Be a Wildlife Volunteer in South America
// June 11th, 2010 // No Comments » // Volunteer Vacations
Ecuador in South America is home to a bewildering array of wildlife. Fifteen percent of the world’s bird species are endemic to Ecuador. There are also 138 species of amphibian and 106 species of reptile.
From Lions to spider monkeys to endangered species like the Giant Armadillo, the wildlife in Ecuador is in fact so diverse that the World Conservation Monitoring Center lists it as one of seventeen Megadiverse countries in the world where the majority of Earth’s wildlife is to be found.
As a South America volunteer on an Ecuador wildlife protection program you have the opportunity to get up close and personal with this extreme biodiversity.
Lead Adventures operate four rescue and education projects designed to safeguard the country’s wildlife from the effects of illegal animal trade and maltreatment.
You can help feed and clean animals as diverse as Galapagos Turtles and sloths; you can volunteer help on endangered species breeding programs; you can assist with the intake of new animals confiscated by the Ecuadorian authorities, and help with their rehabilitation and rehoming or re-release into the wild. It is a South America volunteer adventure you’re unlikely to forget!
Animal abuse in Ecuador remains a massive challenge. Laws and attitudes are changing slowly, but help is still very much needed. If you’re an animal lover with a lust for travel, what could be more inspiring than a trip to Ecuador on a two-week wildlife volunteer program? It’ll take your breath away!
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Much has been written lately about the cost of university, and the growing number of young people put off by higher education referable the thought of so much debt after graduation. However, as the new term kicks off this month, it is clear that the recession has made the application process even more competitive as more mature students enrol, at the same time as jobs are cut, pay is frozen and more people find themselves without work. So what are the other options after college or sixth form?
Being a tourist isn’t the single way to travel. By getting involved the locals you gain a lot more insight and different experiences. Volunteering has become a progressively popular form of spending holidays abroad while learning about life in other countries. Join a volunteer organization or organize it yourself to make a difference, find new friends and have your life changed by your new experiences. Volunteer vacations are short term commitments where you can combine your holidays with working for a good cause. You will make new friends, learn a lot about the host country, and at the same time have a good time with others. You will see sights average tourists miss because their guide books don’t tell them. You discover culture from the inside because you work and share experiences with local people. You travel to teach and share your skills with people who are less fortunate.