A volunteer with a howler monkey at Parque Ambue Ari; Photo Credit: Antoine Aupetit
Working as a volunteer in CWIY’s wildlife sanctuaries is hard work, but incredibly rewarding. It is a unique experience in which you live close to nature in the Amazon rainforest, work with magnificent rescued animals, and contribute to their rehabilitation and quality of life. You will surely make new friends from around the world and leave with memories to cherish forever.
On this page you will find general information about volunteering. For specific information on each of our centers (animals, facilities, costs and instructions), visit the volunteer pages of each sanctuary:
CIWY is receiving volunteers at the 3 sanctuaries:
We offer two ways to organize your arrival:
You do not need to make a reservation beforehand, although we appreciate being notified even if it’s on the same day. We are rarely at full capacity, and if one sanctuary is full, we will have open slots at another. Once you arrive you will be trained, and your accommodation and working area will be assigned.
You can always contact us to ask where more help is needed at that time.
We accept reservations for those who prefer the peace of mind of having a guaranteed place in the sanctuary of their choice.
To make a reservation, we require a non-refundable fee of US $100 per person.
To reserve your spot, please read the terms and conditions below, and email us with “Volunteer Booking” as the subject.
Reservation Terms and Conditions:
We accept volunteers from all walks of life and we do not require previous experience working with wildlife. All training takes place at the sanctuary.
However, all volunteers must meet the following requirements:
Volunteering with animals requires a commitment of at least 15 nights, although some species require up to 44 nights. On the volunteer page of each sanctuary you can find the minimum stay required to work with each species. In general, 15 nights are required to work with monkeys and 30 nights to work with felines. The minimum stays are part of a policy implemented for the wellbeing and emotional stability of our animals.
We require only a one week commitment to work with construction projects, maintenance and gardening at Parque Jacj Cuisi.
Many of our volunteers stay for months or even years, and many others return for a second or third time. Long-term volunteers are crucial to the work we do. In addition to caring for animals, they help manage and direct our wildlife sanctuaries and often develop specialized knowledge of the animals. With time, some volunteers move into paid staff positions with CIWY. If you want to become a long-term volunteer and have doubts about visas, check our FAQ section.
The cost of volunteering varies by sanctuary, and is kept as low as possible. We appreciate that volunteers donate their time to support the animals, but we must collect a modest payment in order to provide room and board. Check the exact costs on the volunteer page of each sanctuary and be aware you must pay in cash before starting work.
The volunteer packages include accommodation and lunch at all of our sanctuaries. In addition, volunteers receive breakfast and dinner at Ambue Ari and Jacj Cuisi (not at Machía).
CIWY is a non-profit organization with no governmental funding. Any income generated from merchandise, donations, etc. helps us to continue rescuing and rehabilitating wild animals in need.
Volunteers receive a 10% discount for paying upfront for a 3 month stay, and a 30% discount for paying upfront for a 6 month stay.
The following prices apply:
Package | Machía | Ambue Ari | Jacj Cuisi |
---|---|---|---|
3 months (10% discount) | 7,335 Bs. | 7,713 Bs. | 7,533 Bs. |
6 months (30% discount) | 10,745 Bs. | 11,039 Bs. | 10,899 Bs. |
Below you’ll find information on the 3 sanctuaries, the work that is done in each one and what life is like there. For more specific information, see the volunteer page of each sanctuary.
Sanctuary | Animals | Facilities | Location |
---|---|---|---|
Parque Machía | Capuchin monkeys, spider monkeys, coatis, tortoises, Andean bear, squirrel monkeys and more. | Shared dormitories, shared kitchen, electricity, running water, hot showers, internet and cellphone reception. Restaurants, laundromat and shops at a 10-minute walking distance from the Park. | Villa Tunari, on the Cochabamba-Santa Cruz highway |
Parque Ambue Ari | Jaguars, ocelots, pumas, howler monkeys, night monkeys, birds, South American tapir, pacas, and more. | Shared dormitories with bunk beds, limited electricity, potable water, cold showers and limited cellphone reception. A 15 minute drive from Santa María and an hour drive from Ascensión de Guarayos (Shops and Itapemí Lagoon). | On the Santa Cruz to Trinidad highway |
Parque Jacj Cuisi | 3 pumas | Shared dormitories with bunk beds, limited electricity. | An hour and a half from Rurrenabaque |
Parque Machía consists of 38 hectares of Pre-Andean Amazon Forest located a 10-minute walk from the town of Villa Tunari (a 4 hour drive from Cochabamba).
