Life in a center with sloths, monkeys, opposums & parrots

Astrid spent 5 weeks at the animal station in Costa Rica. She tells us about the feeding of the animals, the life in the center and why even young people from the region join the 18. Birthday wish to participate in the project.

August 2019

RGV: Hello Astrid, how did you like it?

Astrid: The project was just great! I booked a six week stay in Costa Rica through Rainbow Garden Village. Organizationally it was great! Everything went really smoothly and quickly - from the first contact, on site and in the follow-up. My time began with a one-week language course. The school was great, the lessons intensive and good (there were also a number of other activities offered by the school!) and the host family was just awesome! You couldn't wish for more integration! And since only Spanish was spoken, I actually learned a lot!

RGV: How did it continue in the animal station?

Astrid: The work at the center was varied and I didn't expect to work so close to and with the different animals! The long-term volunteers and staff are warm, competent, helpful and it was fun working with the different people of all nationalities. On the first day you accompany one of the tourist tours (usually in your native language) for a first insight and in the afternoon there is a separate tour with the new volunteers, where the focus is already on the various pending work.

A highlight in the last week: Living in the jungle

RGV: Can you tell us something about the daily processes?

Astrid: The daily routine is largely structured and includes daily tasks for 3. It is paid attention to a good distribution of the different jobs, so that everyone has really done every job. Often you can express wishes, which - if possible - are also considered. We were even in the situation that there were almost too many volunteers, that has sometimes annoyed, because just too many people were assigned for a job and not more it was so clear who does what. Sure, you could sometimes go rather, but you had not decided to work in such a project. Here a better coordination of the Center would be really great. However, I do not expect that, because you do not want to reject anyone.

RGV: In the last week you were then even in the release station. How was it there?

Astrid: An absolute highlight was the last week in the reintroduction camp. It is also still self-sufficient. I was also fortunate that we were there with a super class troupe - we had bought together in advance, every evening two cooked and the rest took care of everything else.

RGV: You start work in the animal station very early in the morning. Why is that and how does it go on during the day?

Astrid: Start of work is at 07: 30 clock - which also makes sense in the heat and above all the first time visitor to 09: 30 clock is due: We want to shine finally! The money from the tours are the most important source of income of the center and really everyone is anxious to leave a good impression here! By the way, you will learn all sorts of interesting facts about the service at the various animal stations!

Pause is about 9 pm or quarter after 9 for 15 to 20 minutes. Does not always work, but is not really necessary. Then there is the second layer, where already worked much more intensively with or in the animals. Against 12 clock (depending on previous work), there is a one-hour lunch break, before it goes on in the afternoon with the third job. This layout is great, because you have a lot of variety; always working in new teams and getting to know all the work!

The works are:

• Take care of animals such as sloths, monkeys, possums, parrots horses (which is just there), which are either still too small or limited in health
• Cleaning / Disinfecting / Improving the enclosureFood search (leaves) for monkeys and sloths
• Forest: Bring material for enclosures
• Garden, kitchen and laundry service
• Feed and water distribution for different animals after preparation Special tasks: there is still something to do ...
• If you have a longer stay, you also get more demanding tasks, for example in care, infirmary, etc. (Note from Rainbow Garden Village: work in animal care is also possible) Oh, and you get 2 days off per week! I especially loved working on Sundays - it was just quiet and relaxed as there were no tourists. This was also noticed in the animals.

Each animal has its own daily rhythm

RGV: The animals need a little distance, right?

Astrid: One very, very important realization was that they are wild animals that are being re-released. One can be very conscious of this in this center, even if the smallest are of course cute. But they are not there to cuddle! On the other hand, there are also animals that can not be reintroduced, as they have lived too long in human households. Of course, a completely different application is required here.

It was also exciting, what you had to pay attention to in terms of hygiene, food, cleanliness, etc. That was instructive. Also, the different daily rhythms of the animals to get to know their habits was good.

RGV: Did you like the location, right on the Caribbean coast?

Astrid: The center itself and the accommodation next to the center were great! High quality furnishings, right next to the center, you could just short 'home' to the breaks, that was quite pleasant! In addition, the landscape is beautiful - a lot of forest, the road is far enough away that you do not hear them. The location is great, 400 meters away is the beach! The nearest small shop was just around the corner, a larger supermarket within walking distance (15 minutes). There are definitely plenty of opportunities to rent bicycles on site. Puerto Viejo itself is about 4 kilometers away. But goes well by bike or taxi. There are small shops, restaurants, etc. Nearby is a pub, the Tasty Waves, which offers a weekly pub quiz and a movie night.

There are many recreational opportunities. Beside the beach, the National Park of Manzanillo is not far. Around the corner is also an Ara-rearing-station, which is well worth a visit and thematically very close to the center. With us many multi-day trips to Panama to the Bocas del Toro and on the Caribbean coast up to Tortuguero, Puerto Limon or Cahuita made. A waterfall towards the interior is easy to reach by bus.

The center is well received throughout the region

RGV: How was living with the other volunteers?

Astrid: The location is home to about 20 people. Here I was very lucky - we are still in contact with a small group! Since the location is really beautiful, we usually cooked together in the evening or at least ate together. All other activities are generally done together, such as shopping, going to the beach, having lunch or going out in the evening or playing together. Nevertheless, it was easy to retire at any time. Especially the large seating area was always a retreat to chat, read, watch. The rooms are always in a four occupancy. And big enough. The problem is rather the high humidity, things never get dry ... Luckily there was a laundry!

RGV: From your point of view, does the project contribute in a meaningful way to the establishment of sustainable local structures?

Astrid: Yes, because at least the tourists visiting the center are sensitized. In the future, work in the schools will also be intensified in the region, which should give us another big leap forward. It has also been found that the residents in the area now have a point of contact, to which one can bring injured animals and are sure that there is also taken care of. If you said that you work in the center, then the reactions were always positive. We even had a young woman from Limón involved in the 18 project work. Birthday wanted.

RGV: Did you feel that your use in the project was useful?

Astrid: Yes, there was really a lot to do. And who was committed, has also really learned a lot and may! Without the volunteer work, this project would not be able to exist - in the meantime, it has become too big and is being welcomed by the population. I have never felt superfluous and it was just fantastic to hear when animals were released into freedom again and you knew that you also made a small contribution!