Voluntourism

Founded in 1998, Forest Animal Rescue is a lifetime-care sanctuary for non-releasable wild animals. The rescued animals come from lives of abuse, exploitation, or neglect and most have narrowly escaped being destroyed for lack of a place to go. The sanctuary also rehabilitates and releases native black bears for Florida and surrounding State authorities.

Over 100 animals, ranging from big cats to bears, wolves, primates, bats, and more, reside on the 80-acre facility in large, natural habitats.

The animal residents have been confiscated by authorities, used in research, left to starve, or have been attempted pets that failed because of their wild nature. At Forest Animal Rescue, they have the space and peace that they need to heal and thrive. They receive the best in veterinary care, a healthy diet, and playmates of their own kind. They regain confidence as their bodies gain strength, and they learn to trust the humans who have come to their aid instead of living in fear.

As a true sanctuary, the rescued animals are never bred, sold, or exploited in any way. They are not asked to do anything except to be as wild as they were born to be. They learn to thrive under the careful watch and compassion of the caring staff. Forest Animal Rescue is not open to the public as an attraction or zoo; the only visitors allowed are through bi-monthly tours, scheduled in advance by reservation.

Forest Animal Rescue is highly respected and internationally recognised. Fully accredited by the American Sanctuary Association, a member of the Big Cat Sanctuary Alliance, licensed and inspected by State and Federal authorities, the sanctuary has earned a well-respected place in the sanctuary community.

Some of the duties included in volunteering are as follows:

– Prepare primate and bat food, this includes sorting, cleaning, and cutting fruits and vegetables according to strict dietary requirements. Distribute food to the animals.

– Assist in preparing omnivore and carnivore diets and food distribution.

– Assist in cleaning animal habitats and pools.

– General cleaning and organising activities involved with feeding and general care for the animals.

– Assist with habitat construction and maintenance, learning about captive wildlife safety and caging requirements.

– Assist in general grounds maintenance and repairs

– Assist in general animal enrichment activities thereby learning how to ensure a better quality of life for all animals residing at the sanctuary.

– Assist in general administrative duties related to animal care and sanctuary procedures and other activities as appropriate.

They coordinate environmental restoration projects throughout Pinellas, Hillsborough, and Manatee Counties. Tampa Bay Watch is a nonprofit organisation dedicated to the protection and restoration of the Tampa Bay estuary through scientific and educational programs. There are volunteer opportunities for all ages to participate in a variety of hands-on habitat restoration projects such as oyster dome construction, oyster shell bar installation, native plantings, and coastal cleanups to help Tampa Bay recover from its devastating environmental problems.

Some of the duties included in volunteering are as follows:

– Tampa Bay Watch regularly seeks volunteers to represent their organisation at community events, corporate fairs, and concerts with a goal to increase awareness of their mission. As an outreach volunteer, you’ll talk to people who approach their display to learn all about the organisation and encourage them to sign up to receive the Tampa Bay Watch weekly Enewsletter. They’ll provide you with their display and handouts to effectively discuss programmes. Volunteers are responsible for transporting the display and materials to and from Tampa Bay Watch.

The Estuary EDventures Education Internship provides valuable environmental education, field ecology, and aquarium husbandry experience:

– Teach students of various ages in formal and informal settings

– Assist the education team in the daily and weekly set-up, clean up, and facilitation of each programme

– Perform various in-field activities such as trawling, seining, and kayaking

– Collect and identify species of the bay

– Perform a variety of aquarium husbandry tasks

– Design and implement education programmes and materials with the assistance of supervisor

– Facilitate at least one scheduled programme

– Other duties as assigned

Their ultimate goal is to open an educational centre that will allow kids of all ages to come and learn about and appreciate wildlife. This centre would enable them to reach out and educate the Jacksonville community by participating with local schools and organisations.

The information that they could share through this facility would create awareness about the need to live in harmony with nature to children and adults who may not have had the opportunity to experience wildlife in their everyday lives. They hope that with the addition of an educational centre, they can inspire new people, like you, to become volunteers, members, rehabilitators, and sponsors of the organisation.

Some of the duties included in volunteering are as follows:

– Working at the Wildlife Centre in Jacksonville, caretakers are busiest in spring and summer when they receive thousands of orphaned animals as well as injured adults. Caretakers are responsible for feeding, cleaning, and general care of the wildlife such as food preparation, hand feeding, cleaning cages, maintaining a clean hospital environment, refreshing food and water in outdoor enclosures, and other duties as specified by staff supervisors. Animal experience not required, they provide on-the-job training on a daily basis. This is an immensely rewarding position – you can watch the babies go from infancy to release and know that you, personally, made it possible!

– As a special events volunteer, you will learn behind-the-scenes logistics of planning fundraising events, and work directly with the public. You may visit schools, events, and other organisations to teach ways to coexist with their wildlife neighbours and what to do when dealing with wild animals. It’s a fun opportunity, and you’re directly helping raise funds for WRCNEF, and awareness of its mission!

– WRCNEF receives calls 7 days a week, 24 hours a day concerning wild animals in need of help. Animal transportation volunteers would help respond to those calls by picking up contained animals and transporting them to the drop-off point or Wildlife Centre. These animals may be sick, injured, or displaced. This is a critical position; if you cannot get the animals, you cannot help them.

– Foster caretakers take small animals such as squirrels or opossums home to care for them when they are very young.

– They also have a programme for students in both college and high school who need to obtain hours. If you need service hours, please let them know during your interview. You must be at least 17 years old to volunteer.

– WRCNEF relies on donations of goods such as produce, feed, hay, and pet food. You would pick up the items from the vendors and transport them to the Wildlife Centre.