Volunteer program role and typical work day: 

As a wildlife volunteer in Bali, you will rotate across several of the projects and locations we work in, gaining a wide range of insight into the many ways volunteers can make an impact during their time on the program. The daily shifts will vary depending on each project. While on the project you will work alongside other staff members who have years of experience on each project.

Transport to and from the projects is included in your program fee. The beach cleans and AREC center are about 20 minutes away by Bemo. Additionally, the mangrove restoration is about 1 hour away so you will be transported by private car and the wildlife center is 5 minutes away by bemo.

In general, Bali wildlife rescue volunteers are expected to work for around 3-5 hours per day from Monday-Thursday with Friday being optional but encouraged. Typical activities you will get involved in during your time on the volunteer in Bali wildlife center include:

Feeding – These animals are fed based on the species and time of year. For instance, crocodiles are fed two times a week with things like chicken or duck, while monkeys are fed daily with fruits. You will be able to cut and prepare meals based on the species you are working with and learn about the types of food that are best.

Enrichment – Many of these animals are endangered and have come from the loss of their native habitat or poor treatment in the black market. Their displacement often leaves these animals irritable and at times depressed, causing them to have poor eating habits or behavior. Your time interacting with them and coaching them on things such as eating, foraging, playing, or social interaction with other animals is imperative. Over time these animals may just learn to trust you and in turn, you could find one of those pretty Parakeets on your forearm.

Enclosure Cleaning – These enclosures are made for each animal based on the feedback of the veterinarian during the first assessment. You may find the enclosures to be small, but some irritable animals find it more comfortable to be in smaller spaces. Over time the enclosures will be expanded and eventually, they will be released back into the wild. The crocodiles tend to need the brush cleared back to keep them from being confined to one area, so an example of this upkeep would be cutting the brush back, while the staff keep the crocodile occupied. In the bird enclosures, the branches and chains may need to be replaced and cleaned as they begin to rot. If you are comfortable, they will let you clean and make repairs in the enclosure with these beauties flying all around you!

Maintenance – The rescue center is a great place, but with limited funding, it could do with some tender loving care. Volunteers will be asked to help with creating a better atmosphere for the animals by clearing up the grounds. While you are doing a bit of upkeep this can include fixing the hinges on enclosure doors, relining the fencing, adding new gating on the enclosure, repairing the habitats, or cleaning the grounds of rubbish and weeds. Beach cleans are an integral part of keeping Bali’s coastlines pristine, you will be collecting and properly disposing of trash that litter Bali’s beaches and forests.

Free-time activities: