Updated on: 23/Mar/09

VOLUNTEER PROGRAM DESCRIPTION IBARRA ANIMAL RESCUE CENTER

ECUADOR BRIEF PROGRAM DESCRIPTION The center for wild life animal protection is a place entirely dedicated to providing shelter to all those rescued animals, victims from illegal trade in the northern region of Ecuador. Elementary school and high school students permanently attend seminars related to environmental issues so they can take the lead in getting involved in ecological activities and eventually decrease the demand for wild species’ as house pets. The center works to enforce local government laws that protect these animals and makes sure that bans be applied to any illegal trade. At the rescue center you will find mammals like: oncillas, lions, cusumbos, cuchuchos, soches, sloths, spider mokeys, barizos, macines, chorongos, chichicos; as well as birds like: macaws, peafowl, parrots, and chirlicres; reptiles like: boas, Galapagos turtles and more. Due to the lack of economic support from the government and national entities, the rescue center is opened for the public. This has helped, financially, to keep the sanctuary running and improve the services given to the animals. Volunteers will be working at the center helping with the maintenance of the animal enclosures, where the most important thing about the day is taking care of the food animals receive and cleaning their cages. Projects are varied, but they usually involve lots of physical work, maintenance and building of new habitats. Volunteers need to arrive to Quito on Sundays. The program starts every Monday. Volunteers will have their orientation at Lead Adventures’ office on Monday morning, after the orientation a transfer will take them to the bus station in Quito where they will take a bus to Ibarra (2.5 hour bus trip). They will be taking the bus around 11am and arriving to Ibarra around 1:30pm. Upon their arrival to Ibarra, they will be met at the bus Terminal by the Project Coordinator who will take them to the residence to drop off their bags and to enjoy lunch. After lunch they will be taken to the center to get to know the facilities and get an introduction about their volunteer work at the project.

The Rescue Center is located 10 minutes away from the Residence. Every morning the volunteer will be driven by the Rescue Center staff from the Residence to the Center and in the afternoons when the day is over back from the center to the residence. PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS At an extra cost you could experience exciting and new activities in the area such as: *Enjoy living in Ibarra! This is the capital of the province of Imbabura. A colonial town with cobbled streets, located 115 Km north from Quito, at 2210 m. Many tourists prefer this city for its pleasant weather and peaceful environment. The city has two plazas very well preserved: Parque Pedro Moncayo and the Parque Victor Manuel Peñaherrera (Flores and Olmedo), better known as Parque de la Merced. This clean, freshly painted colonial city is also known as the white city. Eat the delicious “paila” ice creams (whipped natural fruit) while walking around this city. * You will only be 25 minutes away from Otavalo. This is the most famous Indian market in Ecuador, well known for its assortment of textiles and other crafts. Saturday is main market day with an animal market taking part on the outskirts of the town. At the center of the town, all streets are jammed with booths selling souvenirs to the tourists. * Visit Cotacachi Village: its narrow streets are full of stores that sell a great variety of leather goods. * Visit the Cuicocha Lake: an impressive landscape of deep blue waters surrounded by hills. Take a hike around the lake. If you are lucky, you might see a condor. * You will only be 10 minutes away from San Antonio de Ibarra. This is a small village where everyone is in the business of carving wooden items. These items are sold in small shops around the village. You will find fantastic wood items! * Go for a trip to San Pablo Lake. This is the largest lake in the province. Indigenous people fish early in the morning in their straw canoes, and also bathe and wash their clothes in this lake during the day. Inns, farms and restaurants where you can spend a weekend or just a day full of entertainment surround the lake. You can also take a boat ride around the lake, or enjoy other water sports. * You will be only 2.5 hours away from Quito. This beautiful city will take you back through 500 years of history, cultural sites and places you will never forget. Quito has colonial churches, structures and historical sites of hundred of years such as La Iglesia de San Francisco, La Plaza de la Independencia, the mighty Basilica and more.

A DAY AT THE PROGRAM HOURS ACTIVITIES

7AM-8AM Breakfast at volunteer residence 8:30AM-10: 30AM Spanish lessons (optional)

10:30AM-10: 45 AM Driven from the Residence to the Center 10:45 AM-12: 45PM Morning work at the rescue center 12:45PM-1: 30PM Lunch at the Rescue Center 1:30PM-2: 30PM Time to rest and relax 2:30PM-6: 15PM Afternoon work at the center 6:15PM-6: 30PM Driven from the center to the Residence 6:30PM-7: 30PM Enjoy Dinner at the volunteer residence

7:30PM-on Free time to relax and enjoy Ibarra’s nightlife *This is just an exemplary daily itinerary. All activities scheduled above are subject to change. PROGRAM FOCUS LOCATION (Province and Town) Animal Rescue Center Animal Care Ibarra, Imbabura Social ______________ ______________ Adventure ______________ ______________ Environmental ______________ ______________ Construction/Building ______________ ______________ Education ______________ ______________ Sports ______________ ______________ PROJECT/ORGANIZATION/INSTITUTION DESCRIPTION Organization Ibarra Animal Rescue Center Location of the Organization Ibarra Non-profit/private/public organization Non-profit Number of employees 8-10 1. DESCRIBE THE POPULATION/COMMUNITY THAT THE INSTITUTION PROVIDES ITS

SERVICES TO. IN CASE OF RESCUE CENTERS OR ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDE THE TYPE OF ANIMALS AND ENVIRONMENT IT WORKS WITH.

