Help care for rescued
animals in
Bali

Hands on experience with exotic & endangered wildlife

Apply now
  • Duration
    1-8 Weeks
  • Accompanied age
    5+
  • Minimum age
    18+
  • Start dates
    1st & 3rd Sunday
  • From
    £180
  • Duration
    1-8 Weeks
  • Accompanied age
    5+
  • Minimum age
    18+
  • Start dates
    1st & 3rd Sunday
  • From
    £180

Bali wildlife rescue centre

Want to help care for a huge array of wildlife in one of our most popular destinations? Join us in Bali on our wildlife rescue programme where you will spend your days surrounded by over 60 animals, reptiles and birds as they prepare to be released back into the wild. Rescued from all parts of Indonesia, this is your chance to get up close to a huge variety of endangered and exotic species including bears, cockatoos, monkeys, crocodiles and more!

Working alongside a dedicated team, you will play a vital role in ensuring all animals receive the highest level of care as you assist with feeding, cleaning enclosures, providing enrichment and more! This is also a great opportunity to learn about wildlife conservation and get a behind the scenes look at the running of a wildlife rescue centre.

The centre is located in Tabanan, around one hour from Denpasar and a short drive to some of the best beaches in Bali. This is the perfect place to experience traditional Balinese culture away from the crowds, whilst still being able to explore everything Bali has to offer!

Wildlife rescue in Bali

I had an amazing time in Bali helping within the animal rescue centre! The volunteering activities, local team and accommodation were all great.

Brittany JasperSeptember 2024

Volunteering in Bali

I spent 4 weeks helping in Bali and I would recommend to everyone who is thinking about helping birds and other animals.

Claire HumphriesAugust 2024

Background to the marine programme

It’s no secret that Bali is world renowned as a popular tourist destination, attracting over a million travelers each year to the beautiful paradise island. However, although there are many benefits to this, tourism often comes at a cost to animals. Local species from all over Indonesia are often poached and trafficked to be brought to Bali as pets, for meat or for public entertainment. These wild animals are often taken from their mothers in the wild or bred in substandard conditions. They are then “tamed” for entertainment, selfies and tourist attractions. In addition to this, the rise in tourism has led to massive deforestation, with many forests and farmland being used for hotels and tourist facilities.

A rise in deforestation can also be seen elsewhere in Indonesia as green spaces are cleared for palm oil and rubber plantations or to build roads. Displaced and with nowhere to hide, this makes these animals especially vulnerable to poachers in the illegal wildlife trade.

Limited government resources make it hard to control criminal activity, meaning more animals are at risk and numbers are diminishing.

With this in mind, the wildlife rescue centre was set up to provide a safe place for these animals to be rehabilitated and eventually released back into the wild where they belong. This is your chance to help protect these animals and give them a second chance in life.

Where will I be volunteering?

You will be volunteering at a wildlife rescue centre, based in Tabanan, around one hour north of Denpasar. The wildlife rescue centre forms part of a wider not-for-profit organisation that is working to sustainably conserve wildlife and communities around Indoensia, with centres in Tabanan, Nusa Penida, Borneo and elsewhere in Bali.

The centre provides shelter for around 60 animals, birds and reptiles who are being rehabilitated or awaiting release back into the wild. The team takes in animals from all over Indonesia so you will be caring for a wide range of animals including a sun bear, porcupines, goats, eagles, wild cats and more.

The team aims to release animals as soon as possible and provide a high level of care to any animals that sadly will not survive in the wild due to injuries. As some species are not native to Bali it can take a while to organise acclimatisation and deportation back to their natural habitat, hence a high level of care is required while they wait.

The rescue centre is also home to around 10 different types of birds including eagles, parrots, cockatoos and the critically endangered Bali Starling. Many of these birds have been rescued from markets or private homes or have lost their homes due to deforestation. Through volunteering at the programme you can provide not only assistance but also funds and resources to help continue this important conservation work.

What is my role?

With around 60 animals to care for at the rescue centre, the team need your help to ensure all the animals are well looked after. Be prepared to get your hands dirty on this active role which will allow you to see these amazing animals up close, whilst knowing you are having a positive impact on their well being.

Supervised by experienced animal keepers, your daily tasks will include -

  • Cleaning enclosures
  • Preparing food
  • Feeding animals
  • Collecting leaves and branches for cages
  • Providing enrichment and activities for the animals

If you are a trained or aspiring vet you may also get the chance to observe and assist at the on-site animal clinic. This will be dependent on your background, experience and the situation.

What will a typical day look like?

You will generally volunteer from Monday to Friday for around 6 hours a day. Activities may vary day to day depending on where the help is needed at the rescue centre but a typical day may look like this:

8:00am - 12:00pm - Clean enclosures, feed animals, create enrichment
12:00pm - 14:00pm - Lunch break
14:00pm - 16:00pm - Clean enclosures, feed animals, help with any additional activities

The evenings are free for you to relax and explore Tabanan. We would recommend heading to the iconic Tanah Lot temple for sunset or relaxing on Gangga beach.

