Welcome to Bangladesh’s Gibbon Forest!
Nestled in the heart of South Asia, Bangladesh is an emerald gem where nature flourishes. It is home to the largest river delta in the world and is renowned for the Sundarbans mangrove forest which hosts the critically endangered Bengal Tiger.
To the east is Lawachara National Park, a lush green tropical forest that hosts another unique species: Bangladesh’s Hoolock Gibbon. These majestic apes swing with effortless grace through the jungle canopy, their long arms propelling them from tree to tree.
Returning Home
Despite strict anti-poaching laws, gibbons are one of many species exploited in Bangladesh. At the Gibbon Forest project, volunteers will help the team relocate gibbons back to Lawachara, home to the largest wild population of Hoolock Gibbons in the country. Following a period of evaluation and rehabilitation, these singing apes will be released into the jungle to reintegrate with the wild population.
Volunteer Responsibilities
Volunteers will team up with the local team in Lawachara, participating in day-to-day tasks as per schedule. Food preparation and monitoring of the gibbons will be a large part of the work, and the rescue centre is home to many other animals who need daily care and maintenance as well. There is also a specially trained K9 unit at Lawachara which you may work with. These amazing canines can detect pangolins and tortoises to aid in conservation data collection.
The team in Lawachara often assist with education outreach among the local community and serve as an on-call respondents for snake rescue operations for nearby villages. A nearby turtle conservation centre is run by the same team, and there may be an opportunity to visit this site depending on your arrival time and the duration of your stay.
Please send me more information about GIBBON VOLUNTEERING in Bangladesh
VOLUNTEERING ACTIVITIES:
♥ FEEDING AND ENRICHING THE GIBBONS
♥ MONITORING GIBBONS AND OTHER WILDLIFE
♥ K9 PROJECT ASSISTANCE
INCLUDES ACCOMMODATION, FOOD AND ALL ACTIVITIES WITH EXPERT GUIDE
MINIMUM AGE: 18 years and above
MINIMUM STAY: 14 days ( 1 week for locals)
MINIMUM NUMBER: ONE
This project is intensely focused on the welfare of Bangladesh’s wildlife and the people who live among them.”
Volunteer from Bangladesh.
K9 JUNGLE DETECTION TEAM
Excitingly, you will have a chance to meet Clive and join the jungle detection team. Clive is a specially trained wildlife detection dog. He carries out critical conservation work to search and find endangered species.
This marks the culmination of years of dedicated effort by international donors such as Global Conservation Force, Scent Imprint Conservation Dogs, and Creative Conservation Alliance. Clive is a dedicated pangolin and tortoise detection dog, who works alongside researchers to assess the population size and density of these endangered species.
HOW TO BOOK
PRICING FOR INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEERS
per person
Includes:
- Accommodation in the dormitory
- Basic grocery supplies
- Meals- Breakfast, lunch and dinner and snacks
- Basic kitchen facilities e.g. fridge, toaster, cooking stove
- Transport to the facility, including airport pickup
- Entrance fees to Lawachara National Park and the facility
- 24-hour in-country support
- Certificate of completion
per person
Excludes:
- Flight fares
- Travel insurance
- Private transfers
- Visa costs
- Food/activities not included in the project
HOW TO BOOK
ACCOMMODATION
You will be staying in a dormitory-style accommodation facility near the rehabilitation center. Your accommodation includes single bunk beds and cabinets for storing your belongings. There will be three bunk beds in one spacious room. Pillows and blankets will be provided. Each room has an attached bathroom with a western toilet and shower facilities.
You have to wash your clothes as there is no laundry service. Detergent and soaps will be provided. The dormitory also has a lounge with sofas and a TV where you can socialize with other residents, read, and spend your leisure time.
FOOD
Local Bangladeshi food will be cooked and served. Vegetarian and vegan meals can be arranged upon prior notice. You will have access to the kitchen facilities e.g., cooking stove, refrigerator, toaster, microwave oven, etc., where you can prepare your meals. Essential supplies and groceries will be provided for your convenience.
Please be aware that owing to the location of the dormitory and limited access to special items and commodities, an additional charge will be applicable to accommodate specific requirements. You will have access to free WIFI in the dormitory.
HOW TO BOOK
Successes to date…
This conservation team has a highly impactful and diverse approach to various conservation challenges in the remaining wild areas of Banglasdesh. We are proud to be supporting such a creative and talented team that has achieved these conservation milestones:
Improved Community Health & Conservation:
- Launched a livestock health initiative, providing vaccinations and veterinary support to indigenous communities.
- Strengthened community-based conservation by offsetting conservation costs and fostering stronger community-conservation bonds.
- Secured conservation agreements with local communities to protect threatened species, including tortoises, gibbons, and bears.
Enhanced Wildlife Rehabilitation:
- Established a fully-equipped wildlife rehabilitation facility at the Jankichora Wildlife Rescue Center.