Strolling through the wild portion of the sanctuary, you can easily spot groups of Capuchin monkeys and squirrel monkeys that have been reintroduced to the wild, as well as butterflies of many colors, birds and other wild animals. From the lookout, high on the mountain, there are beautiful views of the town, the mountain and its rivers. Some of the work areas are at the top of the mountain, so if you are lucky enough to work with spider monkeys or albifrons (white fronted capuchins), you can enjoy daily jungle walks.
Volunteers usually organize for dinner in groups, either going to the restaurants in town, or sharing meals at the cafe or the sanctuary’s shared kitchen. Sometimes special dinners are organized, and bonfires by the river, which can end as a party night at the town’s disco.
A good option to relax on your weekly day off is to visit the Los Tucanes hotel for a delicious pizza and a swim in their pool.
Living near the town has many advantages, but it also brings some inconveniences, such as the noise of the highway and neighboring dogs and roosters.
Ambue Ari consists of 1,000 hectares of Flooded Amazonian Forest, located 48km from Ascensión de Guarayos, in the middle of the jungle.
Here you will wake to the sounds of wild howler monkeys and our unique private alarm clock, a volunteer who passes from room to room with music to say good morning.
At any given area of base camp and the sanctuary, you can see countless animals, such as birds (macaws, amazons, toucans), pacas, armadillos, peccaries, monkeys (howler, squirrel, capuchin, and pygmy marmoset) and even tracks from small and large felines.
The sense of community is very strong at Ambue Ari. We enjoy Tuesday nights all together in Santa Maria eating delicious empanadas and ice cream. On Fridays we like to organize parties in the sanctuary’s pub, many of them themed (if you like to dress up in costume, this is your chance to shine). On Saturdays (our day off) we like to relax at the Itapemí lagoon.
After a candlelit dinner, volunteers usually play cards at the dining table, sing and play instruments in the smoking area, or simply go to bed early to recharge for the next day.
Living in the middle of the jungle has many advantages, but also some inconveniences, such as mosquitoes and walking through flooded areas of the sanctuary during the wet season (although many people find it fun, especially when they make races to return to the camp).
Jacj Cuisi is comprised by 300 hectares of Pre-andean Amazonian Forest, located 25km from Rurrenabaque. An extension of the park’s territory borders with the Madidi National Park, one of the most biodiverse places in the world.
At Jacj Cuisi you will be able to enjoy strolls through the jungle, where you’ll spot a great amount of birds (including macaws, toucans, and amazonian parrots). You will be able to bathe in Jacj Cuisi’s crystal clear streams. At night you can stargaze, and if it happens to be a full moon night you can join our night hikes to see nocturnal animals.
At the sanctuary we have a wood-fired oven, where homemade bread and delicious pizzas are cooked; a small ecological garden with vegetables,and fruit trees, so you will be able to eat seasonal fresh and ecological food. We also have a little hen house, from which we take fresh eggs daily.
The atmosphere at Jacj Cuisi is very family-like. Volunteers spend Friday evenings at Rurrenabaque having cocktails and dinner at the international restaurants in town, they usually spend the night there and enjoy their Saturday relaxing and sightseeing around Rurrenabaque, a very beautiful town with a lot of charm, and very touristic. It’s a good opportunity to buy delicious croissants, brownies and quiches at the French bakery.
Living at this amazing location has many advantages, but there’s also many inconveniences, like the lack of cell phone reception (it’s the perfect place to disconnect from the world), and the lack of transportation to towns nearby.
For most volunteers, work begins at 7:00 am and ends at 5:30 pm. There are two breaks (breakfast and lunch) that usually add up to 2.5 hours. You can find the specific hours of the different work areas on the page of each sanctuary.
As a volunteer, you receive one day of rest per week.
