Volunteers at our Reptile and Animal Rescue Center will help with the daily tasks of feeding and caring for our animals, along with basic cleaning and maintenance, and leading tours.
Located just 30 minutes from the San Jose International Airport, just outside the city of Santa Ana, this project will appeal to animal lovers of all ages. The refuge has 2000 sq. hectres (nearly 5,000 acres), with another 1500 sq hectres (3.7 acres) under development.
The project began privately in 2003, and many of the animals that are there today have come from seizures the government did of animals that people were keeping in their homes illegally. The majority of the animals, however, have been rescued by the National Fire Brigade from homes and urban environments.
The Refuge was opened after seeing so many animals in need. Many zoos do not accept more animals, and much less if these animals occupy large spaces and require specialized treatment. In San Jose today we have very few facilities for managing wildlife.
The present animal population consists of:
- More than 22 species of poisonous and non-poisonous snakes
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9 types of Turtles
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1 Crocodile (over 12 feet long!)
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2 Cayman
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Many birds (including Scarlet McCaws, Toucans, Parrots)
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5 Monkeys (3 different species)
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Iguanas
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…….and More!
At present the release rate is 65%, the remaining 35% will never be able to be released back into the wild because of their injuries or because they have been hand raised and no longer have the instincts to survive in the wild.
Volunteers at this project stay with host families that live close by and they receive 3 meals per day. Normal work hours for volunteers is from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm everyday, with Mondays off. There are also great hotels nearby (for an extra charge) for those who would prefer not to stay with a host family.
On Mondays (as well as before and after your project begins) you can explore Costa Rica with a very large number of tours available departing from the Santa Ana area.
The owner and founder of the Refuge, Rodolfo, has worked for over 12 years with snake handling. In 2009 he was the winner of a scholarship for the professional training program of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), "Biology and Captive Crocodile Management ¨ given by the Advisory Group in conjunction with Crocodile Alligator Farm Zoological Park.
Objectives of the Refuge:
- Return to the environment the animals that recover.
- Improve the quality of life for those animals that can not be released to the environment.
- Contribute to the education of the public who visit the refuge.
- Generate scientific information.
- Dispel popular myths of our culture in Costa Rica.
- Foster care for nature and sustainable development.
To view our pictures from Reptile and Animal Rescue Center, please click below:
| www.flickr.com
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| Complete Project Information | |
| Type | Conservation & Wildlife |
| Length |
Minimum: 2 Days |
| Start | Any day of the year, but beware the center is closed on Mondays |
| Availability | Currently Available |
| Cost | See Prices page for more information |
| Also available |
Spanish Classes are available at this project. Please contact us for more information. |
| Cost Includes |
|
| Schedule | Tuesday through Sunday, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. |
| Accommodations | Local Host Family (An upgrade option is also available to any number of nearby hotels. Contact us for more info.) |
| Materials or Preparation Needed | All materials are normally provided, however we love to work with volunteers in advance to see if donations of materials might be us. |
View Tropical Adventures Foundation Map – Costa Rica in a larger map
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