Location:

Atherton, Australia

Program Type:

Volunteer Abroad

Degree Level:

Gap Year

Work Types:

Animals

Duration:

1-2 weeks, 3-4 weeks

Program Overview

Program Description:

Our Rainforest Bat Rehabilitation Project is based at a bat hospital in tropical Far North Queensland. The hospital is entirely dedicated to bat protection and conservation, providing medical care for sick, injured and orphaned bats, undertaking bat habitat restoration work and educating the public about the importance of bats in the environment and how to care for bats.

The Rehabilitation hospital centre rescues, rehabilitates and releases hundreds of bats every year and provides a permanent home for bats who are unable to be returned to the wild. As a volunteer, you will help care for sick and injured bats by assisting with bat rescues and emergency medical treatment, preparing food, feeding and weighing the baby bats, cleaning cages and bedding and assisting with the release of rehabilitated bats. You will also have the opportunity to share your new knowledge of bats with visitors to the hospital’s Visitor Centre.

Volunteering for this project requires a special dedication. Between October and February many bats are in need of help and volunteers may be required to work 10-15 hours per day to keep up with the demand.

Setting Description:

The project is located in the Atherton Tablelands 85 kms inland from Cairns in northern Queensland. The Atherton Tablelands forms part of Australia’s Great Dividing Range and has spectacular scenery and wildlife in a diverse landscape, from high altitude tropical rainforests to vast savannah landscapes. Mabi rainforest once covered large areas of the Atherton Tablelands. Only about 2% of the original Mabi forest remains.

Cost:

From $475 per week USD.

Additional Program Information

Requirements:

Volunteers must be 21 years or older to participate in this project.

Scholarships:

No