Our aim is to rehabilitate the animals we rescue, when rehabilitation is not possible we work hard to ensure each individual animal has the utmost freedom possible.

Our philosophy is that no wild animal should be abused or kept as a pet.

The Inti Wara Yassi organization was founded by Juan Carlos Antezana in Bolivia in 1992. The organisation initially focused on aiding poor or orphaned children by teaching them a trade so that they could support themselves and their families.  Juan Carlos also took the children on trips to the different cities and parks to teach them about Bolivia first hand. 

After witnessing the horrible impact of man upon nature, deforestation and animal abuse, Juan Carlos and the children he worked with decided to take action.  The first wildlife refuge was founded on the grounds of Parque Machía, near Villa Tunari, to house and rehabilitate wild animals. 

Since then, the community has grown to well over 5,000 people from all over the world, all dedicated to the principles on which Inti Wara Yassi was founded. CIWY now has three refuges in Bolivia – Machia, Ambue Ari and Jacj Cuisi – as well as a registered charity in the UK and active support groups throughout the world.

Currently managed by its president Nena Baltazar, Inti Wara Yassi is run almost entirely by volunteers and has grown into one of the largest conservation NGOs in Bolivia. Staying strong to its commitment to working with local communities, Inti Wara Yassi provides safe havens for 1,000’s of abused animals and birds and has saved over 1,000 hectares of rainforest.

Read more about Inti Wara Yassi

Find out how to volunteer at our parks in Bolivia

Become a Friend of Inti Wara Yassi

Inti Wara Yassi's deep, uniting ties with the whole of the Bolivian public are symbolised in its name – Inti means sun in Quechua, Wara moon in Aymara and Yassi means stars in Chiriguano Guarani.

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