Animal Experience International

Hey everybody!

So its been an interesting couple of days, filled with snakes, baby monkeys, parrrots, and festivals. There is a festival going on in Flores for some saint (apparently all the towns have a patron saint).

I’m now cleaning a couple cages full of parrots and I still cant tell the difference between all the species. Well I can distinguish them but not whether they are fronted or crowned or aztec. They scream for their breakfast in the morning but other then that they can be quite cute.

It was fun moving some baby monkeys (!!) from quarantine into a regular cage. They needed to be caught up, weighed, dewormed, deloused, and carried in an arm lock to the new cage.

Theres been 2 snakes that have been found on the grounds. One was a coral snake, which has venom. The other though was a parrot headed snake (I liked him better) which are nonvenomous. The coral snake was caught by the vet and taken FAR away. Quite a lovely creature, and you knew it was a coral snake because he was red, black, and a little white. The parrot headed snake was very photogenic, and I got to hold him while someone ran for their camera. A very nondescript snake that did a great impression of a stick.

I’m headed to dinner soon in town, where we are celebrating one of the other volunteers birthdays!

Hasta Luago!

http://www.animalexperienceinternational.com/guatemalawild.html

Recently someone asked us this, we thought it was such a good question, we should tell everyone the answer!

First, we believe a good defense is a good offense. We have been too all of the Placement Partner locations to inspect, participate, view and judge the transportation, activities, humane care, volunteer care and living conditions. We have met the people you will be staying with, working with and traveling with (the partners). Since all the other volunteers go through applications and interviews we am confident in their abilities to make good judgements and keep themselves, and each others (you) safe.

The volunteers also sign agreements, they all have agreed to follow procedures and rules outlined by AEI and all of the Placement Partners know if any volunteer participate in acts of violence, harassment or in a way that endangers animals or people (including themselves) they will be asked to leave the Experience. The Placement Partner is completely in the right to ask people to leave and will not be penalized financially or through a lack of volunteers in the future- so they can speak out and use their discretion without having to worry about repercussions from AEI. If a volunteer is asked to leave, there is an exit ‘interview’ we have with both the Placement Partner and the volunteer. The Placement Partner is asked to contact us first so we can try to mediate the situation first.

We have a great relationship with all of our Placement Partners. Our volunteer coordinator emails with all of them at least once a week, some of them once a day! They all have had international volunteers in the past and have signed agreements that they will provide medical supportive care and bring you to authorities/hospital/transportation/whatever you need in the event of an emergency or crisis.

Since we pick you up and drop you off from the airport we minimize the risk of you getting into trouble along the way to the Placement Partner.

AEI provides you with up to 500,000 in travel insurance which is from a company called Volunteer Card, it’s insurance especially for voluntourists. It is also has the added bonus of having a 24 hour emergency support line that is manned by people who specialize in travel emergencies.

We also provide you with travel manuals that we have written ourselves after visiting the Placement Partner sites. Everything from parasites in the water to how to deal with culture shock- these manuals are like mini guidebooks specifically designed for you and your exact adventure.

Our volunteer coordinator wrote a book about keeping safe while traveling. Its available as an e-book or we can send it to you. We’re sure all authors think they’re book is important, but we really think there are some important things to say- for physical and mental health, as both are equal parts important.

All of that being said, this is a trip that you do on your own so we encourage all of our volunteers to be smart and trust their gut! Guts always know. If something feels unsafe, it probably is, so say be empowered to say no and trust yourself when you say it.

We can’t guarantee nothing will happen to you, but we try our very best to minimize the bad variables and maximize the protective ones.

If you would like more information or clarification about safety policies and procedures, please never hesitate to ask. That’s why we are here!

Keep safe out there- or we will find you!

Nora and Heather

We hear about hundreds of animal projects and believe us, we want to help them all! However, we made the very conscious decision to visit all of our Placement Partners before we send AEI clients to volunteer. This means there can be a few month delay first contact with the organization and being able to send volunteers. But trust us, visiting Placement Partner sites is important for you and the animals.

Why is it important for you?

We need to make sure we are able to speak about all the details of your Experiences.

We have visited all of the AEI Placements so we can tell you based on our experiences how the food is, what a volunteer day looks like, how to get a warm shower when no one else can, and many other hints and tricks. We want to be able to tell you personally about these Experiences so you can know that you are choosing the right place to visit and spend your time. We also want to make sure we are providing our Placement Partners with the very best volunteers who have realistic expectations of the Experiences. We can speak from experience about each Experience so can be completely transparent to everyone (clients and Placement Partners alike).

Why is it important for the animals?

We need to make sure we are only supporting ethical and humane centres and sanctuaries. Only by visiting can we can assure you all of our Placement Partners meet our high standards.

Unfortunately, we have witnessed some sanctuaries who were not operating for the humane treatment of their animals- they were operating for profit. Voluntourism has lead to some very sad lives for people and animals. In Cambodia 72% of the children in ‘orphanages’ still have one or both parents (findings from research conducted by UNICEF Cambodia). These children are brought to these orphanages and exploited, used as a commodity in which they can make money for the owners of the orphanages. This unsustainable and cruel industry is child exploitation and we are committed to not having any part of it. AEI will not support any industry that exploits people or animals. We recognize that not all orphanages are exploiting children, but knowing that happens means we have to be on our guard for people who want to exploit animals in ‘sanctuaries’.

Just as we wouldn’t buy a car without test driving, or shoes without trying them on, so we don’t partner with a group until we visit the field sites and take part in the Experience ourselves. Animals are being stolen from the wild and taken to ‘sanctuaries’ so people can come and volunteer with them. But you can rest assured, none of AEI’s Placement Partners are doing this. 

The animals you volunteer with need your help and are receiving the most humane care possible.

THAT is why we have visited all of our Placement Partner sites and that is why we always will.

Nora and Dr. Heather

Interested in helping our Placement Partners but don’t want to volunteer directly with animals?

 Many people feel empathy towards animals and are interested by them but aren’t comfortable with handling them. Whether you feel like you aren’t experienced enough or simply want to volunteer in a different capacity, we have the experience for you. Our Placement Partners around the world don’t always have the funds to hire professionals. You can help animals while volunteering using your non animal based educational background. We need professionals and students like you, who love animals but have a career or education in non medical fields. As part of a university or college program you could be a co-op student or intern at one of our Placement Partner’s sites. As a professional you could use your education and passion for your profession to aid these centres and the animals they serve.

 These are non structured placements- they will be based around your interested, your skill set and your schedule. Generally, these Experiences will be project based. If you are interested in volunteering with a Placement Partner using your professional skills please contact us. We can develop a plan for your volunteering time that not only gives you a real world project that will aid the centre and the animals, but will allow you to have time off so you can experience the country you are living in.

 We encourage our volunteers to apply for the Experience they are most interested. All of the Placement Partners need volunteers in many different fields but if you are interested in volunteering with animals without directly interacting with them please check out our professional and student placements: http://www.animalexperienceinternational.com/search.html

 Your day could be spent looking through past accounting to help with strategic planning, web designing, constructing and building enclosures, marketing, photographing, teaching or maybe even graphic designing for a new campaign!

 We are currently placing volunteers in the following fields:

Design (print and website design)

Construction (building enclosures, solar installation, etc)

Fundraising

Photography

Education (educators, curriculum developers and university/college/TESL instructors)

Administration and Office Management

Accounting

 If you want to help animals- we will make it happen!

Your friends at AEI

Nora and Dr. Heather

You are traveling in S.E Asia. You see an animal in a cage. What would you do? What should you do?

This is an interesting article that will get you thinking about the animal trade around the world.

Remember, when you travel DO NOT take part in animal tourism. Elephant rides, monkey activities, parrot pictures are all very damaging to the animals, the ecosystems and the economy.

Those animals were stolen from the wild, their teeth were ripped out, they are suffering from malnutrition and improper enrichment.

The families who are using these animals as a source of income are taking part in a cruel and unsustainable practice because they have seen short term gains and see that this can get them an income to feed their families. Once the animal they have dies, they will just have to get another one from the wild. These people don’t want to see cruelty happen to the animal they are exploiting. However, they choose their families financial dependance on tourists because this has proven to be a way they can feed themselves. Break this cycle and support sustainable, fair and humane economy.

The forests that depend on a complex food web are becoming less balanced and suffering as they get emptied with the flora and fauna tourists want to see, play with, touch and own. Some animals we may never have the luck to see. Just as not everyone will be able to go into space, not everyone will be able to see a slow loris.  We must work past our entitlement and remember that animals are not for us. They are for themselves.

When you support the animal trade- through the purchase of animal products or through animal exploitative experiences, you are giving them your seal of approval. Your actions show your endorsement.

It’s not just a quick ride on an elephant. It’s a long life of suffering and torture for the elephant who was ripped apart from their mother when they were young.

It’s not just a picture with a happy monkey. It’s feeding a system that takes monkeys away from their families, has their teeth ripped out and chains put around their neck for their entire lives.

It’s not just a macaw in a cage at a cafe. It’s one less animal in the wild. One less chance for that species to survive, one less important piece to a very complex puzzle that needs all the pieces for it’s health.

Cages keep animals in, they exist because without them animals would escape. They would go where they want- and that is NOT a night market so they can be purchased by a human to live in another cage.

Keep animals in the forests, the deserts, the oceans, the plains- in the wild where they belong.

Do not support the animal trade or animal tourism.

What do you think about these tourists? Do you think they did the right thing?

http://www.crikey.com.au/2013/01/07/the-great-escape-a-slow-release-to-the-wild-in-indonesia/

Nora and Dr. Heather

Happy Holidays to all of our amazing Partners, Placement Partners, Clients and Supporters!! Thank you so much for being part of the AEI family this year.

We couldn’t have helped so many people realize their dreams of traveling the world and volunteering with animals, if it wasn’t for your kind and generous support throughout this year.

To all of our clients and Placement Partners around the world: Thank you for helping us help you, help animals. :)

To all of our Responsible Partners: Thank you for your support, your encouragement, your discounts and your patience. What would we do without our AEI family?

To our friends and family: Your continued support, encouragement and care packages have made 2012 the year our dreams came true.  

Best wishes for a happy new year filled with health, happiness and spectacular success! We hope that you and your families have a very restful and lovely holiday. Thank you for making 2012 a very special and very memorable year! We are so excited for the new year because with the new calendar means new partnerships!

This year we will be traveling to Bolivia, India, Sierra Leone, Kenya, South Africa, Costa Rica and Mexico to bring you lots more ways you can volunteer with animals.

2013 is going to be the best year yet!!

Nora and Heather

Want to know about orangutan rehabilitation and how you can help them from the comfort of your own home? Want to learn about leeches without having to meet one? Want to drink a cup of coffee while you read about a volunteer slogging through the rivers of Sumatra?

Well, here is your chance! Julie is a long term volunteer who is on location in Sumatra documenting orangutan and elephant rehabilitation in the jungle. She started a beautiful blog and we love it! Her honest and wonderful writing style and her gorgeous pictures make this so enjoyable to read.

Do yourself a favour and check out this awesome blog. You won’t regret it!

http://juliechristina.wordpress.com/

Success is not final, failure is not fatal, it is the courage to continue that counts.

-Churchill.

See the little flippers? Newly hatched sea turtles dig themselves out of their nest. Just a sneak preview of a brand new Experience we will be offering in 2013.