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Volunteering

Wild Cat Conservation in Costa Rica

Conduct wild cat research in the tropical jungles of Costa Rica’s Kekoldi Indigenous Reserve.

Durations: 1 - 12 weeks
Fieldwork hours35 hrs of fieldwork per week
Participant ratio1:6 staff to participant ratio
4 participant reviews
GVI experiencesIncludes GVI Experiences
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Travel flexibility, because life happens! Modify your booking, even up to 48 hours before departure. T&Cs apply.

Program information

Costa Rica accounts for only 0.03% of the world’s surface area, but contains more than 5% of its biodiversity. Kekoldi Indigenous Reserve is a species-rich stretch of rainforest home to several endangered or vulnerable wild jungle cat species. This research program focuses on monitoring and mapping the wild cat population in the reserve in order to derive effective conservation strategies.

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Program overview

Costa Rica is known for its progressive and vibrant cities, beautiful beaches and rich natural landscape – perfect for adventurers, budding conservationists or those travellers looking to make an ethical impact on the environment. 

When you join this wild cat conservation volunteer program in Costa Rica, you’ll live and work in lowland tropical rainforest.Get ready for some adventurous hikes through the rainforest. We’ll explore challenging terrains to find the best spots for our camera traps. Alongside our local project partners, other researchers and participants from across the world, you will set up camera traps, monitor and survey habitats, and collect data on cat behaviour and territoriality. You will also work to identify and monitor individual cats. Species that have been sighted in the reserve include: 

  • Ocelot
  • Margay
  • Jaguarundi

One species that is rumoured to be in the area, but hasn’t been sighted in a few years is the puma. Many of these species are threatened or endangered by illegal poaching, habitat loss and human/animal conflict.

This research is essential to help the Kekoldi Reserve management team establish effective conservation strategies and environmental awareness programs.

Highlights

 

 

Contribute to jungle cat research
Contribute to jungle cat research
There’s very little research about jungle cat species found in Kekoldi. Learn monitoring from experts, and help uncover more about these elusive cats.
Feel the rush of the jungle
Feel the rush of the jungle
Live in a protected indigenous reserve, surrounded by abundant wildlife species like jungle cats, monkeys, tropical birds, birds of prey and reptiles.
Be part of the real deal
Be part of the real deal
Contribute to ongoing environmental projects that address critical challenges aligned to the global United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Join ethical initiatives
Join ethical initiatives
Join local conservation partners and qualified professionals to ensure your efforts are highly ethical, meaningful and sustainable.
Experience unreal adventures
Experience unreal adventures
Venture outside typical travel itineraries to get exclusive access to extraordinary remote habitats, rare species and unique ecosystems.
Make friends for life
Make friends for life
Share epic experiences with like-minded, passionate changemakers from all over the globe.
Enjoy a hassle-free, safe trip
Enjoy a hassle-free, safe trip
With expert staff and 24/7 support at every step – you can relax and enjoy the experience stress-free.
Take a break
Take a break
Disconnect from the digital world and reconnect with nature, yourself and your purpose.

Activities

Some of the example typical activities you could participate in on this program.

 

Fieldwork training
Fieldwork training
Learn how to identify species, collect data and monitor species. You will also receive health, safety and conservation ethics training.
Wild cat conservation
Wild cat conservation
Contribute to wild cat research (species like puma, ocelot, jaguarundi and margay) by setting up and checking camera traps in the rainforest.
Biodiversity surveys
Biodiversity surveys
Conduct forest biodiversity surveys focused on key plant, insect, bird, mammal and reptile species.
Reptile/amphibian conservation
Reptile/amphibian conservation
Support research focused on reptiles and amphibians, including the eyelash palm pitviper, fer-de-lance and red-eyed tree frog.
Bird conservation
Bird conservation
Conduct bird point counts to assess species in the reserve. Assist in raptor research during migration season, one of the world’s largest migrations.

Skills

  • Data collection
  • Population ecology
  • Species identification
  • Survey research
  • Wildlife conservation
  • Volunteering

Partners

Some of the partners we work with on base.

Kekoldi Indigenous Family
Kekoldi Hawkwatch

Program details

 
Included in your program, at no extra cost.

Make the most of our unique programs with these exclusively curated local adventure and wellness experiences.

Offered once a month, expand your adventure with GVI Experiences. These are just some of the activities offered on your program!
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Stargaze in the jungle
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Wildlife photography workshop
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Yoga in the rainforest
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4 reviews

Gianni Buschini

6 Feb 2025
Very nice experience and immersion in the nature. The adventure is worth it. 

Polly Clark

24 May 2024
I took part in the big cat and wildlife conservation programme in Costa Rica. This was an incredible experience set in the Kekoldi rainforest reserve, however the programme title is a little misleading as you are mainly doing biodiversity research not so much a focus on big cats. This is overall an amazing opportunity and I have no regrets about the location I picked (tough choice between Limpopo and Kekoldi). I also managed to help out with the turtle programme in Cahuita during my time there which was a huge highlight for me - I was extremely lucky to experience a leatherback in labour, see turtle hatchlings and save an entire nest of eggs in one day! The GVI team are fabulous and so knowledgeable, we really managed to get a lot done and see a lot in the 2 weeks i was there. Definitely worthwhile!

Thomas Casey

10 May 2024
I had a once in a lifetime experience. All of the staff were very kind. I was very impressed by the knowledge that the staff have of the Kekoldi area.

Adam Rap

31 Aug 2023
Kekoldi, Costa Rica is a beautiful location to visit. The remote location and the wildlife in the surrounding area made it the trip of a lifetime. The GVI Team in Costa Rica are awesome and have contributed to an unforgettable experience in the Rainforest. 

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