• Life On Land

Wildlife Rescue Worker

location
2 - 24 weeks  ·  Age 18 - 50+
rating  Perfect 4.6  · 
  Verified by Volunteer World
  Very high response rate

Highlights

  • Learn more about Guatemala's exotic wildlife
  • Support one of the most profesional rescue centers of Latin America
  • Grow as a person while improving your intercultural skills
  • Visit breathtaking archeological sites of the ancient Mayan culture. Tikal is close to the Rescue Center.
  • Make new friends with volunteer from around the world

Especially good for

Age 18+
Singles
Couples
Groups
50+

About the program

Get up-close to exotic animals! Help nurse rescued animals back to health. The animals at the rescue center have been confiscated from illegal poacher and traffickers.

Since the establishment of the Rescue Center in Guatemala, it has branched out into other very necessary activities including environmental education, protected areas management, marine turtle conservation, sustainable community development, eco-tourism and reforestation. Its Environmental Education ...

About the program

Since the establishment of the Rescue Center in Guatemala, it has branched out into other very necessary activities including environmental education, protected areas management, marine turtle conservation, sustainable community development, eco-tourism and reforestation. Its Environmental Education Department reaches out to over 8,000 children a year throughout the country.

The keystone project is the Wild Animal Rescue and Rehabilitation Center in the Peten region. According to a collaborative agreement with the Guatemalan government, the Center is responsible for the rehabilitation and reintroduction of all confiscated wild animals. The Rescue Center is the largest and most advanced of its kind in Latin America, caring for 400-600 wild animals of 35+ species per year. The Center was formed in 1989 by a group of Guatemalan citizens who were concerned when they saw their precious natural heritage, especially their wildlife, rapidly disappearing before their eyes. It was originally created for a very specific purpose: to build a rescue center to care for and rehabilitate wild animals that were being confiscated on the black market by the Guatemalan government.

The Center's main objectives are

  • To strive for the conservation
  • To protect and research wildlife
  • To rescue wild animals from traffickers, rehabilitate and reintroduce them into their natural habitat
  • To support tropical wild animal veterinary research
  • To reproduce and re-introduce animals in danger of extinction
  • To raise awareness among Guatemalans about the need to conserve natural resources through a program of education and information dissemination
  • To develop and promote economic alternatives in rural communities to the unsustainable consumption of natural resources.

The Center's main headquarters in Guatemala City offers training to teachers from the surrounding towns and villages in order to develop environmental education activities in local schools. In 2002, it inaugurated its Environmental Education and Interpretation Center on the grounds of the Rescue Center with the intent to teach local students and visiting tourists about the evils of illegal pet trade, while at the same time ensuring that the animals in the Rescue Center are not needlessly exposed to humans. Nearly all animals at the center have been seized from smugglers and are very young and need constant care and attention.

Your work

Most of the animals arriving at the Rescue Center have been confiscated from illegal poachers and traffickers who leave them in very poor conditions due to malnutrition, stress, and injury. Too often, while in this weakened state, the animals are also exposed to pathogens not commonly encountered in the wild, such as those of humans and domestic species. For this reason, all animals arriving at the Rescue Center are placed in quarantine for a period of at least 45 days. During this period, their overall condition is assessed, including their health and behavioral status, while restoring nutrition. Working in quarantine requires vigilant attention to the animals and their needs, to ensure they are cleaned, fed, watered, etc. Small details are often extremely important. Both the volunteers and the full-time workers take part in the care of the animals at the Center under the supervision of the Rescue Center veterinarians and volunteer coordinator.

Typical day

The volunteer work in Guatemala consists of cage cleaning, food preparation, and monitoring the health of the animals. Many animals arrive at the Center with health problems associated with the trauma of their capture and transport and need continual observation and medical attention. On the other ...

Typical day

The volunteer work in Guatemala consists of cage cleaning, food preparation, and monitoring the health of the animals. Many animals arrive at the Center with health problems associated with the trauma of their capture and transport and need continual observation and medical attention. On the other hand, the Center's staff tries to avoid the animals becoming "imprinted" on humans and ask volunteers not to handle animals more than necessary as most will be released back into the wild. Released animals accustomed to humans have less of a chance of surviving in the wild. Animals that are kept in captivity have many needs in order to remain physically and mentally healthy. These needs can be separated into four basic categories: environment, nutrition, behavior, and care. Each enclosure should be checked regularly to make sure each of these fours needs are addressed while avoiding contact with the animals. These animals are wild and it is important to keep them that way.

