Overview
Volunteer at a Primate Rehabilitation Centre in Thailand

This Thai wildlife project has been in operation since 1991, and its continued existence is essential to the 40 or more primates that live in the progressive gibbon sanctuary it supports. The sanctuary is dedicated to the rescue, care and protection of injured/abused gibbons and other creatures in need, who once taken from the wild tend not to be able to live independently again. Volunteers will assist with the day-to-day running of the sanctuary (feeding, cleaning enclosures, caring for the baby apes), as well as the development of the sanctuary through fundraising, outreach programmes and developing an environmental education centre. Volunteers can also experience the indigenous Thai culture, luscious scenery and spectacular wildlife that exist away from the hustle and bustle of cities like Bangkok.

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There's very little I can say to describe my experience except to say that it was superb and I wish I could have stayed forever.

Ruth Campbell, 2007 Volunteer

What Difference Does This Project Make?

The sanctuary was established in 1991 and currently houses over 40 gibbons and a number of other species. It is a lifetime refuge for abandoned, mistreated, and/or physically injured gibbons and other creatures in need, as once they are removed from their natural environments they quickly forget how to forage on their own and can never be returned into the wild.

Highlights

Undergo a cultural orientation in Bangkok, complete with a day learning about Thai language/culture and an exploration of the city; working (sometimes hands on) with endangered apes, exploring this wonderfully rich country, in-depth community interaction.

Location

The project base is nestled in a mountainous region of Thailand’s Tak Province, about 43km from the border town of Mae Sot – a bustling market town with a strong Burmese influence. The sanctuary is situated on a hill, making it perfectly located for watching the sun go down on the Thai countryside.

Field Conditions

Volunteers will stay in shared bedrooms in basic Thai style farm accommodation, which has a bathroom with hot running water and a small kitchen. Cleaning of the volunteer accommodation will be done on a rota basis. You can do your laundry on site. Three meals a day are provided for you, and vegetarians can easily be catered for. There is no access to email / telephones on site, but both are available in the nearby town of Mae Sot (about 45 minutes drive by private car / 1 ½ hours by public transport).