Wildlife Sanctuary Volunteer Programs Abroad

There is a wide array of options when it comes to volunteering with animals. From assisting the cats and dogs at an animal shelter to improving the lives of the lions of our Wildlife Sanctuary project in Africa, the opportunities are endless. The most popular option for animal lovers, and more specifically wildlife volunteers, is volunteering at a wildlife sanctuary. 

 

 

 

It is important to note that GoEco’s wildlife sanctuaries are not petting zoos. GoEco believes that all wildlife should enjoy the most natural life possible. Our Big Cat Refuge, for example, allows volunteers to prepare food for the big predators, create enrichment toys for them and engage in activities that do not involve directly touching the animals. Our Cambodian Elephant Sanctuary follows a similar ethical model and has volunteers engage tasks that support the animals’ habitat, such as maintaining the grounds and the plants that feed the elephants, rather than directly interacting with the elephants. 

Select sanctuaries do have ambassador animals that were raised by humans, either to be kept as pets or used for illegal trading, and these animals unfortunately cannot be released back into the wild. Some of these ambassador animals are accustomed to human contact and may be touched when being hand-fed or during medicine distribution; however, this is based on the availability, safety and well-being of the ambassador animals, and will be at the sole discretion and under the supervision of the sanctuary staff.  In general, direct contact with wildlife is not promoted.

Who Can Volunteer at a Wildlife Sanctuary?

All wildlife volunteers need to bring with them a passion for caring for animals. Aside from this, most wildlife sanctuaries will accept any volunteer who is ready to put in the required effort. Veterinary students tend to gain a lot from these projects, mostly professional experience, but anyone who wants to make a difference in the lives of injured and rescued animals is welcome too! There is no requirement whatsoever to be enrolled in a veterinary school. Depending on the specific sanctuary, families with children may also be welcome.
 

Choosing a Sanctuary - All About Location
The location of a wildlife sanctuary is a key part of the selection process. The location determines the specific animal species that will be present at that particular sanctuary and also affects the various activities available to enjoy on your free time.

 

1. South Africa: South Africa tends to be the most popular choice for all programs in the “General wildlife” category. This is due in large part to the vast number of indigenous wildlife, and more specifically, to Africa’s Big Five (lion, leopard, rhinoceros, Cape buffalo and elephant.) Our Wildlife Sanctuary project has been home to these specific animals and more.
 

2. Costa Rica: Sloths have won our hearts in social media lately. A rather understudied group of wildlife, many sloths have been rescued from the illegal pet trade. Our sanctuaries at the Animal Rescue and Conservation program in Costa Rica have been home to indigenous two-toed sloths, spider monkeys and jaguars!

 

3. Peru: This South American country is home to penguins, monkeys and more. Our Peruvian Endangered Animals Sanctuary is currently caring for a Peruvian Humboldt penguin (more commonly known as the jackass penguin), two-toed sloths, a crocodile, horses and colorful birds. 

4. Australia: The country “down under” is most famously known for its indigenous kangaroo population. Our Wild Animal Sanctuary project in Calga, Australia has been home to kangaroos, koalas, porcupines, birds and other small animals.
 

Being a volunteer at a wildlife sanctuary not only allows people to enhance the lives of rescued and injured animals, but also provides invaluable learning opportunities regarding wildlife and conservation issues. Veterinary students may be able to earn course credit for their time volunteering, but non-veterinary students can also gain a lot from the experience. When a volunteer visits one of our many sanctuaries, they not only provide and care for each animal there, but they also learn about the inside stories behind how each animal arrived. Hearing the stories of animals that have been rescued from poachers, rescued from illegal trading or injured from being kept as pets raises awareness for wildlife conservation. Each individual animal has its own story, and each country in particular has its own wildlife conservation challenge. For example, the tigers and lions at our Big Cat Refuge in South Africa have all been rescued from illegal breeding centers whereas many of the sea turtles at our Bali Sea Turtle Rescue volunteer program have been taken from the sea and kept as pets by Bali’s local residents. Those who choose to volunteer abroad with animals have the opportunity to not only help indigenous wildlife, but to also raise awareness of the issues affecting them within that local community.

 

All in all, the choice to volunteer at a wildlife sanctuary should be a simple one. Do you wish to lend a helping hand to animals that have been rescued or are injured? Do you want to rehabilitate and release healed, healthy wildlife back into the wild? Then this type of volunteer program is perfect for you! You can help innocent animals, help an existing sanctuary stay sturdy and strong and spread your newly- acquired knowledge about wildlife conservation to local communities while abroad and to friends and family when you return home. The only question that remains is which of our wildlife sanctuaries you want to choose first. Make the most of your desire to volunteer and try booking two programs, back-to-back!