If you have room to spare in your luggage, please consider bringing items from our Wish List. Many of the items are cheap in other countries, but are difficult and sometimes impossible to buy in Bolivia. Any donation, however small it may seem, is greatly appreciated.
We highly recommend that you consult a doctor in your country to educate yourself about the risks and preventive measures to take before travelling to Bolivia.
You must be vaccinated against Yellow Fever in order to enter Bolivia. It is also advised to have the following vaccines up to date (but they aren’t mandatory):
We have never had a case of malaria at any of our sanctuaries, but this does not mean there is no risk. Most of our volunteers and workers do not take preventive medications, but we recommend that you consult with a doctor about the pros and cons for your own circumstances.
If you take any medication, we recommend that you bring enough to complete the treatment. If you plan to stay for several months, you can ask us if the product you need is available in the pharmacies nearby. Some products, such as the antibiotic Fosfomycin (Monurol), to treat urinary tract infections, are not available in Bolivia.
We recommend that you bring a basic kit that includes at least the following items:
Comunidad Inti Wara Yassi (CIWY) is a Bolivian Non-Governmental Organisation engaged in protecting wildlife rescued from illegal trafficking and the conservation of ecosystems. Across its three wildlife sanctuaries, CIWY has cared for thousands of animals over the years, providing for them a better quality of life and a future in their natural habitat. CIWY has been in operation since 1992 and is today recognised internationally for its work in wildlife care and rehabilitation.
Part of the extended CIWY family are Friends of Inti Wara Yassi UK and Friends of Inti Wara Yassi Australia, two international nonprofits founded and run by former volunteers to facilitate fundraising and permit tax-deductible donations for British and Australian taxpayers.
Pablo is a blue and yellow macaw who arrived at CIWY’s Machia Sanctuary in 2009. His past is unknown, but we know that he was not under appropriate conditions for a bird, since Pablo unfortunately suffers from chronic stress.
Despite this condition, he is a calm bird, and days go by when he prefers not to leave his nest.
Pablo’s biggest incentive is food — he gets very curious when the volunteers prepare dinner, and is the first to show up to eat.
It is sad that Pablo, a bird that could be soaring the skies with his family, today pays the consequences of a wrong decision made by the human who captured him. Please do not encourage the illegal trafficking of species. Macaws were born to fly, not to decorate a cage.
Carlos and his brother Juan were pets of a family in Santa Cruz. When the authorities heard that there were pumas living in a house, they confiscated them and brought them to CIWY’s Ambue Ari Sanctuary.
They arrived in 2008 when they were approximately 3-4 months old. The pair loved playing and were very affectionate, and were able to be walked easily. Unfortunately, in November 2008, Juan fell sick and died after a few days.
In 2010, Carlos was moved to a new, larger enclosure. He is a very friendly and affectionate cat.
Budiman arrived in Machia Sanctuary in 2007 after being kept as a pet for about 10 months in nearby Shinahota. He spent a short time under quarantine before being released free to the Mirador group in November the same year.
He is very smart, very good friends with Timo, and great with the new, young monkeys. Erwin and Duke are both trying to win him over for support in battle to be alpha.
Budiman loves people and attention, though new volunteers need to take it slow, start at the end of his range, and give him treats (flowers, leaves), to slowly win his heart.
Lazy-Cat was stolen from her mother when she was a baby, another victim of the wildlife trade. She ended up living at the Santa Cruz Zoo in a small enclosure for many years.
The zoo contacted CIWY in 2006, to request that we take her, due to lack of space. We gladly accepted and now Lazy-Cat lives happily in Ambue Ari Sanctuary. Her enclosure is full of daily environmental enrichment. She enjoys walks through the jungle with her volunteer, who accompanies her while she explores the territory. At the end of her hikes, she loves to relax with her volunteer in her favorite sunny spot.
Lazy-Cat is one of our oldest felines and receives supplements every day. Your sponsorship will help us cover these costs, in addition to covering her food and housing costs.
In October 2004, a street artist from Potosi brought Wayra to Machia Sanctuary. Prior to her time in Potosi, Wayra had come from Argentina.
The artist had used Wayra as part of his exhibition on the street, but he realized that it would be better for Wayra to live in the sanctuary.
