Animal Care Volunteer Project
Help care for wild animals who got caught in the illegal wildlife trade. Join as a volunteer on this animal care volunteer project in Indonesia. We have 120 animals at present with 50 reptiles and 50 birds.
Why Choose This Project?
This animal care volunteer project gives you the opportunity to work alongside Indonesia’s famous wildlife. The centre currently cares for 120 animals, this includes 2 Sun bears, 9 primates, 3 binturongs and 50 reptiles and 50 birds. We are an active rescue centre with animals coming and going. We did have orangutans however we have great news, 5 have gone to rehabilitation centres with the hope of them being released back to the wild and 4 are unable to be released and have gone to Bali Zoo which provides larger enclosured for them to live the rest of their lives.
Project Highlights
- Prices start from USD890
- Upto 10 persons
- All meals inclusive
- 6-55 Nights
- Minimum Age - 18
About the Project
The Wildlife Rescue Centre
The Wildlife Rescue Centre Jogja is located in West Yogyakarta, Indonesia, and is surrounded by many acres of tropical forest. Founded in 2010 the centre began taking in animals who are victims of illegal wildlife trafficking. Consequently, there are now more than 120 animals at the Centre. Learn more about the project and its impacts in 2019.
Wildlife Rescue Centre’s Goal
The goal of the Centre is to release as many animals back into the wild as possible. However, sadly, this is not always possible. Many animals at the animal care volunteer project are not native to Java. Therefore, they must first be translocated to rehabilitation centres in their native home. Hence, for those animals the Centre is a halfway house.
What Will I Do?
You will help with activities such as enclosure cleaning and enrichment. By doing so, you will be helping the animals on their rehabilitation path. This is because, enrichment is important to maintain natural behaviours that they will need in the wild. You are helping some 120 animals on their journey back to the wild!
Volunteer Project Details
Daily Activities
Volunteers at the wildlife rescue centre, Jogja work for five days and rest for two. Each morning, you will work with a keeper to clean enclosures. There are 4 areas that you will work in: with 9 primates, 50 reptiles, 50 birds, and small mammals including 2 Sun bears, 3 binturong and in the nutrition room. You will rotate through these and during your second week you will be able to pick areas you would like to focus on more.
What will I do in the morning?
The first area you will work in is the nutrition room where you’ll help Bob prepare the foods for all of the 120+ animals. Secondly, you’ll work with Dedi cleaning the small primates. This includes sun bears, gibbons, siamang, macaque, and binturong. Thirdly, you will work with Sangsang cleaning out the birds. Lastly, your time will be spent with Ramelan, cleaning the reptiles enclosures.
What happens after break time?
It is now feeding time for the animal. You can pick which animals you want to help feed such as small primates, crocodile, macaque, siamang or eagles! If you are not helping to feed, you can help to clean the mice trays or make enrichment for the animals.
After lunch activities include making enrichment, (Read here on why animal enrichment is important) and assisting vets. Next, you will also help with enclosure maintenance such as cleaning turtle or sun bear pools or repairing enclosures. Moreover, if there is time, you might also be able to help with the afternoon feeding!
What else will I be doing?
On Wednesdays, the Centre hosts community English Class. You will be able to assist the staff to help teach English to the youth and anybody who wants to learn English. Other than that, you can even play games in your lessons! On Thursdays, you will experience a Javan dinner at a local Javanese family’s house. The family will show you around and also cook traditional food for you. These sessions are a great way to make some new Indonesian friends whilst learning about their culture. The more effort you put into these sessions, the more you will get out of them, ask loads of questions and show an interest in learning about a new culture!
Will I have free time?
Weekends are your free time. You can explore Yogyakarta or rest. Otherwise, if you would like to work more, you can also discuss with the team. Read our 13 Best Things to do in Yogyakarta for ideas.
Starting Dates
We are moving to a new location and therefore the project is closed for 2023.
Volunteer Bookings
1 week USD 700
2 weeks USD 1,400
3 weeks USD 1,650
4 weeks USD 1,900
All fees include return airport transfer, three meals per day,
basic air con twin room with ensuite bathroom with cold shower, all activities.
Fees Breakdown
Project Fees
Food
Accommodation
Marketing
Centre Admin Fees
Transport
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Project fees include, keeper and vet wages, animal food, animal veterinary costs, enclosure improvements etc
Food
The volunteer programme package includes all daily meals:
Breakfast & Snacks – Breakfast and break time snack will be prepared for you. However, you make your own breakfast. During break time you will get a snack. This will be a typical Indonesian snack such as filled pastry or a sweet made from rice flour.
Lunch – Lunch is typically rice with Indonesian foods such as tofu, jackfruit, chicken or Javanese salad! You will also get a refreshingly cold drink such as iced tea or a fruit smoothie. Other than that, you will also get a variation of fruit during the week for dessert.
Dinner – Dinner is similar to lunch with rice and either fish, chicken or Tempe depending on the day. You may have fried rice or fried noodles.
Accommodation
Each room is air-conditioned and comes with a wardrobe, a pillow and duvet and 2 plug sockets (at minimum). The room also has a balcony and a wet room style bathroom with a shower, western toilet and a sink. A drying rack, washing machine and fans are also available.
Other Facilities
All rooms come with a key to ensure the safety of your belongings. The WRC also has 24-hour security at the entrance, so you can be sure that you are always safe. There is a lobby area with a water dispenser, tea, and coffee, a fridge, a microwave you can use. Wi-Fi is available for free around the centre.
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Volunteer at Wildlife Rescue Centre
Tips to volunteer at Wildlife Rescue Centre We have experience of volunteering at wildlife rescue centres since 2005. Check out our tips before you decide