There are certain responsibilities that volunteers at the Rescue Center have and everyone is expected to pull their own weight. Work begins early in the morning with the cleaning of cages and feeding of the animals. The animals do not work on human schedules; rather, they follow their own internal clock which insists that they eat early in the day. The time for your rest and relaxation is later in the day when the temperature and humidity demands a siesta. Volunteers love to spend this time of the day at the lake sunbathing, swimming, and relaxing.

In addition to the regular daily feeding and caring of the animals, there are special on-going activities in which you are expected to participate as needed. These activities include: constructing cages or extra buildings, maintaining trails, gathering foods for the animals, and researching the wild diets of the animals. Depending on your experience and skills, you may also be asked to help with veterinary medical treatment and operations as well as in the periodic blood and feces samples taken to monitor the health of the animals.

Perhaps the most satisfying work carried out at the Center is the animal release 2 to 4 times per year. You may assist in identifying appropriate release sites (with sufficient water and food and few nearby human settlements), constructing release platforms, and monitoring released animals. Volunteers are expected to become a willing part of the Rescue Center team and to take an integral part in the day-to-day operations of the Center.

The Center in Guatemala is truly a magical place that holds natural beauty within and outside the cages! There is plenty of time at night and during those hot afternoon siestas to think, and listen to the mysterious jungle noises that call for danger or initiate territorial squabbles. The beautiful creatures that surround you are all part of the experience. One only has to stop, look, and listen for a moment to realize that saving the jungles of our planet is truly something worth being a part of.


Note: The tasks may vary. They depend on factors such as number of volunteers, season, current needs of the project, as well as self-motivation. Not every volunteer may be fully involved in all these tasks.

Free-time activities

There are a range of different activities to choose from in your spare time such as hikes through the jungle around the center, exploring the rich nature, visit local communities, do water sports at the lake Peten-Itz, visit the tourist town of Flores. Last but not least, you have to visit the ...

Free-time activities

There are a range of different activities to choose from in your spare time such as hikes through the jungle around the center, exploring the rich nature, visit local communities, do water sports at the lake Peten-Itz, visit the tourist town of Flores. Last but not least, you have to visit the close-by Maya ruins of Tikal!

Requirements

Requirements

Minimum Age: 18 years

In order to join the program you need to be at least 18 years old on the program start date. There might be exemptions if you can provide the permission of your legal guardian(s) or if your are accompanied by your parents.

Language Skills

You need to speak English (intermediate level) or Spanish (basic level)

Education Requirements

at High School level

Required Documents

CV and Volunteer Questionnaire

Nationality Restrictions

No restrictions. Helping hands from all over the world are welcome.

Other Skills

No special skills required but you should definitively be an animal lover and not fear exotic animals. You should be able to live a simple life, isolated from civilization, surrounded by nature and animals.

Time Commitment

Your helping hand will be required on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday

What's Included

What's Included

Services by South America Inside

  1. Shared room in Volunteer House
  2. Breakfast, lunch, dinner
  3. Airport pick-up in Flores
  4. Airport drop-off in Flores
  5. Advice from our experienced staff
  6. On-going support via WhatsApp, phone or mail
  7. Elaboration of your application profile in Spanish
  8. Your placement in the volunteer project
  9. Pre-departure information
  10. Packing list
  11. Country handbook
  12. Intercultural guide
  13. Orientation upon arrival
  14. On-site volunteer coordinator
  15. 24/7 emergency number
  16. Advice on travel insurance
  17. Certificate of participation

                              Airport Pickup at Santa Elena Airport

                              Pick-up an drop-off in Flores included.

                              Accommodation

                              The Wild Animal Rescue and Rehabilitation Center in Guatemala is situated on a 45 hectare tract of land on a lake. It’s a 10 minute boat ride from the touristy town of Flores and close to the world famous Mayan archeological site of Tikal. It is comprised of a quarantine area, a veterinary hospital, three large rehabilitation enclosures, a large flight cage, kitchen, dining and a workshop area, volunteer houses, employee housing, and a large floating dock. The animal cages and enclosures are scattered throughout the jungle in order to reduce the stress of the animals.

                              At the Rescue Center, volunteers live in a spacious two story wooden building situated in a beautiful tropical forest with wooden bunk beds, modern showers, flush toilet facilities, and U.S. 110V electrical outlets. Volunteers eat and socialize at a separate spacious kitchen and dining room where there is a very nice floating dock for late afternoon swims. There is internet service at the Rescue Center for a slight fee and in Flores at internet cafes.

