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Volunteer opportunities are available for a limited number of overseas volunteers at Quito Zoo and on conservation projects with the Fundación Zoológica del Ecuador.
General Zoo Volunteers: Volunteer at Quito Zoo as a general volunteer if you don't have specialist skills but want to help out and gain experience of working in a zoo. Volunteer tasks depend on what needs to be done at the time, but might include preparing food, cleaning cages, or helping with behavioral enrichment for the animals - designing and creating toys, "furniture", challenging ways of presenting food, activities, etc. Available all year round, for 4 to 24 weeks (1-6 months). Minimum age 19. Basic Spanish will allow you to get more from your volunteering experience. To apply, download the General Zoo Volunteer Information Pack 2012 PDF.
"Zookeeper Experience" Volunteers: This is a 2-week taster of what it's like to work in a zoo. Volunteers will get a glimpse of daily life in the Zoo's various departments and help with a range of the different tasks required to keep the Zoo running smoothly. Available: usually August to December. Minimum age 18. Basic Spanish will allow you to get more from your volunteer experience. To apply: download the Zookeeper Experience Information Pack 2012 PDF.
Conservation Biology Volunteers - Condor Project: A fantastic chance for biology students or graduates to gain experience on a scientific research project to help save the endangered Andean condor from extinction. Volunteers observe and make detailed notes of condor behavior, in addition to helping catalogue camera trap photos, log data, maintain trails, maintain project infrastructure and explain the project to visitors. There's also a strong possibility of seeing spectacled bears in the area. Commitment: 4 or 5 weeks. Minimum age 20. Volunteers must have studied biology, conservation or a similar subject for at least a year at university level. Basic Spanish will allow you to get more from your volunteering experience. To apply, download the Conservation Volunteer 2012 Information Pack PDF.
Biologist Volunteers: An opportunity for those with at least one year of university studies in biology to work with Quito Zoo's resident biologist. Volunteers will help research new arrivals, develop ethograms and observe different species to describe their behavioural spectrum. Biologist volunteers can help to develop, implement, evaluate and improve behavioural enrichment plans for species at the Zoo. Commitment: 12 to 24 weeks. Minimum age 19. Some Spanish language skills preferred. To apply: download the Zoo Biologist Volunteer Information Pack 2012 PDF.
Environmental Education Volunteers: A chance for those with Spanish language skills at intermediate level or above, and a good rapport with people, to assist in evaluating local perceptions of wildlife and running community workshops to raise awareness of the need for and methods of conservation. This position is part of the Condor project and the holistic approach to paramo conservation includes other wildlife such as bears, tapirs, paramo foxes and more. Commitment: 4 or 5 weeks. Minimum age: 20. To apply, download the Environmental Education Volunteers Information Pack 2012 PDF.
Social Marketing Volunteer: Ideal for a marketing graduate or someone with social marketing experience. Quito Zoo would like to promote itself on Twitter, Facebook and other social networks and seeks a volunteer to help plan and implement a social marketing campaign. The Zoo works in conservation and education and, although small, is one of Latin America's most respected, so there is lots of good news to share. Available all year round. Commitment: 4 to 12 weeks. Intermediate Spanish needed, in order to communicate with office staff. Minimum age 20. To apply: download the Office Volunteer Information Pack 2012 PDF and the Social Marketing Volunteer Information Sheet.
Zoo Animal Photographer Volunteers: Professional-level photographers can help to develop a bank of images for use in educational materials, promotion and conservation projects. Available: any time of year. Commitment: 3 to 5 days. Minimum age 19. Basic Spanish is useful but not essential. To apply: download the Zoo Photographer Volunteer Information 2012 Pack PDF.
Marketing & Promotion Volunteers: A great way for marketing graduates to gain some practical marketing experience. Quito Zoo has traditionally focused its marketing efforts towards local schools and local families. There is now an opportunity for marketing volunteers to develop and implement strategies to understand and attract overseas visitors and cater to their needs. Available all year round. Commitment: 4 to 12 weeks. Intermediate Spanish needed, in order to communicate with office staff. Minimum age 20. To apply: download the Office Volunteer Information Pack 2012 PDF and the Marketing Volunteer Information Sheet.
Database Development Volunteer: An unusual opportunity for an IT volunteer to help the zoo, by creating a database to store the large numbers of photos and files of past and present zoo animals. This resource is currently underused because the information is not easily accessible. A robust database would allow vets, the education team, the promotional team and others quick, easy access to existing images and facts to support conservation and education initiatives. Available: all year round. Commitment: 4 to 12 weeks. Intermediate Spanish needed, to communicate with office staff. Minimum age 20. To apply: download the Office Volunteer Information Pack 2012 PDF and the Database Development Volunteer Information Sheet.
See the zoo intern page for volunteer opportunities for veterinary students and newly-qualified vets.
Zoo volunteering opportunities often book up well ahead of time, so prospective volunteers are advised to apply several months in advance if possible. It's probably not too early to apply a year ahead for a summer volunteer program at the Zoo, though its still worth enquiring at the last minute. "Summer" volunteering depends where you're from: roughly December to February for the Australasians, or for European and North American volunteers, June to September.
For further information about volunteer or intern opportunities with Quito Zoo and the Fundación Zoológica del Ecuador, email us at
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