- Developed a specialized wildlife clinic to provide comprehensive care for injured and traumatized animals.
- Successfully launched the wildlife clinic with the support of a newly recruited wildlife veterinarian.
Successful Rewilding Initiatives:
- Successfully reintroduced six captive-bred elongated tortoises to Lawachara National Park.
- Reintroduced ten Asian giant tortoises to Matamuhuri Reserve Forest, following the success of a 2021 pilot project with high survival rates.
- Implemented a comprehensive monitoring program, including radio tracking and the use of a conservation dog, to track and ensure the long-term survival of released tortoises.
Community Engagement & Collaboration:
Chris doing conservation field work - Partnered with local communities, including tea estate workers and the Mro tribal communities, in habitat protection and tortoise monitoring.
- Incorporated the protection of other threatened species, such as the western hoolock gibbon, into community-based conservation agreements.
HOW TO BOOK
Requirements
What are the requirements to join this program?
Volunteers must be over 18. You will need to have a positive attitude, participate in all volunteer activities and respect the local village culture and traditions. It is also required to help out with any house chores. Volunteers who are 17 years old who have outdoors experience and parental consent are welcomed to join too.
Do I need any primate or conservation experience/knowledge?
No experience is necessary, just an enthusiasm for conservation is enough. The project staff will teach you all the necessary techniques and tell you everything you need to know about gibbon rehabilitation!
Project Information
What is the mission and vision of the project?
This project is dedicated to ecological and cultural preservation within Bangladesh’s last remaining wild places. Through grassroots efforts, the team empowers local people to become stakeholders in their own landscapes. As a critical part of the international Indo-Burma Biodiversity Hotspot – the most threatened Biodiversity Hotspot in the world – these remaining forests offer a refuge for 26+ globally threatened species.
The project is achieving conservation success through partnerships with government and non-government stakeholders, provision of alternative income sources of the local communities, rigorous scientific research, and the sustainable protection of natural resources. Both with our Chittagong Hill Tracts Program and with the Northeast Program, we are giving local communities a voice and the tools to succeed in staving off the destruction that their lands face.
What is a typical day at the project like?
Food preparation and monitoring of the gibbons will be a large part of the daily work, and the rescue centre is home to many other animals who need daily care and maintenance as well.
Other daily tasks may include working with the specially trained K9 unit to gather conservation data on pangolins and turtles, or education and outreach efforts with the local community.
Insurance, Visa and Vaccinations
Do I need insurance?
We highly recommend travel insurance to safeguard against sickness, loss of money, flight delay/cancellation or lost baggage.
Feel free to message us for further advice.
Do I need a visa?
Most European countries will need to apply for a tourist visa before flying to Bangladesh. This visa is valid for up to 90 days from the date of issue and applications can be made via the Bangladesh High Commission in London (for UK residents) or the Bangladesh Embassy in the country you are staying.
Do I need vaccinations?
Prior to your arrival, please be sure you meet all the necessary vaccination requirements fort working closely with our distant cousins, the gibbons. You must:
- Be vaccinated for Hepatitis A and B.
- Have your Tuberculosis (TBC) test or an X-ray of your lungs to prove that you don’t have TBC.
- TBC can easily spread to gibbons hence, it is mandatory for all to have a Tuberculosis test.
- We ask you to send us a copy of your vaccination card and the result of the TBC test before your arrival.
- Please ensure you bring your prescribed medicine if needed. Common medicines e.g., Paracetamol, Ibuprofen, metronidazole etc. are widely available here.
- Malaria is not prevalent in the vicinity of Lawachara National Park, however Dengue fever is common throughout the country.
Project services
Is there internet access?
The WiFi is usually quite weak at Lawachara, so it is recommended to purchase an affordable local sim.
Are there ATMs nearby?
Sreemangal, the closest town, has several internationally compatible ATMs. Trips to Sreemangal will be infrequent during your stay so it’s recommended to bring sufficient local currency for incidental costs.
What should volunteers bring?
Volunteers can refer to the project’s volunteer guide which includes a list of inventory that they should bring, which will be provided on booking. But, for a sneak peek:
- A laptop
- Lightweight work clothes that you do not mind getting dirty.
- You can bring clothes suitable for casual outings.
- Warmer clothes, depending on the season.
- A hat and sunscreen.
- A raincoat for yourself and rain cover for your bags/ pouches.
- Etc.
Will I get support and guidance during my stay?
Of course! We are very proud of our friendly and talented team, who are happy to help throughout your stay. All of the project staff have amazing local knowledge and skill-sets, making them the perfect leaders and teachers.
Any further queries you have before booking can be resolved by contacting us directly.
Travel arrangement
How do I get to Lawachara and the project site?
Airport pickup and drop off is included in the volunteer fees, so you just need to make your way to Dhaka airport, let us know your arrival time, and we will take care of the rest!
Other Information
I have some specific question about the project.
We are always happy to help you with any enquiries. Feel free to contact us.