Amazon Animal Sanctuary

The Amazon, Ecuador

This project is an animal rescue and rehabilitation centre in the Amazon jungle working in partnership with the indigenous Quichuan community. It provides a unique opportunity to actively work in an animal care and rehabilitation program that operates in collaboration with the Environmental Police (UPMA) and the Ministry of Environment.

The centre’s main goal is to rescue wild animals from unhealthy and illegal situations that have been the victims of animal-trafficking or mistreatment and enrich their existence as best they can in captivity.

Open since 2006, the project operates on over 60 private hectares of primary Amazon forest where some of the animals live in excellent enclosures or on islands. Other animals have behavioural enrichment while they are in rehabilitation and can be released into a National Park or an area suitable for their species. The most commonly trafficked groups of animals are primates, birds and reptiles.

Volunteer fees and time are essential for making this project a success. All financial contributions directly support the organisation and its programs incorporating the land and conservation management of the Tropical Wetlands.

Volunteers are involved in applied conservation management and research activities on the main reserve under supervision of the ranger. The placement offers a range of wildlife management and rehabilitation skills, as well as experience in applied field conservation.

Other activities may involve assisting in all aspects of animal and bird rehabilitation from the daily work of feeding and cleaning pens, grounds maintenance, conducting structured behavioural observations and data collection on the various species undergoing rehabilitation, wildlife surveys and other work across the savanna and wetlands.

No two days at the reserve are the same. As the work roster illustrates, there are several tasks and activities that must be catered to and this is dependent on the animals on site and the time of year for volunteer arrivals. At any one time there will be up to 40 animals in our care ranging from aquatic species to reptiles, possums, birds, gliders and mammals of various shapes and sizes. There is a focus on endangered species when they are admitted to the shelter.

Volunteers can apply their skills and acumen to any number of roles, ranging from harvesting / collecting, studying / research and monitoring wildlife in their natural habitat, fieldwork in the wider reserve involving checking / setting camera traps, photo-point monitoring, species observations, data input, feeding and watering animals in care, release of animals back into the wild, building pens and enclosures, cleaning of enclosures, providing enrichments, care and rehabilitation duties and vehicle and equipment maintenance.

A tour of the nature reserve in an open topped vehicle is one of the highlights enabling plenty of photo opportunities.

Minimum 18 years of age.

Volunteers must be fluent in English, be willing to work and must be able to take direction. Skills are harnessed and refined during orientation and training, but enthusiasm and a love for animals and conservation are the key ingredients that make a great team on the ground.

The main challenge is the heat and humidity In the Wet season and it can be difficult for people if they are not used to it.

Arrive Sunday to begin Monday. All year round. 2 week minimum

Volunteers work 2 shifts a day, morning and early evening with the afternoon to relax.

Monday – Friday: 8am to 6pm
Saturdays: 8am to 11am

The on-site accommodation offers very large, fully furnished safari-style canvas tents as accommodation. These tents are on a high-set wooden deck, have en-suite bathrooms, lighting, fans and full-size beds, a small fridge and table. Each has a solar power unit and hot water ensuing maximum comfort all year round suiting all climate conditions. In some cases, we may have two volunteers of the same sex sharing a tent, however we offer individual accommodation where possible.

Meals are provided throughout the day including breakfast, morning tea, lunch and dinner with vegetarian and vegan options. Soft drinks and snacks are available for purchase. Volunteers are responsible for cooking their own meals in the communal kitchen area. Vegans, vegetarians and pescatarians are catered for.

 

From AUD $77 a day

Duration Cost (AUD)
2 weeks $1591
3 weeks $2030
4 weeks $2469
5 weeks $2908
6 weeks $3347
7 weeks $3786
Each additional week $612

What’s included:

  • Pre-departure support
  • Project Information Pack
  • Informative orientation upon arrival on safety and a cultural introduction to Ecuador
  • Airport transfers from Quito airport to accommodations
  • 2 nights’ accommodation in Quito
  • Transport from Quito to the project
  • Accommodation at the project
  • Meals (Quito homestay only)
  • Meals at the project
  • Project orientation held in Quito
  • Training
  • Field coordinator
  • Free internet access
  • International phone calls in case of emergency
  • O2E T-shirt (if travelling from Australia)
  • 24-hour in-country support
  • 24-hour O2E emergency phone
  • Certificate of Participation, if requested

*Please note some items are not included in the project fees listed above, such as flights, visas, vaccinations, travel insurance, snacks, spending money, local transport, in-country tours and return airport transfer (unless mentioned above). Please note that prices are subject to change without notice. Please ensure you have read the O2E Volunteers Terms and Conditions.

Oceans 2 Earth Volunteers_Ecuador_Volunteering_Emma_M

Emma M.

Denmark

"I have been volunteering at the centre for 3 weeks
and have had the best time there 💖 the people,
the nature, and all of the animals make this place
a completely unique one 💖 Thank you everyone!
I will miss you all.. "

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