Animal Rescue centers
The different Rescue Centers in Ecuador all have one thing in common and that is that they are founded and run by people that love animals and who have seen how animals are suffering just to please somebody´s need for a trophy of an exotic pet. The government and the police look for and try to stop trafficking and when they find the animals they bring them to one of the centers but after that its up to the center to feed and take care of the animals as the government doesn´t contribute with anything. This makes it heard as the centers needs to get money for food, material and equipment to keep the animals in a good environment and that's why they need to allow visitors that can pay a small entrance fee at the same time as they can learn about what happens to the animals, how they live, what they live of etc. Many of the centers also have Ecuadorian students that comes for seminars to learn about animals and their environment as a part of their education but also younger children comes on visits to hopefully get more respect for taking care of our nature more than their parents.
The purpose of the centres are to take care of the animals that have been confiscated from trafficking or from people that had them as pets. In any case they often get seriously injured since they are tremendously abused by people. In the case of the monkeys for example they sometimes have broken their waist due to the chain they have around their waist while being pets.
As most animals who come to the centers cant be placed back to their natural environment again they are given food and shelter. The reason why they cant be placed out back in nature are different form animal to animal but amongst many problems they for example are
-tame after living with and around humans so they would go back humans and get caught again, killed or hurt someone.
-they have had their claws operated away and can no longer hunt.
-they were born in captivity and don't know how to hunt.
-they don't behave as wild animals and wound be rejected by their own kind.
The centres has animals like lions, monkeys, parrots, turtles, ocelots, sloth's, anacondas, Different species of rodents, tapirs etc but this can change from time to time and from center to center..
The centers are located in the Amazon and in the Andes in a couple of different cities and villages and its possible for both individuals and groups of 5 to 10 people to come at the same time.
Participants will normally work 8 hours a day Monday to Friday but this may vary depending on what needs to be done.
Duties will be assigned according to the volunteer's experience, stated preference and the needs in the center.
-According to this volunteers might:
-Feed the animals.
-Clean the cages.
-Help with the reforestation in the area.
-Help in the plant nursery.
-Improve the the parks paths and signs for visitors.
-Guide visitors in the center and talk to them about the animals.
-Collect food in the surroundings for the animals.
-Clean around in the park.
-Help giving ideas on how to improve the park for animals and visitors.
-Help the veterinarian if they come to check up on the animals.
Getting there
Participants goes alone or with other participants but they will be taken to the bus station to make sure they get the right bus. On arrival somebody from the host family or rescue center meets them at the bus station.
Travel time to the different cities are:
Ibarra - about 3 hours.
Tena - about 4,5 hours.
Accommodation
The volunteers will live in the center with the family that lives and work there. They will have a shared room and a shared bathroom. They will also have their two to three meals per day with the family and/or the staff in the center.
The volunteer need to understand that the accommodation is not the highest standard.
Location
IbarraTena
Requirements
Beginner Spanish recommended.
Interest in working people and animals.
Open-mindedness to work and live in a different culture.
The participants need rubber boots and gloves to work with.
Respect that use of sunscreen and other chemicals can harm animals when handling with food etc.