Tropical forest conservation

Raymond shares his volunteering experience in the tropical forest of Costa Rica

WHAT THIS EXPERIENCE BROUGHT ME…

This program at the refuge really opened my eyes to the huge amount of work needed to care for several hundred animals. I was also deeply enriched on a human level thanks to the interactions with passionate people.

WHAT TASKS WERE ASSIGNED ON SITE?

The tasks I was assigned on site were quite varied. I was responsible for cleaning the cages and enriching them with branches from the forest. I also helped to take animals out and put them back in the cages, such as macaws, parrots, sloths, and howler monkeys. There were also guarding duties to monitor the animals’ condition and feed them. Besides that, there were daily chores like handling laundry, washing dishes, cooking, and gardening.

DO I RECOMMEND THIS MISSION?

I highly recommend this mission. The work done by the center is simply remarkable. It’s essential to understand that for them, paid visits, donations, and volunteering are vital for their operation. The success of these missions directly contributes to the center’s success, and many organizations worldwide are needed to effectively preserve wildlife.

… AND FREEPACKERS?

I was well guided towards centers that suited me. The supervision was sufficient and flexible, which allowed me to organize myself well. I also appreciated the help provided with the administrative side, which can be quite tedious during preparation. Once on site, there was nothing more to do!