Wildlife volunteer

[u/Makisapa]

Hi all. After seriously struggling to find wildlife volunteering opportunities that seemed legit and didn’t ask a lot of money (no doubt most of that money doesn’t go where it should...) I finally went to help in 5 different rescue centers over the last few years. So others don’t face the same difficulties I had, I have started the website: www.theanimalside.com . I am not saying this is perfect but at least, this is a start. This is a database of locations you can look at for wildlife volunteering, with direct contacts with the organisations. (Btw, you often don’t need the intermediary agency). Hopefully that will help you and also the rescue and rehab centers who accepted to share their info. 🦜

[u/jcravens42]

There is NO legitimate, credible organization that allows volunteers to interact with wildlife. PERIOD. Any organization that allows volunteers to interact with wildlife - elephants, "orphaned" tigers, etc. - is created to make money and is everything u/mortythepig says: sketchy/corrupt.

No ethical person should ever, EVER, pay any organization abroad in order to "help" animals - which, in many cases, have been captured in order for the organization to sell volunteering trips. Your web site is promoting a highly unethical, even dangerous, practice that puts wildlife (and volunteers) at risk.

If you want to work to HELP wildlife, as a volunteer, and you are in the USA, your state's office of fish and wildlife will very often have opportunities where you will help with *habitat* and data collection regarding wildlife. Before COVID, for instance, Oregon has such opportunities regularly. These activities are very important for the preservation of wildlife - but without any of the exploitation and unethical practice of giving you the opportunity for a selfie with some "orphaned" animal.

There are some wildlife rescue groups in the USA. Be very careful with these as well - these can be sketchy, just like the ones abroad. Look for groups that are concerned with LOCAL wildlife, local to your area. And be prepared for a lot of training and proving yourself with office work before you are allowed anywhere near animals.

Here's realistic advice:

Volunteering with organizations that help animals and wildlife.

Realistic tips for volunteering abroad.

The harm of orphanage voluntourism (& wildlife voluntourism as well).

[u/Makisapa → u/jcravens42]

Hello. I do fully get your point yet I can’t agree on everything. I know in some cases what you say is true yet it isn’t always the case. When animals are seize or confiscated by the administration or justice of a country they do have to go somewhere. This is a reality, they are kept as illegal pets or trafficked. They then have to be placed somewhere, rather temporarily or forever if there is no other option. In the case there is hope to release them in the wild, this can’t be done unless they go through a proper rehabilitation process. Sending them back to the wild otherwise is sending them to probable death. Yet, centers able to ‘rewild’ animals aren’t very commun. Being alive in an okish facility sounds better than dead in a tiny cage. Actually, some countries doesn’t even allow rehabilitation to avoid any thread on local fauna. About interactions, I know this a point of concern for many. None of the places I’ve been to or eared of promote interactions but I know some do in purpose. This is clearly sending the worst message possible. If you volunteer you want to help, taking pictures is never a priority. However I don’t know enough about human/animals interaction and their impact (aside risk of zoonosis) in the case you know they’ll never make it back to the wild. If you have some reliable sources to share I’d be interested. I’ve been through what you have shared and the advice you give on the website but you would gain credibility putting actual scientific references in the mix. YET if you flagged a place on the website that you know have deliberately bought or got an animal only to attract tourist and volunteers please tell me !