Overview
Volunteer with Primates in Thailand

Come and help care for primates at a sanctuary for injured and abused gibbons when you choose to do your volunteer work in Thailand. This project in a mountainous region of the country has been running since 1991 and houses 40 or more gibbons and monkeys at any one time. The continued existence of this center is essential for the gibbons that live there as, once removed from the wild, gibbons are usually unable to live autonomously again.

You will receive orientation and training, including language workshops and adventure activities and, as a volunteer, will assist with the day-to-day running of the sanctuary including feeding, cleaning out enclosures and caring for the baby apes. There are also opportunities to partake in fundraising and environmental education outreach programs as well.

View Film Footage, images, blogs, volunteer stories from the field, volunteer video diaries and more at the programs media centre

Taking 10 month baby gibbon, Roger to bed at night and giving him his 4-hourly feeds must rate as one of the most precious and priviledged experiences of my life

Joe Henry, 2007 Volunteer

What Difference Does This Project Make?

The sanctuary was established in 1991 and currently houses over 40 gibbons and a number of other species. It is a lifetime refuge for abandoned, mistreated, and/or physically injured gibbons and other creatures in need, as once they are removed from their natural environments they quickly forget how to forage on their own and can never be returned into the wild.

Highlights

Undergo a cultural orientation in Bangkok, complete with a day learning about Thai language/culture and an exploration of the city; working (sometimes hands on) with endangered apes, exploring this wonderfully rich country, in-depth community interaction.

Location

The project base is nestled in a mountainous region of Thailand’s Tak Province, about 43km from the border town of Mae Sot – a bustling market town with a strong Burmese influence. The sanctuary is situated on a hill, making it perfectly located for watching the sun go down on the Thai countryside.

Field Conditions

Volunteers will stay in shared bedrooms in basic Thai style farm accommodation, which has a bathroom with hot running water and a small kitchen. Cleaning of the volunteer accommodation will be done on a rota basis. You can do your laundry on site. Three meals a day are provided for you, and vegetarians can easily be catered for. There is no access to email / telephones on site, but both are available in the nearby town of Mae Sot (about 45 minutes drive by private car / 1 ½ hours by public transport).