from 799€

Outstanding 4.9rating (210)

Thai Wildlife Rehabilitation & Care

location
1 - 12 weeks  ·  Age 18 - 50+

rating  Outstanding 4.9  · 
  Verified by Volunteer World
  Very high response rate

Highlights

  • Enjoy up close and personal time with Thailand's wildlife
  • Stay in the shelter with lovely animals
  • Nursed animal with best possible care
  • Make memories you can't get anywhere else in the world
  • Make lifelong friendships

Especially good for

Age 18+
Singles
Couples
Groups
50+

About the program

This strictly "hands off" centre rescues animals from places where they are maltreated and/or neglected.

The Project

The centre provides a sanctuary as close to their natural environment as possible with the best possible care. Some animals are nursed back to health and are released back into the wild while others are unable to be rehabilitated and spend the rest of their lives at the centre. There are ...

About the program

The Project

The centre provides a sanctuary as close to their natural environment as possible with the best possible care. Some animals are nursed back to health and are released back into the wild while others are unable to be rehabilitated and spend the rest of their lives at the centre. There are currently over 400 rescued animals including 5 different species of macaque, 6 species of gibbon, civets, leopard cats, a tiger, sun bears and Asiatic black bears, a crocodile, a binturong, exotic birds and over 250 primates.

The centre aims to educate Thai people, particularly children, to end cruelty to animals. This is achieved through education programs held in schools and at the centre. Staff campaign against the illegal wildlife trade and the use of animals for entertainment, for example, the use of animals in live shows, elephant riding and the use of animals as photo props. They aim to put a stop to hunting. By educating local people, tourists and the international community to appreciate, understand and protect wild animals and their rainforest habitat, the centre hopes to promote the conversation of all natural resources, fauna and flora alike.

***This project starts and ends on a SUNDAY so please apply from a Sunday to Sunday***

The Location

The Centre is based on temple grounds near Tha Yang, a district in the Southern part of Phetchaburi province in central Thailand, about 160 kms/100 miles South of Bangkok.

The centre also lies approximately 25km from the beaches of Cha Am and Hua Hin, both popular holiday destinations for locals and tourists.

While Cha-Am successfully caters for foreign tourists, it remains favoured by the Thai people with a large majority of Thai tourists visiting this beach destination. So if you are looking for the real Thailand’, for an authentic experience, this is it!

Your Contribution

You will be responsible for feeding and watering the animals, cleaning enclosures, providing enrichment, planting trees, assisting with tours for visitors, the construction and maintenance work of cages and enclosures and keeping the Centre's grounds clean.

You will make a positive difference to the lives of the animals at the centre by caring for and enriching the lives of a variety of wildlife.

Special projects for long-term volunteers include the care of baby primates, working with animals in the quarantine area and animal rescues.

Conditions Onsite

It can be very emotional work treating and caring for sick and abused animals so you should try to be prepared for this. Be rest assured that you are amongst like-minded people who are experiencing the same feelings and emotions as you and will be there to support you.

The work at the centre is both demanding and physical, especially in the hot months.

There is no maximum age, however, you will need to be able to stand for long periods of time, work in humidity or wet conditions, travel to and from the project and perform basic manual labour tasks.

Thailand has rich, biological diversity. However, sadly increasingly, human pressures such as overexploitation, habitat loss and habitat degradation, are pushing many of Thailand creatures to the brink of extinction. In Thailand, as in every country in the world, animals are abused and exploited for profit and human gratification. There are many examples of animal exploitation for the tourist industry, such as animals performing in degrading shows and elephant riding camps. There is also a thriving illegal trade in wild animals for pets.  O2E ask that volunteers do not engage in activities that involve animal exploitation.  

Please Note

The second instalment of your project fees is due within 1 week after you paid the deposit on Volunteer World. This is a total of $495 AUD and comes off your balance. The balance is due 90 days prior to travel. For all further information about the fees, please scroll down to the section "Program Fees“.



Typical day

You will be involved in the daily routine of caring for the resident wildlife at the centre.

Animals are fed several times a day, therefore, food preparation and feeding plays a large part in caring for each animal.

Each day you will be provided entertainment by preparing food games and enrichment for ...

Typical day

You will be involved in the daily routine of caring for the resident wildlife at the centre.

Animals are fed several times a day, therefore, food preparation and feeding plays a large part in caring for each animal.

