The Tasmanian Wildlife & Penguin Care international volunteering opportunity is a way for volunteers to care for animals that are sick, injured, displaced or orphaned. Taken in by local carers, these beautiful creatures need assistance and care from groups of loving and dedicated wildlife volunteers. The initiative established by international charity volunteering organisation Oceans 2 Earth Volunteers, enables animal lovers from around the world to participate in activities including animal rehabilitation, food preparation and foraging, feeding, exercising, medical care and triage assistance and other duties around property maintenance and enclosure cleaning. The Tasmanian Wildlife & Penguin Care needs people to apply to volunteer so that they can immerse themselves in wildlife assistance as an alternative to a traditional holiday. Where else would you get the opportunity to care for all types of native Australians animals including wallabies, kangaroos, echidnas, wombats, pademelons, sugar gliders even Tasmanian devils.
The Tasmanian Wildlife & Penguin Care project around December to April are injured, sick or rehabilitated Little Blue Penguins and Fiordland Crested Penguins. With climate change threatening these cute little seabirds, volunteers are needed to help every individual make its way back to the wild.
Throughout the year, the shelter also rescues Tasmanian devils. The Tassie devil is susceptible to a contagious disease called Devil Facial Tumour Disease and is classified as endangered on the IUCN red list. The shelter helps Tassie devils short term until they are moved to the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program. This formal program established by the Tasmanian Government helps to reduce the threat of extinction to these unique animals and is extremely important to their existence.
Volunteer Wildlife Volunteers and their Role in Conservation
Tasmanian Wildlife & Penguin Care needs the help of volunteers to bottle feed the babies, exercise the animals helping them to build strength and learn important foraging skills, assist in administering medicines, help in running and upgrading the facility, and provide a caring and nurturing environment. Many baby animals need cuddles and affection just like human babies do. This sort of up-close interaction with the animals is something that wildlife volunteers are unlikely to forget. Creating a healthier and better life for wildlife brings rewards that money can’t buy and cannot be explained, only experienced.
Volunteers receive training by staff at the shelter so volunteers leave with a diverse set of learnt practical wildlife assistance skills and unforgettable memories to cherish forever.
The Beautiful Seaside Location of Bicheno, Tasmania
Located close to beautiful conservation areas and pristine forest reserves on the east coast of Tasmania in a town called Bicheno, volunteers can spend their afternoons and free time relaxing in the tranquil Tasmanian forest or take calming walks along the foreshore. Bicheno is a popular tourist destination, due to its stunning coastal scenery and unique activities that are on offer for all types of travellers. It is a fishing town, so the seafood lovers out there are in for a delightful treat with fresh seafood in abundance. Within driving distance are vineyards, walking and cycling trails within the National Parks, beaches to watch the penguins in their natural habitat, and many restaurants and cafes to enjoy. Tasmania is characterised by its mountain ranges, winding roads, impeccable scenery and abundance of hiking trails available.
Oceans 2 Earth Volunteers need as many volunteers as possible to help at the shelter to release as many of the rehabilitated native animals back to the wild in their natural habitat. Get in touch with us today to start planning your authentic Tasmanian volunteering experience at volunteers@oceans2earth.org or apply directly now.
Written by Megan Cundy, Oceans 2 Earth Volunteers Marine Conservation Advocate
