Updated on: 23/Mar/09

VOLUNTEER PROGRAM DESCRIPTION AMAZON ANIMAL RESCUE CENTER

ECUADOR

BRIEF PROGRAM DESCRIPTION The Amazon Animal Rescue Center is a non-profit organization founded by an animal caring family in June 2006, who constantly strives for the protection of wildlife and the prevention of the illegal trafficking of Amazonian flora and fauna. The center performs the function of rescuing animals that are found in appalling conditions, badly treated by their ‘owners’, without adequate food or water, living in inhumane conditions. When animals are brought to the center, our work begins of providing them enclosures similar to their natural environment, with enrichment tools to enable them to harness their natural behaviors and live in conditions as close as possible to those they would live in out in the wild. However, it is impossible to totally imitate the true wilderness of the rainforest so the center’s objective is to have the center as an intermediary home before releasing the animals back into their natural environment. For volunteers this is a unique opportunity to work with and help a large number of wild animals while living in a spectacularly beautiful area in the Amazon rainforest of Ecuador. The volunteers are responsible for the daily caretaking of the animals that are at the center. This involves activities such as feeding the animals, cleaning the enclosures, maintaining the center and more!

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS For an extra charge and in your free time explore the different activities that the Amazon has to offer: * Baños is located on the northern foothills of the Tungurahua volcano. It is named after the hydrothermal springs of mineral water located around the city. Baños is full of adventure activities, you can’t miss the Manto de la Virgen waterfall, ride a horse in the hills around the town, walk, hike or climb the surrounding trails and the volcano, mountain bike the breathtaking scenic road to Puyo or raft on one of the nearby rivers.

* Take a jungle tour to the Amazon rainforest. There are many tour operators in Baños and some in Puyo than can help you with this. * Visit the National Park Yasuni. The park is primarily a rainforest that lies on 9,820 square kilometres between the Napo and Curaray rivers in Napo and Pastaza provinces in Amazonian Ecuador, around 250 km from Quito. The park was designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1989.

A DAY AT THE PROGRAM HOURS ACTIVITIES

7:30AM-8: 00AM Breakfast with the other volunteers 8:00AM-8: 30AM Morning meeting

8:30AM-12: 00PM Morning work 12:00PM-3: 00PM Lunch, time to rest and relax 3:00PM-5: 00PM Afternoon work 5:00PM- 6:30PM Dinner

6:30PM- on Free time to go to Puyo and/or enjoy the surroundings *This is just an exemplary daily itinerary. All activities scheduled above are subject to change.

PROGRAM FOCUS LOCATION (Province and Town) Animal Rescue Center Animal Care Pastaza, close to Puyo Social ______________ ______________ Adventure ______________ ______________ Environmental ______________ ______________ Construction/Building ______________ ______________ Education ______________ ______________ Sports ______________ ______________

PROJECT/ORGANIZATION/INSTITUTION DESCRIPTION Organization Amazon Rescue Center Location of the Organization Pastaza Province, ten minutes away from Puyo Non-profit/private/public organization Non-Profit Number of employees 5-7 1. Describe the population/community that the institution provides its services to. In case of

rescue centers or environmental organization include the type of animals and environment it works with.

A large portion of Ecuadorian terrain is Amazon rainforest. Within the Ecuadorian Amazon exist thousands of species of animals and plants that constantly face the problems of habitat destruction, indiscriminate hunting and fishing practices and illegal trafficking amongst others. Sadly, it is commonplace to find many Amazonian species kept in inhumane conditions in houses, farms, hotels, resorts and circuses in Ecuador. Often they are found leashed or chained in tiny cages, malnourished, or sharing enclosures with domestic animals that may transmit parasites and diseases. All such animals are victims of illegal trafficking. It is common to see endangered species being sold in markets, squares and street corners in Amazonian cities, being purchased by

tourists and locals that are ignorant to the impact they are causing to the environment and to the species. Equally, they are unaware of the diet, management and care necessary of the animals they buy. Acknowledging the serious problems of animal trafficking, a local family felt it very necessary to create and establish the Rescue Center to aid the rescue, protection and conservation of Amazonian flora and fauna. Some of the animals you can find at the center are: caimans, charapa turtles, aussie parakeets, parrots, tucan, coatis, kinkajous, tayras, squirrel monkeys, tamarinds, tigrillos, boas and more. 2. Services that the organization/institution provides (description). The Amazon Rescue Center strives to rescue, rehabilitate and release wild animals native to the Amazon Rainforest of Ecuador. Therefore we work mostly with a wide diversity of small mammals, many different species of monkeys, a wide range of birds, some reptiles and small felines. The role of the Rescue Center is very important towards conservation in the Ecuadorian Amazon, taking on rescued animals and providing them a better quality of life, with the goal of reintroducing them to their natural habitat, giving them a second chance at freedom. At the center a number of activities are performed directed towards wildlife conservation in the Amazon. These include: the rescue and rehabilitation of wild animals, reforestation campaigns of native tree species, maintenance of botanical gardens of Amazonian flora, environmental education programs in local schools, increasing local awareness of conservation issues, participation in environmental events and promoting ecotourism as an alternative source of income amongst others.

