecological Footprint' as a tool for sustainable tourism development. (7) Establish an in-depth and up-to-date data base of the relevant projects worldwide. (8) Create a platform from which to explore the various organizations that support the environment and actively encourage volunteering.

Year Founded

2005