WILDLIFE CONSERVATION IN LAOS
-Volunteers must be a minimum of 18 years of age. Volunteers under 18 years old can join this program with a parent or guardian but must receive approval from the center’s administration beforehand. Please let us know first if you plan to bring anyone under 18 with you.
Laos is a beautiful, tropical, and mostly untouched country that is becoming an up-and-coming destination for travelers looking for an authentic taste of Southeast Asia, due to this, the rewards here are plentiful. It may not be as developed as neighbouring Thailand or Vietnam, though this is exactly Laos' uniqueness and charm. Laos is a relatively safe country to travel to, with a slow and laid-back lifestyle, or Ȋ Bor Pen Nyangȋ as the locals say, "No worries!
Laos is sadly one of the major gateways of the illegal wildlife trade from Southeast Asia. There are thought to be thousands of protected wild animals and their parts being smuggled in and out of the country every month. Therefore, having a facility in Laos to combat this illicit activity directly is very important.
One of the aims of this program is to improve the conditions for animals currently in the Laos Zoo and help with the zoo’s complete transformation into a wildlife rescue center. Recently, the project site has relocated to a brand-new location, where you'll contribute to its development—work that will directly impact the care of over 400 animals residing there.
PROJECTS
Your daily schedule will be packed with a mix of the projects listed below. If the center needs a particular project to be completed, you will be picking up where the last volunteers left it.
ENRICHMENT
Enrichment is precisely what it sounds like: a way to enrich the lives of our animals and stimulate them mentally and/or physically by providing activities to work on throughout the day. Many long-term resident animals spent many years without any mental or physical stimulation.
Enrichment is an essential part of any animal's routine. It helps prevent boredom and stress behaviours and helps elicit natural behaviours from animals. Enrichment can be critical in wildlife rehabilitation and preparation for life back in the wild. It can be tailored to challenge certain animals to complete specific tasks to survive in the wild.
As a volunteer, you may work on various enrichment tasks for our animals, and staff always encourage fresh ideas to create new enrichment that we can add to our routine.
Challenging our animals and making them think through new problems is important to keep their welfare quality high.
CONSTRUCTION
The center is transitioning, and we have the exciting opportunity to build new enclosures and facilities that reflect 21st-century animal care and conservation principles.
Working with the on-site construction team of local staff, volunteers will get to leave their imprint for years to come as you help build new enclosures and environmental enrichment.
Please note: The center has established strict rules and guidelines that are taken very seriously. You will be asked to leave without a refund if you violate any of them.
FOOD AND LODGING
Five beautiful bungalows are available for volunteers, and they are nestled under the trees. The bungalows house two people maximum per bungalow. The bungalows are maintained as single-sex rooms, with the exceptions of couples, friends, and families, but this is not always possible due to the capacity for volunteers.
Bungalows have electrical outlets, fans, and screened windows for mosquito control. Each bungalow also has a hammock for lounging on the peaceful front porch.
Fresh bed linen is provided when you arrive. The shower and toilet blocks are unisex and fitted with Western-style toilets and hot water showers. During your stay, you look after their own space by keeping your area tidy and rooms swept. Note that there are designated quiet hours.
Remember that you will be in a rural area of Laos and that encountering animals and insects inside and outside will be inevitable.
All your meals are vegetarian and provided during your stay; lunch and dinner are hot meals delivered, and breakfast materials are provided for you to eat/prepare. Clean drinking water is also offered in several locations on-site.
LEISURE
The rescue center is in a rural location in Laos, and you will be living in an authentic Lao setting. After work hours, volunteers can socialize at the volunteer house. The center is situated next to an ecotourism attraction. Volunteers can swim, hike in the National Park, do ecotour activities, play games, drink a few drinks, and relax. Activities such as zipline and trekking are also available ( for an additional fee).
Lao Pii Mai, the Laos New Year, lasts two weeks at the start of April. This is the biggest festival, celebrated all around the country.
VISA AND ARRIVAL
You'll be flying into Wattay International Airport. The airport is one of a few international airports in Laos and the country's main international gateway, serving the capital Vientiane, located 3 km outside of the city center.
Pick-up Details
Pick-up from the airport or your hotel is provided from 10 AM to 11 AM on Sunday. If your flight arrives on Saturday, you should book a hotel room for the night in Vientiane City and be picked up the following morning.
Drop-off details
When the coordinators leave to pick up new volunteers on Sunday, they will take those volunteers who need to go to Vientiane with them at 8:00 am. Unlike most other programs, please note that this one runs from Sunday to Sunday. If you need to leave a day earlier, private transport to the airport at an additional cost can be arranged for $60.
To enter Laos, your passport must have six months' validity. You may be required to show a return ticket if travelling overland. It is wise to procure a travel itinerary to avoid problems; these may be asked for on rare occasions. Most nationalities can obtain a 30-day visa e-visa or a visa on arrival at road, river, and air borders to enter Laos.
Bring two passport-sized photographs with you for the visa. To volunteer in Laos, volunteers only need a tourist visa. You do not need to apply for a special volunteering or work visa. Check specific requirements for your nationality online or with the consulate in your home country before you arrive, as there is some variation, including cost. A visa on arrival costs approximately $40 USD. Depending on your nationality, this can be more or less. Once again, check before arrival. Please bring crisp bills with no tears, marks, or bends to pay for your visa. Immigration checkpoints will not accept any bills that are not pristine.
SAFETY
We recommend all volunteers, at the very least, have their DTP (Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Polio) vaccinations up to date. It is best to schedule an appointment up to three months before you leave, as some vaccinations may need to be administered over multiple appointments or weeks. You are also recommended to take a rabies pre-exposure vaccination as a preventative.
Vaccines are available at the international hospital in Vientiane in case of any incidents on site. The health and safety of our volunteers are essential to us, and we take all possible precautions to ensure no accidents.
Do not buy or use any illegal substances. The penalty in Laos is severe. Exercise general caution, and feel free to ask your coordinator for assistance or clarification of a given situation. Heavy drinking may also result in you being asked to leave the center.