Wayra was subsequently transferred to Ambue Ari. She is now 16 years old and has a powerful character, but there is no doubt she loves spending time with her volunteers and her enrichment in her large enclosure, full of jungle.
As cattle ranches encroach further and further into jaguar habitat, problems between wild animals and humans are increasing. Jaguars, especially the old or injured and mothers providing for their young, often prey upon livestock. Large herds of cattle are seen as an easy target by the opportunistic cats. Cattle ranchers are not happy about it, and often hire people to hunt and kill jaguars in the areas surrounding their land.
Ranchers killed Katie’s mother when she was spotted stalking a herd of cattle. Upon reaching the body, they saw her belly was moving – she had been heavily pregnant. They cut her open and took out a baby jaguar.
Miraculously, the baby survived and the hunter’s family kept her as a pet until she became unmanageable, and they could no longer afford to buy enough meat to feed her. They had heard about the work of Inti Wara Yassi and contacted them for assistance. Katie was transported to Ambue Ari from La Paz in 2007. Today Katie is one of the four jaguars we care for at Ambue Ari. She is an excellent climber and loves getting her enrichment from the top of the trees in her enclosure.
Niko arrived at Ambue Ari in October 2007 when she was just 2 months old. She came from Jaguaru, a small village close to Guarayos. She was brought voluntarily by a family who had her as a house pet. They realised that she was living in poor conditions and brought her to the sanctuary.
Initially Niko lived in quarantine where Herbie the tapir was also living, and for a while Niko thought that Herbie was her mother. After a while, Herbie moved to his new enclosure and Niko became depressed. When Niko was young, she climbed a tree and fell, breaking a bone in her leg. She needed to have a number of surgeries, and the trauma that she suffered during this time causes Niko to still be a nervous cat today. Nevertheless, when Niko gets to know her volunteers, she is a sweet and playful puma.
Leoncio was a family pet. When he grew into a puma and started jumping on people like a puma, the father beat Leo so badly he broke his back legs. The neighbors heard him crying in pain and notified the authorities. He was confiscated and brought to Machia sanctuary. He was 10 months old when he arrived. Initially, he stayed in a small cage so that he could not re-break his back legs again.
He recovered and became a very playful cat who jumped a lot. He was moved to Ambue Ari in 2008 for his well being when he was 5 years old. The land is a lot flatter there so it is much easier for Leo (he still has problems with his bones). He unfortunately also has a tumor in his stomach, and now he is receiving supplements and medicines to treat the condition. Leo is a warrior and he taught all of us to keep walking, no matter what.
In May 2011, a woman contacted CIWY saying she had bought two puma cubs (Capitán Haw Haw and Flashman) and wanted advice on how to start a park. It was explained to her how difficult it is to run a park and that it would be better to hand them over to an organisation that already has knowledge about wild cats. She eventually agreed to surrender the pumas to CIWY.
The woman told CIWY that the pumas, who she kept on her balcony in La Paz, were very young, affectionate and loved people. Capitán and Flashman were moved to Jacj Cuisi in June 2012 where there was a larger enclosure available. Flashman unfortunately died after being emaciated and ill, in 2015.
Capitán is a puma that needs a lot of love and patience; he loves his time with volunteers and needs a lot of enrichment to keep him busy and healthy.
Jaguars are prized by hunters not only for their beautiful furs but also to sell them as pets on the black market. They are seen as status symbols, especially for people involved in illegal activities. The animals are often chained up to impress and intimidate others.
Amira, which means princess in Arabic, was owned by drug dealers. She was kept in the front yard of a house in the north of Bolivia. Upon hearing of her existence, people, especially children, came to the house to harass and annoy her – it was entertaining for them to get a reaction out of her. People would tease her with objects such as keys and backpacks, poke her with sticks and throw things at her.
Amira arrived in Ambue Ari in 2008, and she is one of the smartest cats we have. She always pays attention to her surroundings, she has a goofy personality and loves greeting her volunteers every day at the fence, running around and rolling on the floor in anticipation of food.
