Apply to Help Monkeys
Monkeys and baboons are really special creatures and they need human assistance more than ever in helping them survive in the wild. Poaching and habitat destruction are both big problems facing monkeys but there are lots of incredible organisations working to help.
Monkeys like a lot of wildlife have become targets of illegal wildlife trafficking and sold as pets around the world. Now more and more monkeys and baboons are being rescued and cared for in sanctuaries by wildlife conservation organisations and you can get involved to help.
On One World 365 you can find rewarding placements at primate rehabilitation projects where you can play an active role in helping abused, injured and endangered monkeys. Applying to help monkeys will be really rewarding, there are hands on medical placements, general assistant positions or you could help with educational awareness and other campaigns.
Tasks can include:
- Cleaning cages, feeding bowls, and washing blankets/towels
- Care for babies and orphans babies.
- Preparing feed, including bottles for babies
- Feeding the animals
- Check for injuries
- Help tend wounds
- Build new enclosures
- Assisting with all preparations before releases
- Monitoring monkeys
- Conservation education in the local community
Popular Places to Work with Monkeys
There are worldwide locations where you can help including Asia, Africa and South America. You will be able to join conservation teams and wildlife experts who work in primate rehabilitation centres and in the bush protecting and rescuing monkeys. You will be able to care for injured, rescued or abandoned monkeys helping them get back to full health by assisting local staff. Some projects including volunteering in South Africa allow you to be located in the Kruger National Park which is spectacular area of wildlife. In other destinations like going to volunteer in Argentina you could work at wildlife sanctuaries which care for Carayá monkeys, these are the biggest breed of monkeys in the world and they are also very loud. There are programs all around the world you can join.
Volunteer with Monkeys in South Africa
You can provide vital care for a variety of primates that find a safe home at the world's largest primate rehabilitation centre based just an hour away from the Kruger National Park in beautiful South Africa. The Primate Rehabiliation Centre which has been involved in primate rehabilitation (mainly vervet monkeys) for nearly 20 years was established to offer much needed sanctuary to the many wildlife casualities that have found a safe home there. The aim of the Centre is to actively rehabilitate these monkeys so that they can support themselves and eventually be released back into their natural habitat.
This Africa volunteer program has approximately 500 animals on site at a time, including vervet monkeys, baboons, samango monkeys and bush babies. It takes a lot of organisation, monitoring and research to organise rehabilitation and release and volunteers are very involved in this process. Volunteers will work hands on with the monkeys each day, caring for them and nursing injured animals back to health, helping to transform them develop from the scared and bewildered creatures that they are when they arrive enjoying the freedom that their new life offers as a busy family team member.
Help to care for injured, orphaned or abused vervet monkeys in South Africa. You’ll pitch in with all aspects of daily care and help to rehabilitate the monkeys before they can be released into natural enclosures. Whilst at the project you will be involved in a number of activities centred on providing the monkeys with the care and attention they need. The monkeys need a lot of care so you’ll be needed for most of the week between 8am and 5pm, with one full day and one half day free to explore. If you happen to be at the programme between November and February, you’ll be in time to catch baby season! Your days will start earlier, at about 6am, but you’ll get to feed and care for the little ones and may even be needed to do an overnight shift with the babies!
Volunteer with Monkeys in Argentina
If you are passionate about animal rescue and rehabilitation, and are also a keen traveller, then apply to help at primate rehabilitation centres in Argentina. One is situated 80km north of Cordoba in the Tiu Mayu region of Argentina, this centre is the first of its kind in the country and is located on a 360 hectare nature reserve. Over the past 20 years, the local team have focused on the rescue and rehabilitation of the Black Howler monkey. This species is now considered vulnerable as the local communities continue to hunt for bush meat, keep them as pets and destroy their natural habitats. The team at this centre aim to “teach the monkeys to be monkeys again” through a programme which focuses on physical, psychological and social rehabilitation. Over 100 have been successfully released into the wild through this programme.
What to Expect
All monkey volunteer projects are different and roles will vary depending where you are based, usually you will get full training and be given daily duties where you will work alongside local staff and other international participants. There are lots of sanctuaries where you can help, the destination is really up to your personal preference. On some programs you might be responsible for caring for rescued monkeys and doing tasks like feeding them and cleaning their enclosures. You will be able to work with them and observe them in close quarters but you might not get hands on experience unless you have previous experience in a medical capacity. You could be working with male, female and baby baboons who have had difficult pasts and who need care and attention - the aim being to get them back to health and in a position to release into the wild.
As a volunteer you will be able to work with the animals getting food, cleaning their enclosures and helping them get them back to health before being releasing back into the wild. You will be able to work alongside local vets helping research and monitoring tasks. These placements are a great learning experience, you will learn how intelligent the animals are and they will have you fixated through the duration of a stay. Sometimes you might even get to see them released back into the wild which is an amazing feeling. During your average week you will work around 6 hours per day with nights off, sometimes weekends are free for your to explore your local surroundings too.
Accommodation
Volunteer accommodation can be basic but comfortable. There are sometimes big dormitories that sleep between 4 and 9 volunteers and there are also some cabins that can sleep couples if requested. Some placements like those in South Africa have access to a swimming pool, social room and fire pit. Internet access is usually available.
Requirements
Most organisations will require you to stay for a minimum of two weeks, you can choose the duration of your stay we recommend 4 weeks so you can put all your skills to good use and really make an impact. There are no specific qualifications or requirements needed to apply, most organisations will require you to be aged 17 and over. You will need to be able to work in teams, be adaptable and be good fun to be around. Also you will need to be elgibile for a tourist visa in your prefered destination.
How to Apply
If after reading this you are interested in working with monkeys search our featured programs or view all of our animal jobs abroad for more options. You can book a place on our website in advance, its important you plan ahead to make sure there are spaces available.
Some organisations both local or international will require you to pay a fee to participate, this usually includes training, accommodation, meals and a donation to running costs. Most sanctuaries are operated on a shoe-string budget and rely on donations to survive, so by signing up to some programs you know the money you pay will really make a difference in long term efforts.
What is usually included:
- All meals during your placement
- Accommodation during your placement in shared wooden cabins
- Arrival orientation and briefing in South Africa
- Airport pick-up included on arrival date
- Full support and assistance from the project coordinators in South Africa
What's is usually not included in the price:
- All Flights
- Personal Travel Insurance for the duration of your placement, which should include cover for repatriation
- Visas
- Return Airport transfer
- All items of a personal nature, such as curios, gifts, clothing (work and other)
- Soft drinks, wines and spirits
- Any excursions over and above your planned itinerary
Related Pages
