Volunteer Animal Care at a Bear Sanctuary in Romania with Projects Abroad

  Romania

• Other Cities in Romania: 
Brasov

Term: Academic Year, Fall, Not Applicable, Spring, Summer, Throughout the year, Trimester, Winter 
Durations of Program: 1-2 weeks, 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks, 9-12 weeks, 3-6 months and 7-12 months
Typical Duration of Program: 9-12 weeks
Dates: All Year Round

Description: The Animal Care Project in Romania is based at the world's largest bear sanctuary close to the Carpathian Mountains, on the outskirts of Brasov. This voluntary Animal Care placement is suitable for people who are passionate about the protection of animals and for those who enjoy the outdoors. Placements at the bear sanctuary are suitable for gap year students, university students and those taking a career break.
This Animal Care project is aimed at volunteers who are ready for an adventure and will get stuck in with what ever tasks are needed! A weekly timetable is always put in place so you are aware of what your role will be for the following week.

Romania is home to Europe's largest population of brown bears. In Romania, many bears are sadly still kept to entertain tourists. The bears often receive a poor diet and not enough water; they are kept in cramped cages and in poor conditions, with little protection from the bitter cold in the Romanian winter. In 2006 the bear sanctuary near Brasov was established, providing a purpose built home for rescued bears.

The sanctuary accommodates almost 30 bears in over 70 hectares of forest. The sanctuary is increasing in size each year, as more bears are rescued and the number of bears is expected to increase to about 50 within the next year.

Volunteering on an Animal Care Placement in Romania with Projects Abroad

Volunteers help to prepare and provide food for the bears, and feed them. Vaccinations and disinfestations also occasionally take place, which you can observe. You can also help with activities such as the maintenance of fences in the forest, digging foundations for new facilities, and generally helping with the conservation of the forest by planting trees and shrubs.

When the bears are first rescued they are transported to the sanctuary where they have an initial medical check at a health center. Once they are sufficiently recovered, they are gradually introduced to forested enclosures where they quickly revert back to instinctive behavior. Before arriving at the sanctuary these bears knew little of life outside a cage, whereas at the sanctuary they have pools to splash and swim in, food for foraging and places where they can make dens.

Although the Romanian law protects bears from abusive and poor conditions, as there was previously no place for authorities to house rescued bears, this law could not be enforced. The primary aim of the sanctuary is therefore to help eradicate the cruel exploitation of bears in Romania, by empowering the Government to enforce the law. The sanctuary also aims to develop a rehabilitation and release program for cubs brought to the sanctuary, enabling them to return to the wild.

All volunteers stay with a local host family in Brasov and will get local transport to work each day. This project is only available from March to November, due to the bears hibernating in the winter months.

Highlights: Romania is an amazing country. The Carpathian Mountains covered in pine forests are its spine. The hills and plains of the three historical provinces, Wallachia, Moldavia and Transylvania emerge from these mountains. The Southern border is defined by the Danube. The Danube Delta, an exotic paradise for birds and fish, lies in the small Romanian province of Dobrogea, which has 150 miles of coast on the Black Sea.

The people who live in this country, the Romanians, share their world with Hungarians, Saxons, Gypsies, Turks, Tatars, Armenians, Jews, Russians and Serbs. The Romanians themselves never forget that they are the Latin people of Orient, descendants of the ancient Dacians.

All accommodation is organized, paid for, and monitored by Projects Abroad. All project placements are regularly visited and checked. We require high standards of supervision and accommodation, which are verified before you arrive in Moldova.

This project offers the opportunity to become fully immersed in the culture in a manner which even the most hardened of backpackers could never hope to do.

Cost in US$: USD 2,445 and up

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: Open-minded, eager to explore, help, and learn.

Age Range: 16-70

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to Romania Independently or in Groups

Application Process Involves:

• Letters of Reference
• Online Application plus Application Assessment

Post-Program Services Include:

• Alumni Network
• Exit Debriefing Abroad
• Re-Entry Debriefing at Home

Projects Abroad's Mission Statement: As part of the global economy, Projects Abroad helps create local employment wherever we send volunteers. Employing local staff overseas and using their talents and knowledge is important to us. This local knowledge and support enables the organization to channel the skills of the volunteers from more affluent countries to regions around the world where they are needed. Volunteers also learn from their placements and the people they meet, and they gain experience in a chosen field. In the 21st century, we believe this mutual respect is what cultural exchange is all about.

Year Founded: 1992