Peanut was taken from the wild as a cub by a local farmer who gave him to his children to keep as a pet. He was approximately 1 month old. We do not know if he was stolen directly from his den, or scared out of his den by the noise of the farmer working and then found and brought home, but either way he was taken when he was extremely young and would have still been living with his mother, father and siblings.
He lived with the family for approximately two weeks before CIWY heard about his situation. We spoke to the family and thankfully they understood why it was wrong to have a wild animal as a pet and they gave him up to Ambue Ari to be cared for.
Sadly, because Peanut was a baby he could not be released back into the wild. In the wild he would have still been receiving his mother’s milk, as he was not yet at the age of weaning (approx. 90 days old). He now needed to live with us permanently because if he was released into the wild, he would not have survived all by himself.
Today Peanut has a large enclosure and the attention and care from his volunteers. He loves to run around and to search for the enrichment we prepare for him every day.
Negra lived as a pet from a very young age with a family in Ascensión de Guarayos. She remained tied to a tree by a chain, surrounded by a group of pigs. The staff of Parque Ambue Ari used to see Negra every week when they went to buy fruits and vegetables for the animals at the sanctuary. They tried to explain to Negra’s captors that it is illegal to keep monkeys as pets and that they should release her to CIWY’s care. The family refused, until one day Negra freed herself, entered the neighbor’s house and caused great damage. After this, the family allowed CIWY to take Negra.
Negra initially came to Ambue Ari, but was transferred to Machía so that she could integrate into the group of spider monkeys there. Spider monkeys are very social animals and fortunately Negra was immediately accepted by the group.
Despite being over 20 years old, Negra is a very active monkey. Everything arouses her curiosity and she enjoys exploring the area for new stimuli. Her intelligence never ceases to amaze us, like when she learned to open bottles and carabiners with her opposable thumbs. Negra has a very strong character, a stubborn personality, and always gets what she wants. We loved seeing her blossom as part of the social group, after years of being tied to a tree.
A few years ago, Negra’s health declined. She lost interest in her surroundings and could barely move. The veterinary team discovered that Negra was suffering from congestive heart failure. She began a long but steady road to recovery, and thanks to the care of her volunteers and veterinarians, Negra is back to being her usual cheeky self. She takes daily medications to control her heart problem — she does not like the medication, so veterinarians have to engineer a thousand ways to hide the pills.
Negra is the oldest monkey in the sanctuary and continues to explore the jungle with the spider monkey group.
Please help cover the cost of Negra’s food and medications by sponsoring her today!
When Balú was still a young cub, hunters killed his mother and captured him, with the intention of earning money for both. The poachers were attempting to sell Balú to a circus when law enforcement authorities confiscated him. The authorities brought Balú to Parque Machía, where we provided the necessary veterinary care and a large space to live a healthy life.
Balú has grown to weigh more than 120 kg, remains very patient and enjoys spending time with his volunteers. In fact, he has become one of the sanctuary’s most beloved residents.
Balú is a very calm bear that enjoys exploring his enclosure, climbing trees on rainy days and swinging from the treetops. Despite his large size, Balu is incredibly delicate when he peels bananas, eats grapes, and cracks open peanuts or coconuts. Like every good bear, he loves fish and honey.
Balú requires a special diet, which does not come cheap. Parque Machía spends more than US$130 each month on his food alone. A contribution towards the cost of his diet would be a great help for the future of Balú.
Carolina was confiscated from her captors at the Urkupiña Festival in Quillacollo. She arrived at Parque Machía with many health problems, including a fractured and mutilated wing.
Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for birds to arrive in similar conditions. Birds that are illegally trafficked are stripped from their natural habitats and smuggled in deplorable conditions. Traffickers often break their bones to prevent them from flying away. Over half of these birds die before being sold.
Due to her injuries, Carolina will never be able to fly again, and she often loses her balance and falls from branches. It is a great shame that freedom and flight were taken from her, but volunteers and staff at Parque Machía work very hard to give Carolina the quality of life she deserves. Carolina sleeps in her cage at night and spends the day outside exploring the area and interacting with other parrots.
Having lived with people most of her life, Carolina has copied many human behaviors – she screams, cries and sings. She often confuses her volunteers, who think they hear a person calling to them.
