Volunteering

Volunteer at The Primate Trust India

This is a unique opportunity to learn about primates. It is a rare hands on chance to work with rescued primates and get to know your not so distant relatives first hand. As well as getting to know them and learning to understand their handling, feeding and care you will also get an insight into a completely different life, that of rural India.

Ask our previous volunteers

I would like to be able to describe better what an amazing and fulfilling time I had, but I think that the beauty of volunteering with monkeys can be fully understood just if you try it. What I can say is that despite I lived at the Tree House just for few weeks I feel like I left a piece of my heart there and that one day I will go back to India to see little Nisa again.

It is very difficult to match the dedication shown by john and jo but to know that each visit made by us to see our little friends would be a welcome from them to their world and share the day for mutual fulfilment. To sum up, being given the opportunity to look after the monkeys has been an experience similar to caring for children and educating them as well as ourselves. Unforgettable memories.

As I write this I am at the Tree House for the third time, just a short visit unfortunately. John and Jo have always made me feel so welcome. They love to share their world with anyone who has a genuine interest in primates and animals in general.

At the end of our volunteering, we reflected on how tiring yet exhilarating the whole experience had been. I have a new found respect for people that work with these creatures, to care for their physical and mental wellbeing day in and out. Jo is a fantastic lady and inspirational in how she runs the Trust, maintaining a humble and modest approach to caring for animals and running a charity. It is truly all about the animals and staff. To top it off, were the 16 cats at the Trust and the 5 lovely dogs that also made it a dream for any animal lover. I just hope we get to go back there one day soon

Living at the tree house

Although Goa is one of the richest states in India, you need to be aware, that our centre is outside the sanitised tourist areas. Staying on site you will come into contact with the real India, and its wildlife and inconveniences.

This means meeting a wide variety of insects, rodents and reptiles. Wild monkeys invade our roofs. You may find the accommodation basic, but many local people have no electricity connection or running water supply, and to them you are living in luxury.

This is an opportunity to learn about another country and its people and wildlife, which few tourists ever glimpse.

What's involved

This is a chance to not only learn more about India’s wildlife and our work, but to learn first hand about another country and how its people live.

You should be reasonably fit and 17 years or above, other than this age is no barrier. You need to be adaptable, open to new experiences, tolerant, and have a genuine interest in animals and in helping them. Unlike a beach holiday, this could be a life changing experience!

Learn more