Project summary

Join the staff at 'The best Little Zoo in the World' in their work of housing rescued animals and providing wildlife education to the people and especially the students of Belize. Belize Zoo receives visits from over 15,000 school students each year and there is always a need for energetic volunteers to join the work. If you are excited about animals and sharing your passion, or if you have professional skills to share the Belize Zoo needs you!

Volunteering roles

There is a need for volunteers to work in three main areas (full details are provided lower down ths page):

Education Department Volunteering

With visits from over 15,000 school students each year the centre is extremely busy providing educational tours and resources. There is a real need for volunteers to help guide and teach the students.

Animal Management Department Volunteering

The Animal Management Department looks after all the animals in the zoo. Volunteers with some previous experience working with animals have the opportunity to assist in caring for the animals.

Professional Roles

If you have one of the following professional skills then we'd love to hear from you as the zoo has a real need: plumber, electrician, marketing professional, web designer, artist, photographer, aquarium developer.

The location

The zoo is based about 45 minute drive from Belize City in 29 acres of Belizian tropical savannah. The land has been sensitively fenced and maintained to ensure that the animals live in an environment as close as possible to their natural habitat. Gravel paths wind amongst the enclosures giving the feel that you are walking in the wild amongst the wildlife.

How you can make a difference

By volunteering at this project you will make a major contribution to the welfare of animals in Belize. Your time and efforts will help to care for the animals, and the majority of the programme cost will go direct to the centre providing a critical source of funding for their work.

On a personal level you will have a unique opportunity to work alongside some incredible Central American wildlife and gain the satisfaction of helping to make a difference to the lives of these animals.

What's included

• A comprehensive information booklet and support pre-departure
• Travel advice and assistance
• Accommodation (a simple shared room)
• All main meals
• Ongoing support, help and advice from our local team.

What else to budget for

The following items are not included and estimates are given as a guide for your budgeting: flights to Belize International Airport (£600-£800), travel insurance, visa (free for stays of less than 30 days, £45 otherwise), transport to the Zoo from the airport (about £40), general living costs (£100 per month).

Other projects you might also be interested in....

* Bear Sanctuary in Cambodia

* African wildlife conservation - South Africa

* Cheetah re-introduction - South Africa

* Horse rehabilitation in South Africa

* Wildlife Rescue in Thailand

* Elephant Care in Thailand

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More details

About the Zoo and the animals

Belize is a beautiful English speaking Caribbean country covered in huge swathes of rainforest. Much of its wildlife is the same as that of the Amazon Rainforest. The Belize Zoo and Tropical Education Center (TEC) house over 125 animals in their natural habitat. The zoo keeps only native animals of Belize which were either orphaned, born at the zoo, rehabilitated, or sent to The Belize Zoo as gifts from other zoological institutions. A visit to the zoo is the best way to get an introduction to the animals of Belize, and to understand why it is important to protect the habitats that sustain them. The Belize Zoo and TEC believe that by bringing the people of Belize closer to the animals which are their natural heritage, they will feel proud of these special resources, and want to protect them for future generations.

You'll get to know jaguars, pumas, ocelots, tapirs, harpie eagles, crocodiles, howler monkeys, gibnuts, scarlet macaws, toucans, king vultures, boa constrictors, coral snakes and many more beautiful and incredible animals of Central America.

Education Department volunteering

The main roles are:

* to be actively involved in introducing visiting school groups to the Belize Zoo including guiding groups around the Zoo

* to help in delivering and developing fun environmental education and awareness lessons to visiting school groups

* to help in the development of posters, signs and slogans promoting the conservation and protection of endangered fauna

* to participate in the brainstorming of ideas to better educate the local and international community about the importance of the Zoo for the conservation and development of stewardship in the local and international community

* to participate in community outreach programmes in villages and districts around Belize teaching about the importance of wildlife conseration.

What you'll do:

The Education placements are for a minimum of 1 month and can last up to 6 months or longer. You'll start with a week of detailed learning giving you a rare and fascintating insight to the zoo and the natural history of Belize. You'll become familiar with the animals of Belize and will spend time around the zoo, time assisting with school groups and time on private reading. Once you are sufficiently familiar with the information you will start conducting your own school group introductions and tours of the zoo.

This is a placement that is full of fun and gives you the chance to help educate a generation of Belizians about the beauty and importance of their natural heritage. You'll also never view the rainforest and its wildlife the same way again. Its impossible to spend time at the zoo and not fall in love with the animals.

