Founded in 2010, this purpose built wildlife rescue and rehabilitation facility has helped hundreds of animals return to the wild or find sanctuary when prior injury precludes wild release. This project accepts students interested in working in veterinary, nursing, or conservation roles and is for those on a gap year and hoping to study medicine in the future, pre vets, vet nurse students and pre-clinical vet students.
RAREC staff include a Veterinarian team on site, in charge of students to learn about conservation, wildlife care and intervention, ideal for those persuing a career in vet or nursing courses.
The work on this project will vary between clinical assessments of animals in a "hands off" manner and "hands on" support and treatment. On site we have enclosures for endangered white bellied spider monkeys, Saki monkeys, woolly monkeys and 5 adult manatees living freely in a large lake in the rainforest. There is always a changing mix of species in the nursery and veterinary clinic which can include ant eaters, ocelots, otters, primates, sloths and others. Where possible we do all routine checks without handling animals because it increases stress. When required we can restrain or anaesthetise wildlife for more thorough examinations and procedures.
Each morning starts with the care of injured and rescued orphans, like silky anteaters, sloths, manatee claves and birds. Students help with scheduled procedures like blood sampling, wound care and immobilisations for health checks, or unexpected emergency treatments when animals are presented injured or sick. When young orphans are at the sanctuary they will carry out care and enrichment in the quarantine and nursery area with the lead of the on-site vet. Work includes cleaning, feeding, observations and treatment if it is necessary.
Alongside medical work you students develop important husbandry skills, helping with the management of adult animals in an ethical hands off manner, doing cleaning, feeding, observations and enclosure maintinance. Learn to carry out species specific enrichment to maintain a happy population of animals.
During a normal fortnight students have a number of lectures on wildlife management, behaviour, and medicine. They also participate in training that does not directly involve live animals, but is very valuable in veterinary care, including how to use a blow pipe to dart animals, making blood smears, camera traps and how to give injections. We often do a monthly visit to other facilities to carry out medical checkup of animals. When on call outs, students may see animals held in suboptinal conditions and with many welfare issues. Sadly this is the reality of both legal and illegal captive animal ownership in South America. We will attend and help any animal, even if the owner or facility is of a poor standard, because this improves welfare and helps educate people.
Some days the vet team are rushed off their feet with sick and injured animals, other days the focus is on assessing new residents, and others aimed at ongoing work such as reviewing protocols, data input, and cleaning and reorganising the facilities.
Once a week we carry out "community days", helping with medical exams and vaccinations for dogs and cats in the local village, and "teaching days" working at our onsite classroom, assisting with environmental education programs. Education for the community and developing a good relationship with them is an important part of the work, slowly improving cultural understandings of conservation and welfare, environmental preservation and combating the illegal wildlife trade.
RAREC is in the middle of the rainforest, close to the animals in our care and the main buildings of the centre. The whole staff team. The accommodation is rustic but comfortable. Students live in shared bedroom, with A/C, mosquito nets, and shared bathrooms.
The kitchen and dining room are based outside on a deck, creating an authentic back-to-nature experience. Students are provided 3 meals a day, breakfast being "self-service" and lunch and dinner being made for they, and generally Peruvian in style. There is an exterior recreation area with Wi-Fi, board games, hammocks and speakers. We are able to cater to most dietary requirements.