Yanacocha is a family run, privately funded sanctuary for rescued and confiscated wild animals. It is sometimes open to the public and school groups for tours, providing education about these species and their fate as illegal pets or trafficked animals, but their main goal is the protection of animal and plant life in the Amazon through the rescue and rehabilitation of flora and fauna. Although a relatively new center, they are expanding rapidly and always working to improve the lives of the animals, with the ultimate goal of releasing them back out into the wild. Some of the animals there are: wooly monkeys, spider monkeys, squirrel monkeys, tortoises and turtles, crocodiles, parrots and macaws, pigs, and a variety of animals native to the Amazon jungle region of the country.

The main tasks of volunteers are to assist with animal feeding and care, cleaning animal cages, park maintenance and making new paths, and construction of enclosures. Volunteers can also assist with tours for school students and other visitors to the park, either in their native language, or Spanish, depending on their ability. Professionals in the fields of veterinary science, biology, zoology or other related areas can assist the sanctuary’s coordinator with animal care and the more technical functions and of the centre.

The centre has only just started receiving volunteers but is very well run and there is always stuff to do. Future plans include a reforestation project in the surrounding area, as well as running environmental education programs and sending volunteers to teach English in local schools, although these depend on receiving sufficient funding and interest from volunteers.

All volunteers make important contribution of their ideas and experiences for way to improve the centre and the work it does.

1 week

Approximately 8.00am to 1.00pm and 2pm to 6pm Monday to Friday. A couple of hours Saturday morning.