Vacancy Animal Release Center in Brazil

IPBio have partnered with FreeWildlifeBrazil Celine, an NGO that also works on the Betary Reserve with whom we cooperate closely, to develop a joint volunteer program.

FreeWildlifeBrazil Celine was founded by the couple Martine Schmid-Fiorini and Pedro Schmid, both Swiss veterinarians, who worried about the fate of the wild animals coming from the illegal traffic and seized by local authorities. In an improvised installation at their residence in Iporanga, they began to care for wild animals, enabling their return to nature. Their activities attracted attention and gained recognition in the region by the local population, as well as by environmental authorities. Thus, familiar with the necessary care and the requirements for the release of wild animals, they founded FreeWildlife Brazil Celine in the Atlantic Forest.

FreeWildlife Brazil Celine will primarily focus on the release of native birds and will monitor their progress after reintroduction. The Release Center, with a management area of 4 hectares, is situated in the municipality of Iporanga on the Betary Reserve.

Read the volunteer package: http://ipbio.org.br/wp-content/uploads/Volunteer-Package-IPBio-Celine-FINAL15.pdf 

Read our Newsletter: http://ipbio.org.br/wp-content/uploads/IPBio-Newsletter-2017.pdf

Watch our Volunteer Videos: https://www.youtube.com/user/obbioadm/playlists

Check out our Website: http://ipbio.org.br/volunteer-with-us/?lang=en

1) Photography/Film-Editing: Are you interested or experienced with photography and/or producing videos? Create short documentaries about the birds we release exposing the horrific illegal trade of animals as well as recounting the process of their rescue and their release back into the wild at Celine. Create videos to promote the volunteer program by interviewing volunteers and filming their exciting weekend activities. In addition, you can help us by expanding our wildlife database of photos and videos on flora and fauna of the Atlantic Forest.

2) Reserve Maintenance: This role is perfect for people who like gardening and don't mind getting their hands dirty. We have a management area of 4 hectares, which needs maintenance. You will help with maintaining the grounds, gardening and support in our vegetable patches on which we grow the food for the animals. Also you can help us to collect native seeds for our native seedling production. We will use these native seedlings to plant more fruit trees on the reserve so there is plenty of food for the animals which are being released.

3) Communications: Volunteers can help us raising international awareness about our organization and the illegal trade of birds by improving our website and social media; seeking partners for our organization; developing presentations and pamphlets and writing grants to fund our projects and purchase equipment.

4) Eco-Volunteer: The Eco-Volunteer role contains a range of activities which are conducted in a group. The majority of these tasks are field activities so this is for volunteers who like to be outside and enjoy physical activity. Not all these projects occur at the same time as various projects are seasonal. Tasks of an eco-volunteer are not limited to the roles below but we have listed the main areas that the eco-volunteer will participate in: Tree Inventory, Gardening/Reserve Maintenance; Mushroom Inventory; Tadpole Research; Bird Inventory; Mammal Monitoring using Cameratraps; Fish Inventory; Literature Research; Communications Support; Creative/Arts & Crafts projects and much more.

Our town is called the Cave Capital of Brazil so volunteers often visit our state parks to explore the caves. Hike into the dense forest and visits to waterfalls are also common activities. Bouy cross, big balloons, are used to drift down the rivers, some of the river route are 3 hours long! After work volunteers can swim on the reserve deck, organize dinners, watch movies, read and go wildlife watching. On the weekend we often have a barbeque or organize dinner at a restaurant. Often there are social events or parties in the community that volunteers can go to.

Volunteers will stay at the Darwin Guest House, situated on the reserve itself, which accommodates up to 14 people in 8 rooms. Two rooms are collective rooms and 6 rooms are single rooms. All rooms have air conditioning, closet space and electricity outlets. Individual rooms have a desk with a chair. The house has 4 bathrooms with hot showers, a washing machine and has a fully equipped kitchen where volunteers can cook. A cleaning lady provides basic cleaning services for public areas and will provide fresh bed linen once a week. However, it is also the volunteer’s responsibility to maintain and clean the house; we take this very seriously. Shops are located in the town of Iporanga 6km away from the reserve, which you can walk to or get a taxi, where there are various shops where you can by all the supplies you will need from groceries to toiletries. There is an organic small herb and vegetable patch volunteers can use in the gardens.

You must speak either English or Portuguese at an intermediate level. You must be over 18.

Email us your CV/resume and clearly state the position (or positions) you are intertested in to contato@ipbio.org.brand we will get in touch with our volunteer package containing further details! We respond to all applicants within a week so if you can´t find a response please check your spam folder a week after you apply.