We are filling volunteer placements for one month slots from September 1st onwards, and will need two to three volunteers in place at any one time. During these first months, 24 hour care is essential, with feeds every three hours, day and night, making human resources one of the limiting constraints, and making volunteer assistance particularly valuable.

The Belize Manatee Rehabilitation Centre is a completely voluntary facility established by Wildtracks (a Belize non-profit organization) to respond to individual manatee rehab requirements on a calf by calf basis. As such, whilst we can provide accommodation, volunteers would need to be able to get themselves to Belize, have travel insurance cover, and be able to contribute US$65 per week towards food costs.

Work is shared between volunteers and involves manatee care (food preparation/feeding/clean-up and working with the calf), emptying, cleaning, filling and maintenance of the pools, keeping records, and writing monthly reports. As the calf grows older, and requires less individual attention, there will also be public awareness activities and visits to schools in the idyllic, local fishing community of Sarteneja, one of the stakeholder communities of Corozal Bay Wildlife Sanctuary (established to protect the West Indian Manatee). There are also opportunities to work with the local conservation organization - Sarteneja Alliance for Conservation and Development - which is taking on co-management of Corozal Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, one of Belize's manatee strongholds

Wildtracks is located approximately two miles south of Sarteneja, in northern Belize, overlooking the Shipstern Lagoon system. Accommodation is basic, with shared thatched, screened cabanas (sorry - no air conditioning or fans!), with adjoining bathrooms. However, there is generally a breeze coming off the lagoon, keeping temperatures lower than further inland. Food preparation and consumption are both social occasions, with everyone contributing towards cooking and washing up. Both vegetarians and non-vegetarians are welcome.