Volunteer Program

Heed the Call of the Wild! We offer you the opportunity to help in a meaningful way with the daily care of your (new) favorite animal. Our volunteer program allows you to play an important “hands-on” role in the day-by-day workings of a rescue/education/eco-tourism center.

This unique animal rescue center cares for over 100 endangered sloths, and the numbers continue to increase. Many are orphans, abandoned by starving mothers due to deforestation, or whose mothers were killed, either by accident or poisoned by agro-chemicals. Or sometimes babies fall from a tree and mothers are simply too afraid to descend to the ground to retrieve them because of their natural fear of predators or humans and dogs. Adult sloths arrive with life-threatening injuries from power lines, encounters with cars, dogs, even cruel humans. These sloths need specialized medical and follow-up care. Baby sloths are quite delicate and very high maintenance. A dedicated staff of full time employees cares for the animals but volunteers are needed to help provide the sloths with the extra loving care they require in order to survive and thrive.

Volunteers play a vital role helping to care for the sloths (adults and babies), learning about their ways and educating others. Additionally volunteers play an active role in helping to maintain the jungle trails and the Sanctuary grounds, guiding tours, helping with cage cleaning and maintenance, preparation of sloth meals,  and lending a hand to staff veterinarians and other specialists and researchers.

This is a great opportunity to assist in the rescue of a truly fascinating and endangered animal therefore your help at the rescue center means that you will play a part in safeguarding the future of these amazing animals.

Volunteer Job Description, Expectations

(Subject to change)

Our aim is to ensure that you have a happy and rewarding volunteer experience with us and that your work be varied, therefore we mix your work days with “manual labor”, “tour guiding”, “sloth wrangling”, with wherever else you are needed. This ensures you will spend as much time with the animals, understanding, feeding and bonding with them, as you carry out the other important aspects of the work program.

We believe that this project gives you as much or more “hands on” opportunities with animals than do many other projects in Costa Rica and we very much look forward to working with you and giving you an experience of a life time.

Hours of  Work

* 6 am to 3 pm 

One day off per week.

* (subject to tours)...sorry about the early start; sloths may be considered lazy by some (the unfortunately uninformed) but they sure get up early - therefore so do we!!!

Type of Work

Care of the sloths and other animals; research, if there are research projects; clean cages; conduct visitor tours; assist in the gift shop; rake and sweep outdoors; administrative/information technology assistance; garden work; general maintenance; special projects; general duties; make a difference!

Location

Sloth Sanctuary of Costa Rica is located within the Limon province of Costa Rica. It is close to the Caribbean Sea, about 11 kilometers north of Cahuita (a very charming and atmospheric town), the beach and Cahuita National Park. Further south is the the village of Puerto Viejo and Gandoca/Manzanillo National Park.

Accommodation and Meals

We provide room and board; a twin room with a shared bathroom between two rooms (a total of four rooms - eight volunteers); laundry service, weekly maid service (linen change, etc.)

The program includes three daily meals that will be provided by the staff from the rescue center. Please advise if you have special dietary needs or are allergic to certain foods.

Duration and Cost

This project gives you the opportunity to learn much more - up close and personal - about your new favorite animal...all this in a beautiful setting near the Caribbean coast, for:

·         two to four weeks of your time

·         just $30 per day and includes all taxes

·         There is no "middleman", or placement agency, so you know that every

      cent you pay to participate in our volunteer program takes care of your 

      needs (see What is Included) and the remainder goes directly to the Sloth

      Sanctuary of Costa Rica to care for the sloths!

A two week (14 day) minimum is required and does not include the two day travel time from San Jose to the Sanctuary and from the Sanctuary to San Jose.

PLEASE NO EXCEPTIONS!!

What is Included?

Accommodation, weekly linen-change, laundry service
Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Orientation and the unique opportunity to learn hands-on about the Wonderful World of the Sloth!

An experience of a life time

Abilities and experience

A volunteer will need to be healthy, be in good physical condition, adaptable, self-starter, have a flexible attitude toward work and have a good disposition.

You must be able to work under humid weather conditions which include temperatures above 32 degrees centigrade and humidity between 65 and 90% (when it isn’t raining!) and a good sense of humor would be very welcome.

If you are willing to work hard for the sloths, and you truly, deeply love animals… We want you!

What Next

Send us (via email) a one page personal profile with your gender and age, detailing any skills, languages spoken/written, qualifications etc. Also tell us why you are interested in volunteering and what you hope to gain from this particular volunteer program along with details of when you would be available to volunteer and the length of time you are able to commit.

Send all volunteer enquiries and your information to: slothsanctuary@gmail.com

Learn more about the Sloth Sanctuary volunteer experience on our new volunteer blog: