Conservation Volunteer Projects in Vietnam

Vietnam is pretty hot right now. Not with regards to its climate, but rather, in terms of the buzz surrounding its biodiversity studies. It’s one of those countries that wouldn’t automatically spring to mind when deciding on a location to volunteer in – it’s not known for its tropical beaches like projects in Thailand, nor has its environmental causes achieved worldwide prominence like that of the Galapagos Islands.

However, it is precisely because of this lack of awareness that Vietnam has become more of a ‘whispered’ trend, and why a growing number of volunteers are choosing to help out over there.

WAVA's Vietnamese Animal Rescue Volunteer project is a multi-species wildlife rescue station, located in a research facility in Cu Chi, 70kms from Ho Chi Minh City. The project currently houses over 250 wild animals including: gibbons, langurs, loris, macaques, moon bears, sun bears, otters, pangolins and a variety of reptile species.

The fact that the project is located off the beaten track in a fairly secluded area, makes it an extremely appealing volunteer destination – one in which many a ‘conservation-enthusiast’ thrives on. No qualms about it, the entire research facility in Vietnam is based solely in and around nature. Whether it’s wildlife, flora and fauna, or insects – the project is constantly in the thick of things with regards to biodiversity conservation work.

The research facility that the Animal Rescue Volunteer project is based in conducts annual biodiversity surveys around Vietnam using both national and international experts in their fields.

* They have just conducted an 8-month educational survey of over 4000 locals into their attitude on consuming wild animal parts.
* When surveying national parks in U-Minh Thuong and Phu Quoc, biologists at the research facility were responsible for discovering a new dragonfly species.
* It is also currently studying and taking part in captive breeding of native freshwater fish species. The aim of which is to breed them then re-release them back into Saigon’s waterways to help repopulate the rivers of Southern Vietnam.

Just to cement how stimulating this Vietnamese volunteer project can be, its most recent survey in June 2011, uncovered a further 140 species - which included several species of threatened primate such as gibbons and macaque, and nearly 60 different species of amphibian and reptile including Taylor’s bug-eyed Frog (Theloderma stellatum) which has been classified as an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.

Browse One World 365 Australia Travel Opportunities:
- Conservation Volunteer Projects
- Vietnam Volunteer Projects
- Vietnam Conservation Volunteer Projects

For more information on WAVA volunteer projects please view the profiles below.