We had set ourselves two objectives for our round-the-world trip: to take part in solidarity experiences and to live the dreams we had in mind. One of my son-in-law Morgan’s dreams was to work as an ecovolunteer in an animal sanctuary in the Amazon. A commitment that also allowed us to experience solidarity. Two birds with one stone!
So, to introduce you to our two weeks (three weeks for Morgan) in Merazonia, who better than Morgan himself to present this unique experience. I’ll leave the keyboard to him for the rest of this article. The illustrative photos are mainly his.
What is ecovolunteering and why did you choose it?
The aim of ecovolunteering is to get involved in an organization as a volunteer to work on environmental issues, such as wildlife conservation in our case. It may come as a surprise to some, but you have to “pay” to do ecovolunteering. The amounts charged by associations vary enormously and include different things. That’s why it’s important to be well informed before making your choice. For Merazonia, for example, it was 160 euros per week, for a minimum of 2 weeks. This is a very reasonable price, which includes accommodation, meals and the loan of equipment for working (boots, clothes…).
I wanted to do this because ever since I was little I’ve loved taking care of animals, going for walks and having fun in nature. I therefore followed studies related to these passions (BAC Pro agricole, option soigneur animalier). After my round-the-world trip, I’ll be starting a BTS in Nature Management and Protection. After many internships in contact with animals in zoos, I always wanted to do this job, but IN the natural environment of endangered animals.
Knowing that we’d be passing close to the Ecuadorian Amazon, the best preserved rainforest in South America, I saw an opportunity for an extraordinary experience. So I went in search of an organization that could take us on as volunteers.
How did I find Merazonia?
Despite the many ecovolunteering websites out there, it’s not that easy to find a good structure. Between the exorbitant prices, the associations that never reply or those that require you to stay for a minimum of 6 months, don’t be discouraged… For me, it all started with a contact at a zoo who recommended various centers. However, I received no positive response, only other addresses to contact. One thing led to another, and after many e-mails, I discovered Merazonia. I was immediately convinced by their presentation of the refuge, their objectives, their website and their professionalism in their dealings with me. It was there that my dream was to come true!
What is Merazonia and what is the purpose of this refuge?
Merazonia is a wildlife rescue and rehabilitation center set in 100 hectares of tropical jungle. The refuge is located near Mera, a small town at the gateway to the Amazon. From Mera, it’s a 15-minute 4X4 drive into the forest to Merazonia.
Since its opening in 2009, over 1,700 volunteers have helped to care for the center’s 100 or so animals. All the animals at Merazonia are survivors of animal trafficking. Many arrive injured or completely traumatized by their experience alongside humans.
Merazonia’s mission is to care for them and, above all, to teach them to live like wild animals again. Yes, many animals have been captured as babies and have little natural behavior. Once the animal or group of animals is ready, they are released back into their natural environment. For example, in 2021, 24 animals were released and are now living in the middle of the forest.
Since Merazonia is really focused on rehabilitating the animals at the shelter, they have a strict no-human-contact policy for most of their animals. So we try as much as possible not to talk loudly or interact with them. It’s important to know this before you commit.
What’s the daily rhythm at Merazonia?
At Merazonia, we work 6 days a week with one day off. Working hours are 7 hours a day (except Thursdays and Sundays, when we only work mornings). These days are divided into three “rounds”:
- The first from 7.30am to 10am,
- The second from 11am to 1:30pm,
- The last round from 3pm to 5pm.
All volunteers sleep in a collective dormitory, and start at virtually the same time (for those assigned to look after the baby monkey, for example, the times are different). During breaks, everyone can do what they like: prepare their own meals, eat, rest, chat with others…
The daily work consists of :
- Ration preparation: in the animal kitchen, nicknamed “la bodega”, we cut fruit and vegetables to the appropriate size for each species of animal, with a wide variety of local exotic fruits.
Every day, we provide different “enrichments”. These are useful either as food supplements, such as eggs, popcorn or oats for some species, or as earthworms or fish for others! Some enrichments are designed to stimulate the animals and encourage them to look for food. For example, I really enjoyed hiding fruit in leaves and then wrapping a vine around them to hang them in the cage.
- Cleaning: cleanliness of the enclosures is very important for the animal’s health and well-being. During cleaning, all dead branches, excrement and uneaten food must be removed from the cage.
- Cutting branches: although this may seem an easy activity, don’t be fooled. In Merazonia, certain animals such as woolies, woolly monkeys, feed mainly on leaves. You’ll have to cut a lot of leaves in the jungle, several times a day, so that each animal can eat its fill, and above all as if it were in its natural environment. This can be an enjoyable way to discover the forest, but it can also be a tiring experience in torrential rain or on very steep paths. And you need to be careful, because not all plant species in nature are good for them. Some may even be toxic. The coordinators, volunteers with years of experience, give us an introduction on our first days as volunteers. They do our “introduction”, and if we’re not sure of ourselves, don’t worry, we’re never alone to look after the areas. We also cut branches for the animals that don’t feed on leaves, as their enclosure must resemble their natural environment, i.e. with lots of vegetation. This activity usually takes up a lot of time during the day. To give you an idea, for the woolly monkeys I mentioned earlier, we spend an average of 2 to 3 hours a day to get a sufficient quantity.
Once everyone has finished their work at 5:00 pm, a small meeting takes place so that each sector can speak in front of everyone to say whether everything is going well, or whether a particular animal is sick or injured.
After this fifteen-minute debriefing, everyone is free. However, every evening, some people are assigned to cook for everyone. It’s a very pleasant part of community life, because while we’re cooking, we talk, laugh and get to know each other.
Community life has a few drawbacks, but is generally very pleasant, as volunteers from all over the world come to Merazonia and the exchanges (in English) are very enriching.
After a good day’s work, it’s not long before we go to bed to be in top form the next day! Up at 6.30/7 a.m. and off we go for a great day in the jungle!
Practical information you need to know before your ecovolunteering trip
What did this experience bring me?
These 20 days spent in the middle of the jungle in an animal shelter were a great learning experience for me. I was able to discover another facet of the job, in line with my future career.
Merazonia’s involvement in the conservation and, above all, the reintroduction of species appealed to me enormously, and that’s what I’m looking for in this profession. Beyond the professional experience, the human encounters and exchanges have been very enriching, as I’ve been able to meet people from all professions and all countries. Some of the French volunteers have even become friends whom I hope to see again when I return to France.
Merazonia is an incredible structure that I can wholeheartedly recommend. If you too are interested in this kind of experience, don’t hesitate to go all the way to Ecuador to give them a little of your time. They listen and take our opinions and feedback to heart. And if you just want to help them support their project, you can also make a donation on their website or buy one of their garments, for example. Claudie and I chose a sweatshirt and my father a T-shirt. The quality of the products is really great.
Many thanks also to Claudie and my dad, who, even though they’re not in the business at all, still accompanied me on this unforgettable experience!
Morgan