We would be very grateful if you would consider helping to cover Carolina’s food, daily environmental enrichment and medications by sponsoring her today!
Iván was born in a zoo, where he lived for almost a year. He was brought to CIWY together with his father in 2008, due to lack of space and health problems. Iván suffers from motor incoordination and osteoarthritis, which causes him to move in a very particular way.
Despite his mobility challenges, he loves to explore his enclosure. Ramps and caves have been built in his living space to accommodate his condition. He especially enjoys enrichment with meat and eggs.
To remain active and walk without pain, Iván takes daily medications, such as chondroprotectors (which help regenerate cartilage), anti-inflammatories and other supplements.
We would be delighted if someone wanted to help maintain Iván’s quality of life by sponsoring him today!
Ángela was a victim of the illegal wildlife trade and arrived in Ambue Ari as an adult in 2011, after being sold as a pet on the black market. She wins the heart of every volunteer that spends time with her. She enjoys the company of volunteers, as well as daily walks through the jungle in search of termite nests and fallen trees filled with bugs. She is also provided with environmental enrichment to stimulate her senses and help her develop natural behaviours
Ángela is now an older coati who needs more veterinary attention. Your sponsorship will help us cover her food, veterinary expenses and the maintenance of her enclosure. Currently her costs total US$40 per month.
Jaguars are a Near-Threatened species. Their pelt, teeth, and skulls are used as trophies and sold on the black market. Kusiy is one of the many victims of illegal wildlife trafficking. Poachers decided to keep Kusiy as a pet – they held him in a small yard alongside dogs and cats in terrible conditions. Neighbours notified the authorities, who rescued him and brought him to CIWY in 2015.
Our veterinarians diagnosed many medical problems due to lack of maternal care and poor living conditions. He suffered from skin infections caused by a flea infestation, and excessive scratching had removed all the skin from his tail. He also had intestinal parasites, and at some point, he received trauma to his right eye which almost led to blindness in that eye.
Kusiy recovered his health at Machía, and once he was strong enough, he was transported to Ambue Ari, where he could enjoy a much bigger enclosure in the middle of the jungle. Now he can run, play and develop his strong jaguar character in a more natural environment. Our little Kusiy has transitioned into a strong imposing jaguar that steals your heart with just one look.
His volunteers spend time with him daily to ensure he receives exercise and mental stimulus. Your sponsorship will help us provide food for Kuisy. He eats 2kg of meat every day and receives environmental enrichment. This alone costs US$130 per month.
Luna and her sister were confiscated by the local authorities of Sucre when traffickers tried to sell them in the local market. They arrived at Parque Machía with serious health problems, and unfortunately, only Luna survived.
Years later we relocated to Luna to Parque Jacj Cuisi, where she enjoys much more territory. She lives in a large enclosure and goes out on daily walks through the jungle. Luna is a very energetic and affectionate cat. She loves her jungle walks, which give her the opportunity to run, climb, stalk unsuspecting wildlife and rest quietly in a nearby stream.
The cost of Luna’s food is US$80 per month. Please consider sponsoring her today!
Marley is another victim of the illegal wildlife trade. Hunters killed her mother and sold her to a family at a market in Cochabamba. Soon after they brought her home, she showed serious health problems, such as seizures and diarrhea. The family brought her to a veterinarian, who explained that Marley’s condition was very delicate and that they should bring her to CIWY for proper care and veterinary treatment.
Marley arrived at Parque Machía when she was just two months old. Here she received a proper diet, and her health improved rapidly.
After four years at Parque Machía, Marley began to show signs of severe stress, particularly around loud noises, such as those made by passing trucks, tourists and neighboring dogs. Her handling became complicated and she sometimes refused to leave her enclosure for her daily walk.
For Marley’s wellbeing, CIWY decided to transfer her to Parque Ambue Ari, where there are no tourists nearby and less noise. Marley has improved immensely in her new home. She is calm and playful, and shows no signs of stress. Her new enclosure is much larger and she goes out daily with her volunteers to explore the jungle.
Marley is one of the most intelligent pumas that have passed through CIWY, she is very agile and seems to be aware of how beautiful she is. She loves to walk her new trails and she enjoys all the enrichment that volunteers prepare for her daily.