                              Food & Beverages

                              Full-board is provided with daily breakfast, lunch and dinner. Special dietary requirements can be taken care of but must be informed to us in advance.

                              Internet Access

                              Good access at the project site

                              What's NOT included?

                              What's NOT included?

                              Flight Tickets

                              The nearest airport is Santa Elena Airport (FRS) in Flores. We assist you to find cheap flights to Guatemala. FIND CHEAP FLIGHTS

                              Travel Insurance

                              Going abroad is an adventure and it is always best to be prepared. Sudden illness or injury, cancellation or theft - a travel insurance for Guatemala provides security and is a plus to have. GET A QUOTE

                              Vaccines

                              If you are intending to volunteer in Guatemala you should seek medical advice before starting your social journey. Check your required vaccinations for Guatemala. VACCINE CHECKER

                              Details on arrival

                              The volunteer work can be joined throughout the year. The start and end date can be set flexible, according to your availability and travel plans. Ask our experienced staff to coordinate your participation in this meaningfull volunteer project.

                              Availability
                              Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

                              Program fees

                              2 weeks (min. stay) 1,014€
                              3 weeks 1,253€
                              4 weeks 1,491€
                              5 weeks 1,730€
                              6 weeks 1,968€
                              7 weeks 2,207€
                              8 weeks 2,446€
                              9 weeks 2,684€
                              10 weeks 2,923€
                              11 weeks 3,161€
                              12 weeks 3,400€
                              24 weeks (max. stay) 6,263€
                              Average fees 384€/week

                              Program fees

                              384€ per week 2 - 24 weeks Age 18 - 50+

                              Payment methods

                              Visa Master Card Maestro American Express PayPal

                              NO CREDIT CARD FEES

                              Duration

                              2 - 24 weeks

                              Deposit

                              The deposit is simply to reserve your volunteer placement. Payments are handled by PayPal, our trusted global payment provider. If you don't have a PayPal account, you can also pay using a credit card.

                              Final Payment

                              Your final payment will be agreed with South America Inside during the application process. Common solutions are either via bank transfer or a cash payment at the project site.

                              Meet your organization

                              South America Inside

                              Perfect 4.6 rating (128 reviews)

                              Agency - founded in 2003

                              Verified by Volunteer World

                                Very high response rate

                              Coordinated by

                              Marion

                              Spoken languages: German, English, Spanish

                              About the project

                              South America Inside promotes intercultural, linguistic and educational exchanges. Its volunteer programs are addressed to students, professionals and retirees.

                              Meet your organization

                              South America Inside is an intercultural management agency, founded back in 2003, which specializes in the promotion of programs abroad, language travel and educational programs throughout Latin America.

                              Since 2007, to enrich the experience of our global-minded clients and to provide them with even more possibilities, South America Inside has been expanding their program offerings throughout South and Central America.

                              Working together with some of the best language schools in Latin America, South America Inside provides high quality language courses in almost every Latin American country.

                              Thanks to a professional team of motivated and friendly staff, South America Inside has been very successful over the past several years and have been able to establish an outstanding network of what we call "Insider Contacts." To enrich the experience of their clients and to provide them with more possibilities, South America Inside has been expanding our program offerings throughout Central and South America, in addition to our well-established Chilean programs.

                              Volunteer Work

                              Do you dream of staying abroad while doing something positive? Are you looking for a unique experience that will leave a mark on your life? Then a Volunteer Work program in South America or Central America is perfect for you!

                              With South America Inside you can combine an adventure abroad with social commitment, and create lasting memories in Latin America. Support the protection of endangered species; help a local community construct new homes; give new hope to impoverished children.

                              The possibilities to lend a hand are diverse, as there are the many places where help is needed. We have classified our volunteer projects in different areas so you can easily find the one (or more!) projects that best match your needs and interests.

                              Why with us

                              There are many persuasive reasons that speak in favor of South America Inside when it comes to selecting your perfect provider of language, study and volunteer travel abroad. Following, we have prepared a short summary so that you can get us to know a little better.

                              Our Insider benefits at a glance:

                              •  Regional Experience
                              Over one decade (established in 2003) of dedication to language, work and study travel programs in Latin America. Thanks to our long standing work and life experience in the South American continent, we know this region really well. Therefore, we can help and inform you in a professional and competent way.

