Volunteering Activities
What We Need
Free the Bears Cambodia is located within Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Centre. This is an amazing & unique opportunity to join our experienced team and look after more than 120 sun & moon bears rescued from the illegal wildlife trade.
With stays ranging from 4 days to 8 weeks, your time and financial contribution will help improve and enrich the lives of our rescued bears as well as support our efforts to rescue more bears in need.
trade.
Activities include:
Food preparation & distribution
Providing sensory enrichment
Assisting keepers in cleaning of forest enclosures and bear dens
Creating/repairing bear hammocks.
General maintenance & improvement to the center i.e. painting, sanding, repairs & gardening
Get behind the scenes of our world class sanctuary and help make a difference to the lives of rescued bears.
RESEARCH PROGRAM: Free the Bears research program offers internships for university students who wish to undertake a project from our research prospectus (available upon enquiry), with durations from 4 to 12 weeks. Please be sure when enquiring to include your CV and mention any previous experience with animals/wildlife as well as any related study undertaken or previous work experience.
When & Who
What we Provide
Inclusions:
Sunday pick up from Phnom Penh
Accommodation and transfers while volunteering (5km from the sanctuary)
Breakfast 7 days a week/ Dinner Sunday - Thursday (Lunch available for purchase Monday - Friday for $1 a plate)
Dinner Sunday to Thursday
Our Fees
Contact us directly for detailed information and placement pricing pack.
VOLUNTEER RATES AS BELOW PER WEEK/PER PERSON (USD):
1 week
per person/per week 475USD per week
14 days/ 2 weeks
per person/per week 450USD per week
21 days/ 3 weeks
per person/per week 425USD per week
28 days/ 4 weeks
per person/per week 415USD per week
35 days/ 5 weeks
per person/per week 405USD per week
42 days/ 6 weeks
per person/per week 395USD per week
Fees Include:
• Accommodation at the volunteer house throughout your stay. However, on your final week you will be required to leave by 2pm on the Saturday
• Breakfast daily and Dinner Khmer style food (Sun-Thurs) included. Vegan/Vegetarian options available.
• Transport between the volunteer house and the sanctuary Monday-Friday, plus entry into the park.
• Pick up from set location in Phnom Penh city on Sundays at 1pm to transfer back to volunteer house.
• Return transfer to Phnom Penh at the end of your placement.
• A donation towards the ongoing running costs and development of the sanctuary.
• A once in a lifetime experience to work closely with our rescued Sun and Moon bears
More Services we Offer
Orientation is included
Pick up/drop off as included in fees.
Contact Person
Other Ways to Help
Find out what it takes to care for over 120 rescued sun bears and moon bears on the BEAR CARE TOUR, an exciting behind-the-scenes tour with the Free the Bears team at Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Centre.
If you've ever been wild about bears and wanted to learn more about why they are threatened in Cambodia then this is your chance! Tour our world class facilities and learn about our Education Programme, Research Programme and what we are doing to build a brighter future for bears in the wild.
Help the Bear Care Team to prepare food and special treats to keep the bears happy and healthy in their forest enclosures. Best of all, by taking part in this unique experience you'll be contributing directly towards helping care for bears rescued from the illegal wildlife trade.
YOUR DAY AT A GLANCE:
08.00 Pick up from Joma Cafe, corner of Norodom and Street 294
09.00 Arrive at the wildlife rescue centre and receive an educational presentation about Free the Bears and our work
10:00 Join the Education Team on a tour of the bear sanctuary
11.00 Help the Bear Care Team prepare enrichment toys and special treats for the bears
12.00 Traditional Khmer lunch (vegetarians catered for) and a bit of time to rest and relax
13.00 Tour of more fascinating wildlife at Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Centre
15:00 Help the keepers hide food in the bear’s forest enclosures and watch them enjoy the fruits of your labour
16.00 Leave the centre to return to Phnom Penh by 17.30
At only $90 per person, participant fees include return transportation from Phnom Penh to the sanctuary, park entrance fees, lunch, guided tour, and an official t-shirt and sports bottle. All profits support the care of rescued bears in Cambodia.
PLEASE NOTE: direct contact with the bears is not possible.
Additional Info about Us
Free the Bears works with communities, schools and organisations across Asia to change attitudes and raise awareness of the wildlife trade. We work with universities and other institutions who conduct critical research. We also work with government, law enforcement agencies and other charities, to create and implement a framework to combat wildlife traders.
Despite each country facing a unique set of challenges and issues to overcome, we will continually strive to achieve our mission of protecting, preserving and enriching the lives of bears throughout the world. Free the Bears.
Located inside the Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Centre, just outside of the capital city of Phnom Penh, Free the Bears Sun and Moon bear sanctuary was established in 1997. Following a spate of bear cub rescues, in 1999 the bear cub playpen was built and in 2000 facilities for adult sun bears were extended. A fully equipped Wildlife Hospital was completed in 2006 to help our bears and other species in need.
We have an incredible team of bear experts in Cambodia. Along with the most experienced local team worldwide in cub care our local their entire lives committed to the bears. Our local staff are also positively changing the attitudes of other Cambodians towards bears and other wildlife, providing hope of a brighter future for Sun and Moon bears in the wild.