The cost of food and enrichment for Marley is US$80 per month. Please consider sponsoring this beautiful and intelligent puma.
A family bought Monchito for his beauty and kept him as a pet, even though macaws are wild animals and should live freely in the jungle. They quickly tired of his cries and of having to clean his cage, so they brought him to Parque Machía in 2010.
The veterinarians discovered that Monchito’s right wing had been fractured and dislocated – a sadly common and cruel practice of captors to prevent birds from escaping. These injuries are irreversible and Monchito can never fly again.
Despite efforts to socialize Monchito with other birds of the same species, he does not know how to behave like a macaw and prefers to interact with volunteers, especially females. Monchito seeks constant attention and enjoys following volunteers around the area and saying “hello”.
If you want to help Monchito, please consider contributing to his costs as his sponsor.
Pepa was the pet of a family in Cochabamba, until she became too difficult to handle and the family brought her to CIWY. This is a familiar story, especially among Capuchin monkeys, which seem cute but become aggressive or destructive at an early age.
The family later returned to Parque Machía to ask for Pepa back, as they missed her and did not want to buy another monkey. We explained to them why they should not keep wild animals as pets: not only is it illegal, but it also harms the animal and poses a risk to family members, especially children.
Pepa continues to live in Parque Machía in one of the areas dedicated to Capuchin monkeys. She is very friendly and often regarded as a favorite among volunteers. She always surprises us with her intelligence and ability to solve problems. She is very protective of the other Capuchin monkeys in her group and exhibits strong loyalty to them.
CIWY spends over $US 40 per month on Pepa’s food and enrichment. Please consider sponsoring the friendly and playful Pepa.
Rio was rescued when he was only a few weeks old by the park rangers of Madidi National Park. A family of hunters had killed his mother and kept the margay kitten.
Rio arrived with many health problems due to the lack of breast milk, the poor conditions in which they kept their captors and having ingested pieces of synthetic leather and plastic. He was vomiting and defecating pieces of synthetic leather for several days, which caused serious lesions in his stomach and intestine. He began to recover, but within a few days his condition worsened. All the lesions that his intestines had suffered resulted in a serious infection. He also presented with severe anemia, and a blood transfusion was needed.
He was kept in intensive care for many days, until he started to show signs of recovery. But the struggle didn’t end there. Due to the fact that he didn’t receive his mother’s milk during his first months of life, his calcium levels, along with other essential elements, were low. As a result, his bones were very fragile and, as a 4.5 month old infant, he broke a leg just from walking. He had to be operated upon immediately in order to walk again, but he will limp forever.
Río is now recovering from all of his injuries, but he will need supplements and medication for the rest of his life. You can help brighten his future by sponsoring him and contributing towards his veterinary expenses and food. Additionally, you would be helping us provide an appropriate enclosure for the needs of this lively margay.
Salvador was kept as a pet and was housed with pigs. For this reason, he was confiscated from his owners, and handed over to CIWY to be taken care of. Sadly, Salvador arrived at Parque Machía with several infected wounds across his back, a fungal infection on his limbs and was missing a nail from his left-front paw. Due to his poor health, he remained in Machía’s clinic for several months.
Despite all the wounds afflicting him, Salvador made a full recovery and joined the rest of the coatis that live in the Small Animals Area at Parque Machía. Salvador is a very calm and affectionate coati, but it takes some time for him to get used to volunteers who work with him.
In 2017 Salvador was diagnosed with congestive heart failure and must take medication daily. Salvador is now old, but thanks to the medication provided to him, he continues to enjoy the jungle and the bugs that he finds there.
If you want to contribute to Salvador’s food and daily treatment, please sponsor him today for US$40 per month!
Sonko spent the first six months of his life as a pet in a family’s home, until he became too difficult to manage. Fortunately, the family brought him to CIWY, and he spent nine happy years at Parque Machía before being transferred in 2013 to Parque Jacj Cuisi, where he enjoys even more space and tranquility.
Sonko is one of the calmest and friendliest felines and can be very expressive. He loves exploring his jungle trails in the company of his volunteers. He is now an old puma, so he needs daily supplements to help improve his mobility and quality of life.
