We are an NGO in the Chiloé Archipelago, in southern Chile. Through research and active conservation measures we seek to protect the wildlife of the Island and its surroundings.
Chiloé Silvestre was created in 2009 to contribute to the conservation and care of native wild species and their natural habitats. The dedication of its members, has managed to involve researchers, educators, audio-visual directors, Chilean and foreign volunteers in addition to several private and governmental institutions.
The objectives of Chiloé Silvestre are:
1. Rescue, rehabilitate and release, as far as possible, wildlife species that suffer some type of damage that prevents them from performing in their natural state.
2. To increase the concern among the population, especially children, about the state of the native fauna and flora and the conservation problems that they and their environment face.
3. Produce useful information for conservation through scientific methodology and thus guide about the problems that afflict the species and their solutions
For people interested in participating in this beautiful project, the center gives them the opportunity to be part of it. The center develops a variety of activities in which it needs help. We encourage you to participate in some of them.
Areas in which you can participate:
Rescue, clinic and rehabilitation: this area includes the rescue of animals, handling, cleaning, feeding of animals, construction and repair of facilities, participating in the observation of pre-release and post-release animals and, depending on the volunteer's preparation, Medicine of animals in rehabilitation. According to availability and needs of the center
Research: includes field work for sampling or animal tracing, laboratory analysis, data analysis, etc. It will depend on the investigations that are being carried out.
Education: includes help in the creation of various educational and audio-visual materials, participate in adult and children education workshops on the fauna around them. It will also be important to maintain the school, where there will be animals that need to be taken care of and fed. According to availability and needs of the center
All areas are very important and generally include intensive physical work and teamwork. We also hope to have a very good atmosphere. All volunteers will be able to spend time for each of the areas as a form of general learning. However, if you have a specific skill or a particular interest that you can help us with, you will be evaluated together to work on it.
Presently the needs of the center are the habilitation and construction of animal enclosures in rehabilitation. In addition there are animals in rehabilitation that will need care.
We have a house qualified to welcome the volunteers and provide the well-deserved rest. The house has two rooms with 4 bunk beds and their respective mattresses each. The house has a kitchen, living room, bathroom, fireplace and slow combustion. Each volunteer should bring their sleeping bag. We have well water, a vital resource that we take care of excessively.
We will all help with housework, which creates a family environment, as well as a good community life experience.
During your stay in the center it will not be all work, you can also know and enjoy the surroundings. In the center volunteers can enjoy spectacular views and walks. There is space to organize sports activities, if one wishes, or simply to relax in the surroundings. In the evening you can also take walks and if the weather allows you to sit under the starry sky, feel the fresh air, or enjoy at home. Our intention is to have a pleasant stay with us, and to achieve an unforgettable experience.
For now there will be no cost of accommodation, however the food will be the responsibility of the volunteers themselves although a voluntary contribution would be appreciated. Once a week, at least, will go to town to make purchases, the total cost is divided among those present. We cook communally. We can also use mother earth to plant vegetables and make a garden.
Volunteers who wish to work online can collaborate by updating our website or by helping to translate different documents that will allow us to attract more volunteers or resources to continue our work
The working language will be Spanish, however as we will have the presence of foreign volunteers, the language will NOT be required, as some also speak English. We will always try to encourage volunteers to learn Spanish while they are here, but as we said, it is not a must to work with us, however we hope that the volunteers make the best effort to communicate.
Since we are in the south of Chile, the climate is usually very rainy. Sometimes in a day we can have the presence of the four seasons of the year (cold, heat, wind, rain, sun).
We recommend bringing, sleeping bag and work clothes. Chiloé is characterized by having a rainy climate even throughout the year so it is advised to bring suit and water boots.