Each day you will be provided entertainment by preparing food games and enrichment for the animals. Enclosures require cleaning and the collection and cleaning of food bowls is required.

Rotational tasks include keeping the volunteer house tidy, sweeping paths, kitchen duties and feeding, washing and grooming the resident dogs.

Although you will work very closely with the animals, there is a strict "hands off" policy for most of the animals.

You will work 6 days a week from 6.30 am to 5 pm.


Free-time activities

After work you can relax at the Centre and socialise with other volunteers. There is a variety of local activities available which are scheduled on a weekly basis. These include night market visits, dinner outings, trips to Cha Am and National Park wild elephant spotting.

On days off, you may choose ...

Free-time activities

After work you can relax at the Centre and socialise with other volunteers. There is a variety of local activities available which are scheduled on a weekly basis. These include night market visits, dinner outings, trips to Cha Am and National Park wild elephant spotting.

On days off, you may choose to spend the day or an overnight stay in Cha Am or Hua Hin relaxing on the beach, shopping, tasting the local cuisine or getting pampered. There is a weekly night market in Cha-am which sells lots of cheap clothes and souvenirs. Spend the day at Phetchaburi, the capital city of Phetchaburi Province and one of the oldest settlements in Thailand. Mentioned in historical records dating to the 8th century, and having significant standing artifacts dating to the 12th century, there are numerous temples in and around the city center and market area, in addition to the Royal Palace known informally as Khao Wang that dominates the skyline. The city is situated on the River Phet ("diamond" in Thai), which originates in the Kaeng Krachan National Park and flows into the Gulf of Siam at Baan Laem.

Phetchaburi is a predominantly agricultural province. The city reflects this with a large and thriving traditional market which buzzes with activity from pre-dawn until mid-day and is filled with various aromas. It is very much a working city, with few tourists.

Visit the local spa resort for the day or evening and make use of the pool, spa facilities and restaurants. A massage is the best way to work out those aches and pains!

A few minutes’ away from the centre is the local village where you can stock up on snacks and personal items or visit the Buddist Temple and big Buddha.

Please note

Thailand offers many activities that include animals. Do not ride an elephant, have your picture taken with an animal or visit a zoo or animal entertainment venue. These activities exploit, abuse and overwork animals and many are considered illegal by the Thai Government.

Any tour, activity or show that involves the use of animals in Thailand falls outside the O2E Policy for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.


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 (fluently)

Required Documents

Proof of travel Insurance docs and Proof of vaccinations

Nationality Restrictions

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

Other Skills

No specific skills are required other than a love for animals, a genuine need to help them and a hard working ethic. You will need to be in good physical condition due to the nature of the work undertaken in a hot and humid environment. You should be patient, caring, willing to accept new ideas and be prepared to be challenged by alternative cultural views on the treatment of animals.

What's Included

What's Included

Services by Oceans 2 Earth Volunteers


What's included in this project?


  • Pre-departure support
  • Project Information Pack
  • Transfers from the airport, bus or train station to the project
  • On the job training
  • Accommodation
  • Meals
  • O2E T-Shirt
  • 24-hour in-country support
  • 24-hour O2E emergency phone
  • Certificate of Participation, if requested
What's not included in this project?

  • Flights
  • Travel insurance
  • Bangkok airport or hotel transfer to project (O2E can arrange)
  • Personal spending
  • Visas and entry permits

Accommodation

Basic shared rooms for 2-4 people on site at the centre.

Food & Beverages

Breakfast, lunch and dinner with vegetarian and vegan options.

Fresh, filtered water is provided.

Internet Access

Good access at the project site

What's NOT included?

What's NOT included?

Airport Pickup at Don Mueang International Airport

An airport pickup isn't included within the program fees either.

Flight Tickets

The nearest airport is Don Mueang International Airport (DMK) in Bangkok. We assist you to find cheap flights to Thailand. 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 Thailand provides security and is a plus to have. GET A QUOTE

Vaccines

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

Details on arrival

Volunteers can join the project start every Sunday of the year.

To get there, fly to Bangkok, Thailand. The centre is located 4 hours south of Bangkok. O2E will organise your transport from Bangkok airport or your hotel to take you directly to the centre, or volunteers can take a bus to the local town where they will be picked up.