The center focuses on trafficked animals. Among the most trafficked animals they receive at the center are: capuchin monkeys, Royal macaws, and turtles. The center never refuses to provide shelter to any species of animals arriving at their facilities. Every one of them is provided with the necessary care and attention they might need. At the rescue center you will find mammals like: oncillas, lions, cusumbos, cuchuchos, soches, sloths, spider mokeys, barizos, macines, chorongos, chichicos; as well as birds like: macaws, peafowl, parrots, and chirlicres; reptiles like: boas, Galapagos turtles and more. 2. SERVICES THAT THE ORGANIZATION/INSTITUTION PROVIDES (DESCRIPTION) The center receives animals that have been injured and work together with a veterinary to improve their living conditions. The center also works with national entities to ensure that

animal laws are been applied. It is also a sanctuary for those animals that cannot be released back to their natural environment due to various reasons. The animals that arrive at the center come from different illegal situations, deprived from their freedom. Many come seriously injured, with malnutrition problems and parasite infested. Some of them have been also found abandoned on highways or even in rubbish deposits. To facilitate the confiscation process the center works jointly with local Police Officers and with the Imbabura and Carchi Regional District from the Ministry of Environment of Ecuador. Other services provided include: • Provide an environment that offers all animals that have been rescued a place to

rehabilitate. • Educate the community on the environment. • Raise awareness and stop animal trafficking. • Raise awareness and stop animal abuse. • Work with national entities such as the Police and the Department of Environment to

enforce animal laws. VOLUNTEER INFORMATION 3. How many volunteers can the Project employ monthly? The center can have up to 5 volunteers at the same time. 4. Has the organization received volunteers in the past? Yes, the center has received volunteers in the past. 5. If it has received volunteers in the past, please write since what month and year: Since 2004. 6. Are there any special features to which the volunteers have to pay attention to when

working at this project? (Religion, illnesses, extra-vaccination, etc) No, special features are required. It is recommend packing a sweater, rain gear and rubber boots because, though the weather is mostly nice, sometimes it can get rainy and cold for quite a few days. 7. Are there any requirements to attend this program? A strong desire to improve trafficked animals living conditions. 8. The project receives volunteers all year round? Yes. 9. Please specify holidays or other dates when the project closes and can not receive

volunteers: None. 10. Is there a minimum amount of weeks volunteers can work at the project? 2-weeks minimum.

11. Is there a maximum amount of weeks volunteers can work at the project? No maximum. 12. Please give detailed description of tasks and duties of the volunteer: The most important tasks are the feeding and cleaning of the animals, which takes up the majority of the time. The center is constantly looking for ways to improve, extend and enrich the existing cages and enclosures in order to provide the best possible environment, in which the animals can reinforce and nurture their natural instincts. For this reason, the center puts a great emphasis on improving their living conditions all the time. The work at the projects always varies, but it generally includes hard physical labor, such as the construction and maintenance of enclosures, and the improvement of the animals' environment in which they currently live. The center organizes guided school visits and educational talks to help to educate the local community, especially the children and stop animal trafficking. 13. Indicate the times and days the volunteer will be working in the week: Volunteers will be working from Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 6:00pm. Weekends will be free for volunteers to travel or to be part of activities organized for the volunteers by the project coordinator. LOCATION OF THE PROJECT 14. PLEASE INDICATE THE CLOSEST CITY OR TOWN TO THE PROJECT. The Center and the Residence is located in the city of Ibarra. 15. INDICATE WHAT TYPES OF TRANSPORTATION THERE IS FROM THE CENTER OF

THIS CITY TO THE PROJECT, ITS COSTS AND APPROXIMATELY TIME THAT WILL TAKE:

TYPE COST TIME IT WILL TAKE Taxi (Residence to Center) $2-3 10-15 minutes Public Bus $0.25 Transportation within Ibarra 16. DESCRIBE THE SORROUNDINGS OF THE PROJECT (country side, urban, town) The center is located at about 15 minutes from the city bus terminal, in Ibarra. It is at 7550 ft (2300 m) high above sea level. The climate is warm and often dry, with an 18°C average temperature during day and 11°C at night. The center is located inside of a protected forest area.

ACCOMODATIONS AND MEALS 17. Type of Accommodation? Volunteers will be staying at a volunteer residence. The residence has comfortable independent rooms with: hot water, independent bathrooms and Cable TV. There is capacity for 5 volunteers. The residence is a hous,e whose owners are people very concerned about the mistreatment animals and are closely related to the center. The owners really enjoy giving people from around the world the chance to work with them on the conservation of the planet. The care and cleaning of the rooms is a responsibility of the volunteers. Each volunteer will be in charge of keeping his room clean. 18. Are meals included? Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included. WHAT IS INCLUDED? • One night accommodation at a hostel in Quito upon arrival • Accommodation throughout your program at a volunteer residence • Breakfast, lunch and dinner • Orientation upon arrival • Airport transfer on arrival to Quito • Transfer to the Bus Terminal • Bus Ticket Quito-Ibarra • One night accommodation at a hostel in Quito prior to your departure flight • Transfer back to the airport at the end of the program • On-site 24 hour emergency contact number and assistance WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED? • Personal travel insurance • All items of personal nature • Any extra activities and excursions not described on the planned itinerary • Alcoholic beverages/extra snacks PICTURES OF THE PROJECT