Volunteer in Thailand (ages 18+)

Thailand’s wildlife is increasingly under threat by poachers, rampant tourism and overdevelopment. As a volunteer you can help to reverse these trends through work with one of two projects run with support from the Asian Wildlife Fund and Thai Royal Forestry Department. Work with rescued gibbons on the island of Phuket, or help save endangered sea turtles in the mangrove forests of the Andaman Coast.

Requirements

Volunteers should be in good physical condition and should have an open, flexible attitude, a genuine love of animals, and the ability to work long hours out of doors. Accommodation and working conditions are rustic, but the areas surrounding the projects are beautiful and the rewards of making a difference to these fascinating creatures are immeasurable.

Accommodation

You will live in on-site housing with other volunteers. Meals are not included, but food is inexpensive and readily obtained nearby; communal cooking facilities are available. Please note that electricity may not be available at all times.

Program Length and Work Hours

A minimum commitment of 3 weeks is required. Volunteers are expected to work six days a week. The work hours and schedule vary with the changing needs of the project.

PROJECT DETAILS

Gibbon Rescue Project – Phuket Island

Gibbons are small monkeys that inhabit the lowland forests of Southeast Asia. Thailand’s gibbons are threatened by the destruction of their rainforest habitat and by poachers who hunt them for meat, medicine and the exotic pet trade. The animals are commonly exploited to attract tourists in bars and on street corners in Phuket and nearby Bangkok as well. Since 1992 this project, founded in cooperation with the Asian Wildlife Fund, has been rehabilitating rescued gibbons for release back into the wild. The project currently houses over 70 rescued gibbons.

As a volunteer, you will help run and maintain the facilities. Typical activities include preparing food, cleaning, and repairing and building new enclosures, and talking tourists about the threats gibbons face and the work being done at the center. You may also assist with the release of animals back to their natural habitat, which involves observation to ensure the animals are adapting successfully. Long term volunteers (two months or more) may be able to assist researchers with behavioral studies.

Sea Turtle Conservation Project – Ranong Province, Andaman Coast

(December through March)

Fifty years ago, sea turtles thrived on the Andaman coast of southern Thailand, but today their numbers are dwindling rapidly. Founded in 2003 with support from the nearby Ranong Coastal Resources Research Station, this project is based on a biosphere reserve established to protect the most extensive mangrove forests remaining in Thailand. In addition to restoring the turtle population in the area, the project plays an important role in generating local understanding of the value of nature and its conservation, with the aim of actively involving the community in the protection of turtles and nesting sites. You will help the research team monitor the beach for turtle nests, learning how to identify turtle tracks, find nesting turtles, and record tag numbers. When not working with the turtles, you can help care for macaques and gibbons at the nearby wildlife rescue center.

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Other Programs in Thailand

Volunteer Programs in other countries

Volunteer application (pdf)

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