Requirements:

No previous experience is required, just energy and enthusiasm to work with kids and animals. Volunteers must be at least 18 years old.

Animal Management Department volunteering

The roles:

* Assist in the care and maintenance of rare and endangered neo- tropical fauna found in the zoo. You will have responsibilities for understanding the specific needs of the animals within their captive environment

* Assist in wildlife interpretative tasks for zoo visitors and tour groups e.g. handling and exhibiting a Boa Constrictor to visitor while relating its life history, present conservation status and answering questions about the specimen

* Be involved in current wildlife conservation efforts ongoing at the Belize Zoo such as, Jabiru Stork monitoring, problem Jaguar rehabilitation and Harpy Eagle reintroduction programme

* Contribute to exhibit enrichment; this includes the betterment of animal enclosures, enhancement of viewer experiences, enhancement of activities and positive enrichment for the enclosed fauna, improvement of the captive environment for the animals and landscaping of trails, paths and signs within the zoo

* Assist the Zoo vet with surgical procedures or animal inspections

What you'll do:

These placements are for one month to 6 months. As with all animal care roles in a zoo, early starts and long hours are the order of the day. You'll join the busy team of zoo keepers and caretakers looking after the animals in the zoo. Working closely with the zoo keepers you learn an incredible amount from them about the detailed needs of the animals under your care.

Requirements:

Some experience working with animals along with enthusiasm, a reasonable level of fitness and a strong desire to work with wildlife. Volunteers must be at least 18 years old.

Professional Skills volunteering

If you have one of the following professional skills then we'd love to hear from you as the zoo has a real need.

The roles:

* Landscape designer - to work with the zoo's leadership to continue to improve the layout and design of the zoo

* Carpenter / builder - to work on general maintainence as well as developing new enclosures and infrastructure within the zoo

* Plumber / electrician - to work on general maintainence and up-grade the zoo's infrastructure

* Marketing professional - to work with the zoo's leadership to develop the zoo's advertising within Belize and internationally

* Web designer - to help develop and improve the zoo's website

* Artist - to create beautiful artwork for display in the zoo, as well as mural creation around the zoo

* Photographer - to add to and improve the zoo's stock of photos used for advertising and the creation of t-shirts, posters and postcards

* Aquarium Developer - the zoo has a small number of aquariums and would really benefit from an experienced skilled aquarium developer to work on improving this section of the zoo.

What you'll do:

These placements are generally for a minimum of 2 weeks and can last up to 3 months or longer. You'll work with the zoo's leadership team to make the most of your skills. Its a beautiful place to work and a rare chance to use your skills in a completely different environment surrounded by some of the most beautiful and exotic animals in the world.

You'll leave the zoo at the end with a new and deeper understanding of the beauty and importance of Central American wildlife and you'll know that you've used your skills to help conserve it.

Requirements:

Professional experience or relevant qualifications are required for these roles. Volunteers must be at least 18 years old.

Volunteer accommodation and food

There are generally one to four volunteers working at Belize Zoo and the Tropical Education Center (TEC) at any one time along with the team of staff numbering over 30. You will live in shared dorms at the TEC with other volunteers. The dorms are divided into single sex twin rooms with a shared living space and a screened veranda. Meals are provided in a communal dining area.

Freetime and travel opportunities

The TEC where you will live is about a mile from the zoo and you will be provided with a free bike to travel between the two places.

There are computers available that you can check emails on and there is a pay phone at the TEC. About a 5 minute bike ride up the road is a popular bar and restaurant.

On days off you can catch a bus to Belize City (about 1 hour) and from there you can fly or take a boat out to some beautiful tropical Caribbean islands including San Pedro and Caye Caulker.

Challenges

You will need to be able to tolerate high temperatures and humidity, work well within a team and be adaptable to living and working in a group.

It is physical work in a hot environment so can be draining, but it is also very rewarding.

Where does your money go

PoD is run as a non-profit organisation and does not receive any external funding. We charge a fee for all our placements to cover the overseas costs of volunteering and the costs of running our organisation in the UK. 

For this project approximately 60% of the fee for the first 2 weeks is is passed directly to the zoo, and they then receive 100% of all ongoing fees.

Volunteer reviews

Click here to read volunteer reviews for our Belize wildlife conservation volunteer project.