Overview
Animal sanctuary volunteering program in Florida, USA

Volunteering with exotic wildlife at a well-known animal sanctuary near Zolfo Springs in Florida will take you to escape the stress of everyday life by working with big cats, monkeys, bears and wolves, and other exotic fauna of North America, in the peaceful surroundings of a beautiful wooded sanctuary.

Volunteers help to provide lifetime care to rescued animals, feeding and cleaning, as well as assisting in the maintenance and improvement of their habitats. The 90-acre facility provides care for nearly 150 animals, and so volunteer help is always greatly needed and appreciated. Working with animals in Florida in the US will take you to hang around with fruit bats, marvel at monkeys and feed some of the world’s more ferocious hunters in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere.

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

All in all, I’m doing something useful and worthwhile in a fascinating place, and having a fabulous time of it

Allan Ramsey, 2007 Volunteer

What Difference Does This Project Make?

When exotic animals are victims of abuse or neglect, authorities remove them from the situation but have nowhere for them to go. To prevent them from being destroyed, this sanctuary offers them lifetime care. It is accredited by the American Sanctuary Association and is a WSPA (World Society for the Protection of Animals) Member Society.

Highlights

Helping provide care to rescued, abused and neglected animals; learning about the wildlife from our dedicated team of staff; delivering food to the nocturnal animals in the evenings; and socialising around a campfire (in cooler weather) under the Chiki hut listening to the wolves howl.

Location

The sanctuary is located near Zolfo Springs, Florida in the United States of America. It is about one and a half hours drive from the Everglades or from Orlando. Despite being close to the famous theme parks, it is equally close to some of the best beaches found in the United States, especially the Sarasota and Bradenton beaches.

Field Conditions

You will be staying in shared living quarters located around two miles from the sanctuary, which are basic but comfortable. Accommodation is in a house, small cabins or travel trailers with water, electricity and air conditioning. Private bathrooms with hot showers, laundry facilities and a full kitchen are available in the main house. Meals are home-cooked and most of the cooking and cleanup duties are rotated among participants. Vegetarian or vegan meals are readily available upon request. There is even a pond with an island in it for taking an occasional swim!