Duties

Volunteer duties in this 4 week programme mainly features at the ape centre in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. At the ape centre, your role is to assist the animal keepers in their daily jobs of cleaning cages, enclosures, feeding the animals and preparing enrichment activities for great apes, especially orangutans and a variety of other animals. You will learn about the personalities of the various animals and their roles in the larger web of life in the wild. It is such a wonderful experience, to see something you have created have such a positive impact on the animals concerned, to see the true behaviour of those animals emerge thanks to your input and enrichment! 


Interacting with the Malaysian animal keepers by working alongside them allows you to understand the conditions they work in, gain insight into the "behind the scenes" of working in an ape centre and a chance to improve the living conditions of the apes.

It is advisable to do some research into animals and their behaviour in the wild before arrival. At the end of the day, the more you put in, the more you are likely to get out of the experience. We greatly appreciate volunteers coming up with new enrichment ideas, just imagine how it will feel, watching an animal with your enrichment and being able to say, "I thought of that".. You must check with the animal keeper or programme facilitator before implementing any activity.

Volunteers may be able to interact with the animals under the supervision of the animal keeper or programme facilitator.  Direct contact is not allowed. Health and safety is paramount at the ape centre and this is taken very seriously. However, in just spending each day with these apes at the centre, you truly start to feel a connection and get to know their individual quirks and to observe their often "naughty" behaviour. Be prepared to leave a little piece of your heart with these cheeky primates.


Please make sure that you wear t-shirts that cover your shoulders (no singlet, or sleeveless shirts) and long trousers and shoes that cover your feet - trainers or trekking shoes are ideal. Additionally it is a good idea to wear 25 SPF sun tan lotion as you may be working outside for all or part of the day.  Wellies/ gum boots are available for most activities, though if you have feet larger than size 10 we advise you to bring your own as larger sizes are not available in Malaysia.  You are welcome to bring your own Wellington boots if you do not feel comfortable wearing used boots or if you prefer your own.

Please bring good socks as boots can get very uncomfortable when worn for long periods. If you feel tired take a break. Do not continue working as you put yourself and other volunteers and keepers in danger. Volunteers normally have weekends off but days off will be determined by your facilitator at the ape centre according to the schedule.

Itinerary

Weeks 1-4
Volunteers may be involved in many aspects of zoo life including:
-Feeding the animals, including orang-utans
-Potential to work alongside zoo vet should circumstances allow
-Working in the zoo kitchen preparing animal food
-Cleaning and maintaining of animal enclosures
-Study animal behaviour in the zoo
-Work as a guide to school children and tourists
-Involved in Zoo enrichment, education and extension

Accommodation
You will live in a volunteer house in the grounds of the Negara Zoo itself. It is a three-bedroom house with two bathrooms.  Rooms are dorm style with 2-4 volunteers sharing.

Meals
A food allowance is provided. The zoo canteen provides good wholesome Malay cuisine. In addition you will have facilities to cater for yourselves, or you can eat out. Food is cheap and easy to purchase from hawker stalls and local restaurants - a meal can be obtained for £1-2. The fixed allowance for self-catering is given at the programme start, and volunteers can top this up if they wish. Please note that 80% of the food contains chilli though strength varies according to personal taste.

What Makes this Project Great

TO COME

FAQs

What is the accommodation like?
You will live in a volunteer house in the grounds of the Negara Zoo itself. It is a three-bedroom house with two bathrooms. Rooms are dorm style with 2-4 volunteers sharing.

Does the accommodation have access to the internet?
The accommodation does not have internet but the nearby township has internet cafés that are within walking distance.

How much spending money would you recommend I take?
We generally recommend that you take around £70-£80 per week.

I am a first time traveller, and a bit apprehensive about travelling on my own. Do many people do this by themselves
The majority of our participants are solo travelers, so you will be one of many in the same position. We e-mail out a buddy list 2-3 weeks before you start, so you can begin to get to know one another beforehand.

For more FAQs please see our FAQ section here

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Important Information

No Project Specific Important Information, for general details of trip information see our main FAQs,

What's Included:
-All transfers
-Accommodation throughout the programme
-Personal meeting and greeting
-Welcome orientation and dinner
-A fixed food allowance

What's Not Included:
-International Flights
-Travel Insurance
-Any independent travel

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