• Cleaning the animal cages and enclosures
• Feeding the animals
• Construction and maintenance of cages
• Workshops and seminars to educate local people about animal’s needs

The most important tasks are the feeding and cleaning of the animals, which takes up the majority of volunteer’s time. Twice a day you work closely with the animals to make sure that each one of them is doing well and taken care of.

The center is also constantly looking for ways to improve, extend and enrich the existing cages and enclosures in order to provide the best possible environment, in which the animals can reinforce and nurture their natural instincts. For this reason, the center put a great emphasis on improving their living conditions all the time.

The tasks will always vary, but it generally includes hard physical labor, such as the construction and maintenance of enclosures, and the improvement of our animals' environment in which they currently live. It is taken care that the rescued animals live a calm and suffering-free life at the center. Furthermore, the center believes that educating people about environmental issues is the beginning of putting an end to animal trafficking and the destruction of our planet. Thus, guided school visits, educational talks, radio programs are organized. Those people who understand the needs and rights of the animals will be less likely to approve of seeing them dead or locked up.

But it’s not all work… the volunteers will find friendship, companionship, time to rest, laugh and share unforgettable moments. This is a unique opportunity for you to work so closely with wild animals that need your help.

The working schedule is from Monday to Friday 8am to 1pm and 4pm to 6pm and Saturday in the morning. Saturday afternoon and Sunday you will have enough spare time to explore the country around. Each weekend two volunteers do shift work and return to the center by 11am on Sunday to feed the animals again. In return, they are free to leave on a Friday night.

• 3 volunteer houses, each for 6 volunteers
• Shared bedrooms, bunk beds
• Facilities: Hot shower, kitchen, rooms for common use

You’ll live in comfortable houses with all desired facilities: comfy beds, hot water, TV, stereo, DVD and a fully equipped kitchen. Each house is shared between up to 6 volunteers. It is the volunteers' responsibility to take care of and clean their houses. Living this way, helping each other, creates a more homely atmosphere and adds to a communal living experience.

It is a place where everybody from all over the world has the opportunity to contribute to and work for the conservation of our planet. It is not a bad idea to bring a sleeping bag because, although at 9,800 feet altitude the weather is fairly constant and pleasant all year round, there can be rain and sun all in the same day. The ability to communicate in English is essential for the project as it is the primary language used by all volunteers but we have people of all nationalities so you may have the chance to practice other languages too. There is also the opportunity to learn or practice your Spanish with people from the local indigenous community working or living around.

Please keep in mind that there is no cooking service provided. Volunteers who live together shop and cook together. The spending is around $20 per week per person on food.

The Rescue Center is a sanctuary for wild animals that have been victims of animal trafficking, which intended to enslave them and turn them into pets. The Center is located in an area of the Andes called “The Avenue of Volcanoes” in Ecuador. Situated one hour south of Quito, it is a unique and unforgettable place that is surrounded by magnificent countryside. The climate is pleasant all year round with an average temperature of 18°C during the day and 10°C during the night. Our volunteers are offered the opportunity to protect and care for a great range of wild animals that includes monkeys, cats, bears, reptiles, parrots, and many more. During your stay at the Rescue Center, you will gain invaluable experience working with animals that need so much help, dedication and above all love. You will spend your days in a friendly and cosy environment in beautiful Ecuador.

The Rescue Center was founded by a family living in a dairy farm, who one day came across a group of wild animals. Capuchin monkeys and parrots that were kept in terrible conditions; hurt, sick and starving. They saved them from this horrible mistreatment but could find neither help nor guidance from any organization, or any place where they could have been released and so they brought them to the farm. This way the Center was born back in 2001. Step by step more and more animals arrived, and the owners are always keen to receive and look after these innocent victims of mankind. Nowadays, the Center is an NGO (non-governmental organization), which means that the existence depends on volunteers and other sources of donation.

Although legal trade in wildlife is regulated in many countries, an estimated one-third of the global sales of 25 billion dollars a year is illegal - an illicit business surpassed only by trafficking with arms and drugs. Annually above 50 million wild animals are captured in the Amazon region. An alarming 90% of these poor animals die in the process of being caught or during transportation to their destination country, mainly in Europe or US. The situation of these poor and defenceless creatures is absolutely shocking! The Amazon jungle is the world's largest rain forest, with the greatest flora and fauna diversity on Earth. Experts say that animal trafficking is destroying the life in the Amazon at a time when the rain forest is already facing an increasing threat of deforestation and controversial plans for new roads, gas pipelines and other development projects.

One time registration fee 75 USD.

• Accommodation
• Orientation kit
• Local support
• 24h-Emergency Number

• Flight
• Airport Pick-up
• Medical Insurance
• Visa (if necesary)
• Personal expenses