Where will I be staying?

The volunteer house is based within the grounds of the rescue centre. You will be staying with other volunteers from around the world and wake up to the sounds of the birds and animals in the morning! The house is conveniently located in Tabanan, within walking distance of supermarkets, laundrettes, ATMs and restaurants.

Although a city, Tabanan is surrounded by some of the most beautiful and authentic landscapes. Imagine rice paddies, winding roads and traditional temples in a region which is largely untouched by tourists and often referred to as the hidden gem of Bali.

Tabanan is also just a short drive away from attractions such as temples and waterfalls and around an hour from Denpasar and Ubud - making it the perfect base for exploring Bali at evenings and weekends!

Other things to consider

Hands-off volunteering - Please be aware that this wildlife programme is strictly hands-off. While volunteering in Bali, there will be no physical interaction with the animals. This is to provide the animals with a natural experience to ensure they have the best chance of being able to be released back into the wild. Instead, you will provide the essential daily needs for the animals including feeding, cleaning the enclosure and providing stimulation through enrichments.

Bird sanctuary - During your time at the rescue centre you will also have the opportunity to help out at a bird sanctuary. Based in a small village up in the mountains, around 30 minutes from Tabanan, this project focuses primarily on releasing and monitoring the critically endangered Bali Starling. This programme is also great for those interested in agriculture, as the project works with local farmers in the area to promote sustainable farming. The team aims to be entirely self-sufficient so you will have the opportunity to help maintain vegetable patches and grow resources. You will also have the chance to teach English within the community. This is a great opportunity to get involved with an authentic side of Bali in a remote but stunning location, surrounded by mountains and overlooking the UNESCO world heritage-listed Jatiluwih Rice Terraces.

Weekends and free time - You will have every weekend off from volunteering and this is the perfect time to explore everything this beautiful island has to offer. You are more than welcome to simply relax around the accommodation and enjoy the beach, but most volunteers will use this time to travel and see the country. Further down this page you will come across many suggestions and ideas on where you could go. 

Helping with marine conservation in Bali

  • September 2024
I spent a life changing 2 weeks helping on the marine conservation programme in Bali. No day was the same, as we built artificial reef structures, cleaned beaches, scuba dived, snorkelled and travelled! If you are thinking about travelling to Bali or volunteering somewhere around the world, I would highly recommend The Mighty Roar and their projects.

Yiling's story

Teaching English On The Beach In Bali

  • April 2024
Travelling the world has always been a dream of mine, but having never been away from home for longer than a week, uprooting my life for two months on the other side of the world seemed something completely infeasible for me. The Mighty Roar came with the best reviews and Bali seemed the obvious choice. I have many incredible Bali memories, from the Gili Islands to Nusa Penida, Canggu to Ubud, but my highlight has to be the time spent within the local community.

Freya's story

Diving into marine conservation in Bali

  • January 2024
An unforgettable three week volunteering experience helping on the marine conservation project in Bali. Through my time spent in this mesmerising tropical paradise, I immersed myself in the world of scuba diving, coral reef conservation and the vibrant culture of the island. I would wholeheartedly recommend this endeavour to any traveler with a love for exploration, a passion for animals, an affinity for sun-soaked shores, and an unwavering desire for fun. I had the best time of my life and would highly recommend, 10/10 experience!

Oliver's story

Making Artificial Reefs In Bali

  • November 2023
Where do I start with Bali, I came into this not really knowing what to expect but let me tell you, I can honestly say it was one of the best experiences of my life. I did marine conservation for 2 months which seems like a long time but time flies by to the point that 2 months is just not enough. Bali is a beautiful country with great people, amazing food, breathtaking views and many fun opportunities. I can’t recommend it enough.

Nicholas's story

An action packed 2 week adventure exploring Bali

  • August 2023
When I heard about this travel experience I knew this was something I was interested in. As a 17 year old going to the other side of the world, myself and family were slightly worried, but I had the most unforgettable time and met some amazing people along the way. From eating some amazing food, having my first surf lesson and visiting temples, I will never forget this once in a lifetime experience.

Madison's story

Bali has affected my life more than I could imagine

  • April 2023
I spent two weeks in Kefalonia, a greek island in the ionian sea, where I learned a lot about marine conservation, made amazing friends and saw some baby turtles hatch! Travelling and volunteering in Greece was a dream come true and I would absolutely recommend this programme to anyone thinking about it.

Valter's story

My 6 week experience in Bali

  • March 2020
I could talk for day's about my trip to Bali to assist with marine conservation and teaching last summer. I honestly had the best 6 weeks of my life and I cannot wait to go back again and explore more.

Grace's story

Teaching in Ghana and Bali

  • June 2019
I had such an amazing experience with The Mighty Roar. I volunteered on the teaching programmes in Ghana and Bali for 11 weeks between January and March 2019.

Aryana's story