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

Program fees

1 week (min. stay) 799€
2 weeks 1,194€
3 weeks 1,438€
4 weeks 1,711€
5 weeks 2,140€
6 weeks 2,354€
12 weeks (max. stay) 3,431€
Average fees 542€/week

Program fees

542€ per week 1 - 12 weeks Age 18 - 50+

Payment methods

Visa Master Card Maestro American Express PayPal

NO CREDIT CARD FEES


Duration

1 - 12 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 Oceans 2 Earth Volunteers during the application process. Common solutions are either via bank transfer or a cash payment at the project site.


Meet your organization

Oceans 2 Earth Volunteers

Outstanding 4.9 rating (210 reviews)

Non-profit - founded in 2011

Verified by Volunteer World

  Very high response rate

Coordinated by

Tracy

Spoken languages: English

About the project

Oceans 2 Earth Volunteers is a non-profit organisation that was founded for the purpose of providing resources and financial assistance to animal welfare and conservation

Meet your organization

The O2E Founders are animal lovers and committed volunteers. They founded and established the organisation in Melbourne, Australia, having seen firsthand that volunteer recruitment agencies were not always aware if the projects they supported had the best interests of animals and environment in mind. Instead, unethical and harmful behaviour including elephant riding, unsustainable tree nursery projects and the consumption of scarce community resources by the presence of volunteers were often the result. Local wildlife communities and the animals’ environments were also clearly disadvantaged. For this reason, we created our Oceans 2 Earth Ethical Standards and the Wildlife Code and measure all potential projects by these policies prior to partnering with them.

Oceans 2 Earth Volunteers offers volunteering and adventure travel experiences for ethically minded animal and conservation lovers looking for the trip of a lifetime.

In creating Oceans 2 Earth Volunteers, the O2E founders challenge and engage individuals to contribute to meaningful animal welfare and conservation projects. As wildlife carers and avid animal welfare and rights campaigners, they uphold a vision to promote ethical volunteering as an advisable travel alternative.

We believe the way to solve the issues of animal mistreatment and environmental destruction and degradation is to provide people with the opportunity to contribute and interact so that they may develop their own personal culture of responsibility and global conservation. People exposed first hand to challenging bio diverse environmental issues are more likely to draw on those experiences and continue to make a positive impact once they arrive home. 

Oceans 2 Earth recognise that individuals really can make a difference. However small the work effort is from one person, if you combine the actions of many people as a whole, the result can become quite significant. By bringing like-minded and ethically conscious animal lovers together, Oceans 2 Earth believe that there is no limit to what we can achieve. 

Our Mission

Promote environmental sustainability and to be accountable for our impact on the environment.

Take action and find solutions to improve the natural, bio-diverse way of life for all. Promote the ethical treatment and natural living ecology of all animals.

Expose and educate volunteers to the plight of animals ill-affected by conflict or interaction with man, encouraging them to take action and find solutions to these global issues. 

210 reviews · rating4.9

Aurélien Taquet rating4.4

2019 at Thai Wildlife Rehabilitation & Care

The experience was amazing. You come across so many different wild animals. The centre houses approximately 700 animals, elephants included. You take care of them by preparing their food, cleaning their enclosures, providing them enrichments and so on. This volunteering program is only for people ...
Oceans 2 Earth is a great organization for anyone looking to volunteer and have some fun while doing it. The program is very well organized and it is clear how you are making an impact. Helen, Amy, and Tim are all great group leaders. You are able to see all sorts of different marine life while ...
Sienna Scouter rating5

2024 at Great Barrier Reef Marine Conservation

Helen, Amy, and Sam were wonderful project leaders. They always showed up with lots of enthusiasm and were excited to teach us throughout the day. Overall, the snorkeling activities were enjoyable and the surveys were ...
Charlotte Pierce rating5

2024 at Great Barrier Reef Marine Conservation

O2E has been great. O2E has been such a great experience, all the staff were so friendly and helpful. I loved learning about how we can observe and conserve the ...
Amylyn Mortimer rating5

2024 at Great Barrier Reef Marine Conservation

Helen, Amy and Timmy were awesome! I learned a lot and enjoyed meeting and becoming friends with the members of our group. Fitzroy and Green island are absolutely beautiful. There’s a lot of down time in the afternoon to freely snorkel or walk around the islands. They were very inclusive of my ...
This is my 3rd time with O2E and I have thoroughly enjoyed each experience. Tracy in the office has always been extremely helpful and quick to answer my questions. I have done the Marine Conservation twice now and Helen and Tim are great leaders. My first Marine Conservation involved doing my Rescue ...

Location

Asia > South East Asia > Thailand > Bangkok

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