                              •  Multifaceted Offers
                              Over time we have developed new programs to offer a wide array of work abroad opportunities to our clients. We have been pioneers in launching new exchange programs, as we have been the first in offering Work & Travel/Working Holiday and Farm Stays in Chile and successfully introduced these programs into the market back in 2005. Since 2012, we are the only agency to offer this type of program in Costa Rica.

                              •  Insider Advice
                              Despite living in the modern era of the internet, we know that reliable and competent advice is still an important criterion for most of us. At South America Inside, you will find the benefits of an internet provider and an independent travel agency. We will be glad to pass on our extensive knowledge and regional experience.!

                              •  Location
                              It is difficult to run programs when there is nobody “on the ground” to evaluate existing options and search for new opportunities. So, we are located in Chile, on location, and we know everything that is going on first hand. We know what it is like to live as a foreigner in South America and will be happy to assist you in making your stay unforgettable!

                              •  Independence
                              South America Inside is an independent provider of language courses, internships, volunteer work, Farm Stays and Work & Travel programs in Latin America. We neither depend financially nor structurally on any other company, language school, association or organization. Therefore, we are able to give personalized information in accordance to your needs and availability.

                              •  Multilingual Team

                              Our team is multilingual and international! We speak fluent English, Spanish and German, as well as some French and Portuguese. With our customers, we can communicate in their native language and we avoid misunderstandings with local partners by communicating in Spanish with them. You can be sure that there will be an English-speaking contact person for you before, during, and after your stay.

                              •  Customer Service
                              Excellent customer service is one of the most important goals for South America Inside, and this is evident with the positive feedback we regularly receive from our many happy clients. Emails are answered within 48 business hours and every client is treated with the same friendliness and expertise.

                              •  Gapless and Accurate Information flow
                              With South America Inside you will have one and the same contact person before, during and after your trip. With that said, we guarantee a gapless and accurate information flow and you will always be very well informed.

                              •  Approved Program Places
                              Many of our program places, especially in the area of internships and volunteer work, are designed in the way that they will be recognized by most universities, colleges or academies.

                              128 reviews · rating4.6

                              Jannik S. rating5

                              2023 at Wildlife Rescue Worker

                              Die Anreise hat reibungslos funktioniert, ich habe die ersten zwei Tage ein wenig mit dem Jetlag gekämpft, jetzt geht es aber. Auch an das Klima gewöhne ich mich langsam. Die Arbeit macht mir sehr viel Spaß, mittlerweile habe ich auch eine Art Rhythmus gefunden. Ich fühle mich hier sehr ...
                              Regina N. rating5

                              2024 at Help Stray Dogs

                              Die Arbeit gefällt mir sehr gut! Ich bin super reingekommen und fühle mich sehr wohl 🙂 Die Menschen sind sehr offen und freundlich! Herzlichen Dank! ...
                              Nathalie K. rating5

                              2024 at Local Wildlife Helper

                              Everything is alright. The family host in San José is very kind. I visited San José yesterday. This morning I arrived at the rescue center and it's amazing! It beautifull, the animals are so cute. And the volonteers are very friendly. Thanks for everything and have a good ...
                              Alex S. rating5

                              2024 at Help Stray Dogs

                              Mir geht’s prima. War ein langer Tag, bin daher auch gut kaputt 🙂 Sowohl Spanischkurs als auch die Arbeit im Tierheim machen sehr viel Spaß! Ich muss zwar all das bisschen, was ich an Spanisch kann, zusammenkratzen, um durch den Tag zu kommen, aber das wird sicherlich besser mit der Zeit ...
                              Stacey Garratt rating5

                              2024 at Local Women Empowerment Supporter

                              I have been travelling for 7 months in total and just had the most wonderful experience in Ecuador. I can confidently say in the last 6 weeks I have created my favourite memories of this journey in an all-encompassing way. Firstly, the program itself was incredible, I constantly felt supported, ...
                              Mattia Malfanti rating5

                              2024 at Countryside School Assistant

                              Very good location and people. Really good organization and people are really hospitable. Peumal is a really good alternative school. I sincerely advice if you want help in an alternative school to go ...

                              Location

                              Americas > Central America > Guatemala > Flores

                              You might also be interested in

                              Volunteer Abroad  >  Animals  >  Wildlife Conservation in Guatemala
                              Contact Marion
                                Very high response rate
                              German, English, Spanish

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