Working with animals

captainladypants

Hello!:j
I am wondering if anybody could help me out please??
I have wanted to work with elephants or monkeys for years and have thought about going on a trip abroad for a couple of weeks. I have looked it up on the net and have come across hundreds of websites but am unsure which to go with? Some of the trips you only get to see the animals for one half day and the rest of the time is spent visiting local towns and cleaning. I want a hands on trip where I can spend time with the animals! There are reviews on the sites but surely the people that are organising these trips can put up a fake review?
I have said 2 weeks as I can't have any longer off work. I don't mind where in the world I go, don't even mind staying in this country to do it!!:p
Any advice would be much appreciated.
Thankyou!!

littlestar1981

Have you looked at local zoos, places like RSPCA and RSPB? Maybe google monkey sanctuary or something similar? I think given you have just 2 weeks this may be a better bet.

There are some fabulous opportunities abroad but you do have to weed through the money grabbers to get there. Try gap year websites (e.g gapyear.com , gapyearforgrownups ) and Lonely Planet as there are people that have done these things and can give their recommendations.

HTH, it's a great thing you want to do!

captainladypants

Thanks for your help! gapyearforgrownups, I didn't think of that! I read the book a few years ago and it was really good! I don't want to work for the RSPCA as my Mum used to and they aren't that good. I know a few people that have called them in the past and they haven't investigated the complaint.
Thanks again!

Incapuppy

Can I ask what sort of budget you have for this trip?

captainladypants

Well, I have savings of about £1000, maybe a bit more. I don't want to spend loads of money though and have no physical contact with the animals.

xxlaurissaxx

I worked hands on with Lions last September in south Africa. I went through a company called I to I. Im going back to do living with lions in April2011. Its great as its hands on and you are helping out, although it is pricey its worth it IMOH. HTH xx

Sammy85_2

Hi, we went to Thailand last year and spend 2 days with elephants at a rescue centre. It was absolutely amazing, we fed and bathed the elephants, administered medical treatment to the sick ones. I wish we had stayed longer and am hoping to go back on our honeymoon for at least a week, if not longer.

The Center is Elephant Nature Foundation and is in the North of Thailand near Chiang Mai. Chiang Mai is easily reachable by plane from Bangkok or by train (we went by train, 2nd Class travel, very good fun!)

I would recommend this place to anyone who wants hands on experience with Elephants, its not a holiday, you are expected to get your hands dirty, making elephant dinners, mucking out the elephant houses and doing other jobs around the centre. Rooms are basic but very nice, no hot water, but then after a long day out in the sun, its quite refreshing!

Volunteers get together on evening for dinner and then play games and chat through the evening, there are no TVs and electricity is by generator, so dont expect any mod cons.

We absolutely loved it. elephantnaturefoundation.org

Sammy85_2

Oh forgot to say how much it cost!

A week is around £245 pp including all meals and lodging, (everything except beer really - which is charged near enough at cost)

Incapuppy

Ah, ok - I didn't want to recommend something that might have been out of your price range.

I will need to check two things: whether they will accept volunteers for shorter than a month and whether the prices on their website are up to date but I can personally recommend the Millenium Elephant Foundation in Sri Lanka:

http://www.eureka.lk/elefound/

Airfares usually hover around the £500 mark although they can be higher or lower depending on the time of year and special offers etc.

How do you fancy (amongst other things) getting up nice and early in the jungle each morning to shovel elephant poo out of the elephants' nests (elephants sleep in lovely nests made of palm leaves!) before you go down to the river and give your elephant the first of several daily baths?

When I say shovel, what I actually mean is pick the big poo 'loaves' up by hand and lob them into a nice pile :rotfl:

If you are interested let me know and I will check on the two points that I mentioned above.

I have been lucky enough to spend a week at MEF, it was so utterly fabulous I shall remember it for the rest of my life and I will definitely return as soon as I am able.

Incapuppy

PS: the experience at MEF is very much like the one described by Sammy - in fact Sammy - you may wish to consider MEF yourself? :j

captainladypants

WOW!! That sounds amazing! They say standard stay is 3 months but will consider other time limits so I will email them and find out. Thanks for your help on MEF.
Sammy, Elephant Nature Project looks right up my street! Can't believe how cheap it is either! How much interaction with the elephants did you get? I think I would do the week long trip, that way if I enjoy it I can go back again!!

Thankyou so much, i'm so glad I posted!!