DESCRIPTION: ARCAS
has 2 projects: a Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre, established
in 1990, in order to rescue, rehabilitate and release wild animals confiscated
from traffickers. It has released 300—600 animals per year into the
Mayan Biosphere Reserve (MBR). The project is also a focal point for environmental
education and awareness-raising in the MBR through its Environmental Education
and Interpretation Centre. The second project is a Sea Turtle Conservation
Centre. Its goal is the conservation of the endangered sea turtles that
come to beaches on the Pacific Coast to nest. The primary way to conserve
the turtles is to collect and incubate as many eggs as possible. ARCAS
has also a caiman and iguana breeding programme, mangrove reforestation
and environmental education.
SPECIES: The centre receives
many different species from the MBR, which include: birds (parrots, scarlet
macaws, toucans, aracaries), mammals (spider and howler monkeys, raccoons,
coatimundis, pacas, margays, kinkajous, peccaries, bairds tapirs, jaguars)
and reptiles (iguanas, turtles, crocodiles, caimans). The seaturtles are:
Olive Ridley Sea Turtle, Leatherback Sea Turtle.
HABITAT: Tropical forest, tropical
beach, mangrove coastal wetland.
GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION: The Wildlife
Centre is near the city of Flores; the Seaturtle Conservation Project is
on the Pacific Coast.
TRAVEL INFORMATION: Airplane
to Guatemala City, then bus to Flores or Monterrico, then by boat to the
projects.
DURATION: For generic volunteers
min. 1 week. For internships or research projects, min. 1 month.
PERIOD: Year round for the Wildlife
Centre. From June to November, with a peak in August and September, for
the Seaturtle Project.
AGE: Min. 18.
QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS: No
specific skills required for generic volunteers. Candidates for internships
or research projects must be students or researchers in a conservation
related field.
VOLUNTEERS WORK: Volunteers
help cleaning cages and feeding and caring for the animals. Special projects
may include: observing the animals in the rehabilitation area, building
cages, animal releases, etc. Research and internship opportunities
are in the area of wildlife veterinary medicine, rehabilitation,
nutrition and environmental education. In the Seaturtle Project volunteers
assist in patrolling beaches at night in search of nesting sea turtles,
collection and burial of eggs in the hatcheries and collection of data.
Volunteers can also take part in caiman breeding, mangrove reforestation,
construction and upkeep of park facilities and environmental educational
activities in area schools. Everyone is expected to help in house cleaning
and dish washing.
LANGUAGE: English, basic Spanish
is highly desirable.
ACCOMMODATION: Wildlife Rescue
volunteers live in a house with toilet facilities and solar power. Sheets
are provided, own sleeping bag useful in cooler months (Dec. — Feb.). Kitchen/dining
(and socialising) room is in a separate facility. The Seaturtle Project
provides comfortable housing withbeds, mosquito netting, toilets,
kitchen facilities and12V solar power.
COST: US$60—80/week for room
and board in both projects. Volunteers must pay all travel expenses.
LONG TERM: Volunteers
can stay for as long as they want. Volunteers can also spend some time
in each project.
APPLICATION: A simple application
for the regular volunteer programme. For the research and internship opportunities
candidates must send a letter of reference from their university, a short
essay explaining their personal motivation for participating in the project,
a CV and 3 passport-size photographs.