VOLUNTEER INFORMATION 3. How many volunteers can the Project employ monthly? The project can take up to 10 volunteers at the same time. 4. Has the organization received volunteers in the past? Yes. 5. If it has received volunteers in the past, please write since what month and year: The Center has received volunteers from the year they opened. 6. Are there any special features to which the volunteers have to pay attention to when

working at this project? (Religion, illnesses, extra-vaccination, etc) No. Nevertheless it is recommended to bring and/or purchase these items in Puyo: -Mosquito nets -Insect repellent -Long sleeved clothing for cool nights -Rain gear (Being in the rainforest volunteers should expect it to rain everyday) -Light sleeping bag -Bring at least 3 changes of work clothes (preferably in light fabrics that dry quickly) -Good flashlight (with spare batteries) -Rubber boots (participants must bring this or buy them in Ecuador)

7. Are there any requirements to attend this program? Volunteers are required to have a basic level of fitness, as most of the work consists of carrying heavy loads (even during distribution of food and water for the animals), using tools like shovels and machetes and walking up and down the jungle surroundings. The minimum age requirement is 18 years of age, unless accompanied by a parent or a tutor. 8. The project receives volunteers all year round? Yes. 9. Please specify holidays or other dates when the project closes and can not receive

volunteers: The project doesn’t close for holidays. It is open all year-round. 10. Is there a minimum amount of weeks volunteers can work at the project? Two-week minimum. 11. Is there a maximum amount of weeks volunteers can work at the project? No. 12. Please give detailed description of tasks and duties of the volunteer: The Amazon Rescue Center welcomes volunteers to help with the centers’ day to day activities, work on existing projects of enclosure enrichment, botanical studies in our forest, or helping to create new projects like new environmental awareness programs in the local schools, or building new islands as fenceless sanctuaries for the animals just to name a few. Volunteers require no previous experience with animals, though it is a perfect place to practice and learn for budding zoologists, animal careers and vets. Volunteers need to love the natural world, have the motivation to help and to learn, a willingness to get placed in to projects, and a friendly personality. Regular duties are the daily cleaning of all the enclosures and exterior areas where the animals live and the preparation/distribution of the food to all the species of animals sheltered at the center. In particular seasons, volunteers regularly go on walks to collect wild fruits and leaves for the animals to include in their diets. Activities vary each week a lot depending on the needs of the animals and the center at the time. All volunteers have to participate in the wide variety of projects planned for the center, from building bigger and better enclosures for the animals (a continuous all year round task), improving access paths to enclosures and continuous animal observation. 13. Indicate the times and days the volunteer will be working in the week: Volunteers will be working from Monday through Friday. From 8:00am to 5:00pm. Volunteers are required to work on Saturday morning until approximately 11am, to feed the animals in the morning. After 11am on Saturday volunteers are free to explore the surroundings and get to know Ecuador!

LOCATION OF THE PROJECT 14. Please indicate the closest city or town to the project. The center is situated three kilometres from the town of Puyo, just off the road that leads to Tena. Puyo is the capital of the province of Pastaza and has an altitude of approximately 900m. The Puyo River is a tributary of the Pastaza River, which eventually leads into the Amazon River. It is relatively easy to find the center. It takes between four and a half to five hours to travel from Quito to Puyo and the fare is $5. There are other Amazonian and Andean cities not too far away that have much to offer. Baños is 1 hour away on bus, Tena is 2 hours, and Macas is 3 hours away. Along with Puyo, these towns offer much in the way of tourism and adventure sports. 15. Indicate what types of transportation there is form the center if this city to the project, its

costs and approximately the time that will take: TYPE COST TIME IT WILL TAKE Taxi (pick up truck) $2-3 10 minutes (Center to Puyo) Bus $0.25 20 minutes (Center to Puyo) Participants can walk approx. 500 meters from the center to the main road, where they can catch a bus to the center of Puyo. 16. Describe the surroundings of the project (country side, urban, town) The center is situated in the outer fringes of the Amazon rainforest, therefore it has an altitude of 900 metres above sea level. Because of this, the temperature is very comfortable, and not too hot. The temperature generally ranges between 18 and 24 degrees celsius. As with all the Amazon rainforest, the area of the center is a humid environment and rain is frequent at certain times of the year. The rainiest months of the year are between February and March. The rain does not cause too much of a problem, as it is quite warm. It is often a welcome respite from the blazing sun.

ACCOMODATIONS AND MEALS 17. Type of Accommodation? Volunteers are housed in cabañas for 3-4 persons that are in the heart of the center so they can watch the animals from their hammocks on the deck, and in the mornings wake up to the beautiful sound of macaws, parrots, monkeys and other animals of the center. The cabañas are basic but have all the necessities such as electricity, hot and cold running water. There is a communal kitchen and dining area for the use of volunteers and staff. The kitchen area is large and is well equipped with all necessary appliances and utensils. In the dining area, volunteers and staff eat together during breakfast, lunch and dinner. It is also an area where meetings are held, presentations are given, games are played, social events take place, and just a good place to hang out and share experiences and traveling tales with fellow volunteers. Around the center, there are picnic areas and designated campfire sites, where volunteers can go and sit around the fire in the evenings, play the guitar, sing songs, toast marshmallows, etc.

18. Are meals included? Meals are not included. All volunteers contribute with $15-$20 per week to shop at the local market in Puyo in order to provide food and supplies for the volunteers. Volunteers take turns to cook, wash up, clean, etc.

WHAT IS INCLUDED? • Dormitory Style Accommodation at the center • A detailed orientation on arrival to Quito • An airport pickup and drop off upon arrival and departure • 24 hour Emergency help • Full support prior to departure from your personal travel advisor • Detailed information pack prior to departure

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED? • Food (volunteers contribute US$15-20 per week and buy food at the local market) • All international flights • Travel insurance • Any extra activities and excursions • Alcoholic beverages/extra snacks PICTURES OF THE PROJECT