Animal Rehabilitation

About the program

The project aims to rehabilitate many different types of tropical species like sloths, howler monkeys, spider monkeys, toucans, marmosets, and more that have been injured or illegally held captive. Here these animals receive the care they need to survive on their own in the wild. Volunteers live on-site and help with many different essential tasks for the animal sanctuary.

In the morning volunteers help prepare the fruits and vegetables for all the animals on site. They help feed and bathe the animals, especially the sick or injured ones who need special attention. Volunteers help to socialize animals staying in the sanctuary that cannot be replaced back into the wild as well.

After these duties have been completed, the volunteers help with other tasks around the sanctuary that may include yard work, cleaning, and helping care for their garden. It is possible that volunteers will also take the animals out to play and exercise with them, though it cannot be guaranteed with the changing laws and policy. It is a dynamic situation. These animals are being rehabilitated to be released back into their natural habitats.

Leisure Activities During Your Service Vacation

An all-day excursion to either Isla Tortuga Beach, to include boating and snorkeling, La Fortuna Hot Springs and Hanging Bridges, or Paos Volcano with Coffee Touring. This to be planned on one of the below days. You will find out the specific day on your arrival Sunday. These are planned due to weather and availability.

Sample daily schedule

8:00 am: Breakfast

8:45 am: Morning work starts and includes construction of new quarantine, animal food preparation, animal enclosure cleaning, animal feeding, refilling animal water dispensers and animal enrichment programs

12:00 pm: Lunch at animal center

1:30 pm: Meeting with Volunteer Coordinator

1:45 pm: Afternoon work starts animal food preparation, animal enclosure cleaning, animal feeding, refilling animal water dispensers and animal enrichment programs

4:00 pm: Nocturnal animal feeding

6:00 pm: Dinner at animal center

7:00 pm: Transfer to accommodations to rejoin other volunteers

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