Parque Jacj Cuisi spends over US$108 each month on Sonko’s food and supplements. Please consider sponsoring Sonko to help to cover this expense.
In 2017, Titus escaped from a hotel in Villa Tunari, where he had been kept on display as a tourist attraction. Shortly after, he was found wandering the streets of the village. Bolivian authorities and CIWY staff members rescued him and brought him to Parque Machía.
Titus was later transferred to Ambue Ari, where he currently lives in a large enclosure filled with jungle and a lagoon he loves to swim in. He possesses a beautiful, gentle nature, and he’s very intelligent (he has even learned to open the doors of his enclosure with his nose).
Volunteers provide him with food and environmental enrichment daily. His specialised diet was designed by our veterinarians to ensure his nutritional needs are met. Because he was deprived of his mother’s care as an infant, he didn’t receive the essential nutrients and calcium needed to grow into a strong, healthy adult. As a result, his hind legs did not develop properly.
He needs regular veterinary checkups and nutritional supplements in the amount of US$70 per month. You can help him by sponsoring him today!
The puma sisters Inti, Wara and Yassi were barely a week old when poachers killed their mother and sold them on the black market of Potosí. All three cubs were in a terrible state of health when they arrived at Parque Machía, where they received veterinary attention and epilepsy treatment.
They were later transferred to Ambue Ari Park, to a very large enclosure in the middle of the jungle. Unfortunately, Inti passed away a few years ago from natural causes.
Currently Wara and Yassi live together and enjoy swimming in the river and walking through the jungle with their volunteers. The sisters love to play and chase each other. They are very dependent on one another, and it is a unique experience to watch them interact.
Their food and the care needed for their condition costs US$140 per month. Please help these two sisters stay together, healthy and happy!
Purchase and/or use of a CIWY gift card constitutes acceptance of these Terms and Conditions; therefore, we recommend that you read them carefully.
A CIWY gift card is valid for a period of 36 months from the date of purchase, after which time any remaining balance will be removed and the card will become invalid and no longer available for use.
These conditions are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Bolivia. You agree, as we do, to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Bolivian courts.
Not only is this a promise of future travel, it is also an opportunity to plan for a life-changing experience caring for rescued wildlife in the Bolivian Amazon. By purchasing a gift card, you are making critical funding available now to be put to use immediately.
Simona arrived as an infant in 2019, after being kept as a pet by a family and put for sale in the market of Ivirgazama, Cochabamba.
After a period of quarantine and medical evaluation, Simona was introduced to the semi-free spider monkey group at Parque Machia. She was very curious and not afraid to interact with the rest of the monkeys through a mesh. In just one month, Simona was released to fully join the spider monkey group!
Now Simona plays freely with the other monkeys and behaves like a wild spider monkey: climbing trees and looking for food. In addition, she is already starting to forget her previous behaviors of screaming and tearing her hair. We are very pleased with her speedy rehabilitation!
Poachers often target howler monkeys for their meat and their young. They shoot an adult in the treetops, and when the mother falls to the ground they pull off her baby, which is still clinging to its mother’s body. The adult will be sold for its meat and the baby as a pet or an attraction.
Ambue Ari specialises in the care of young howler monkeys and runs a successful re-release programme. For those that arrive very young, the first few months at the sanctuary are critical. Deprived of their mother’s milk and care, baby monkeys need round the clock care to recuperate.
Friends of Inti Wara Yassi UK (FIWY UK), a charity registered in England and Wales, manages donations so donors resident in the UK can take advantage of the government’s Gift Aid scheme. Click here for more information about Gift Aid on the program’s official webpage.
The scheme allows us to claim back 25p from HM Revenue and Customs for every £1 that you donate to us, at no extra cost to you.
Please note that any Gift Aid claimed will be treated as unrestricted funds.
Your donations are eligible for the scheme if you are a UK taxpayer and you are currently paying Income Tax or Capital Gains Tax that is equal to or more than the tax deducted from your donations.
If, after making your Gift Aid declaration, your situation changes and you no longer pay income or capital gains tax, simply drop us a line friends@intiwarayassi.org and let us know.
Email friends@intiwarayassi.org.