Volunteering at Tiger Temple Thailand 

Introduction

 Volunteers at Tiger Temple are involved in the day-to-day care of the animals. For example, preparing food cleaning the cages and in the near future helping to build new enclosures. We do not offer any opportunities for scientific experiment or research. Our projects are best suited to people with a genuine interest in tigers and Buddhism. The work is not easy and involves early morning starts and long afternoons in intense heat. Volunteering at Tiger Temple should not be viewed as an exotic holiday experience but rather as hard work for a good cause.

 

Volunteer Involvement at Tiger Temple

Volunteers work a six-day week starting at 7am in the morning and finishing around 5pm in the afternoon with a few free hours late in the morning. The day starts with cleaning the cages at 7am followed by breakfast at the temple. At 9am some of the volunteers assist in taking food to the cubs, while others help prepare breakfast for our Black Asiatic bear cub. After this it is free time until early afternoon. At 12.30pm volunteers come to the tiger cages to greet the first group of visitors. At 1pm staffs take the tigers to the canyon and volunteers follow with the Abbot and the tourists that walk to the canyon with the last tiger. The volunteers’ job is to keep this “walking with tiger” experience organized and safe. From 1pm to 4.30pm the tigers stay in the canyon and the visitors are allowed to come in and touch the tigers and have their photos taken. During the afternoon volunteers control the crowd, explain to the tourists how the encounter works, keep track of the donation money and help to take photos for the tourists. At approximately 4.30pm the tigers are taken back and volunteers help to organize the tourists for “walking with tiger” experience on the way back.

 

Other work may include assisting a vet treating an injured animal, data collection, creating signs and some administration work.

 

Conditions for Participation:

Because of the dangerous nature of the job it is necessary to make some conditions for participation:

• You must be in good physical condition, be able to work long days and be able to tolerate heat
• You must have some previous animal handling experience or studies in a relevant field (i.e. biology, wildlife conservation, animal behavior etc.)
• Good oral communication skills in English are essential
• You must be comfortable dealing with large groups of people
• You must be aged between 18 and 50 years old
• You must be available for at least three weeks
• You must be able to take initiative and work without assistance
• You must have personal travel insurance. The details of the insurance policy must be submitted to the webmaster prior to your arrival at the temple.
• It is strongly recommended that you have all relevant vaccinations for Rabies, Tetanus Toxoid , Hepatitis A & B, Tuberculosis (TB), and Japanese Encephalitis before entering the volunteering program.

Time required:

1 month minimum. Please apply for the period from the 1st to the 30 / 31st
of any month.

Costs:

There are no costs involved in volunteering at tiger temple. Food and basic accommodation are provided. Volunteers should estimate their own budgets for any personal hygiene items, snacks or soft drinks and travel expenses.

Buddhist lifestyle:

Life in a Buddhist monastery dictates the basic rules called the six moral precepts that volunteers must adhere to. These precepts are:

1. do not kill
2. do not steal
3. do not sexual misconduct
4. do not tell lies
5. do not intoxicate causing heedlessness
6. do not sleep on a luxurious bed

The additional two precepts are for people inspired to dedicate themselves to meditation practice during their stay in the monastery. These additions precepts are:

7. do not eat the untimely food i.e. from noon to dawn of the next day. (example of food (pana) allowed to have after 12.00 a.m. are the food in kind of medicine ie black chocolate, herb ie lemon-grass, aloe, ginger, chili, salt, sugar; juice, products reformed after milk ie cheese, yogurt, dry-fruits: prune, logan)
8. do not dance, sing, play & watch unseemly shows; and do not wear jewelry, or use perfume.

However the most important rule is to keep in mind that this place is a temple and any romantic involvement with fellow volunteers or tourists visiting the temple is strictly prohibited.

Volunteers are expected to attend daily meditation sessions at the temple (in the evening) at least once or twice a week. This is a unique and peaceful experience that will give you a fuller appreciation of the Buddhist philosophy.

Smoking on the temple grounds is not permitted

The Monastery reserves the right to terminate the agreement without prior notice with any volunteer displaying improper behavior.

Accommodation:

Men and women are housed separately within the monastery. Both men and women are provided with simple rooms that include electricity and western style bathroom and shower facilities.

What to bring :

• A torch
• A set of white clothes (trousers and a conservative blouse) for meditation
• Mosquito repellent
• Dark colored clothes (no red or bright colors are allowed), and for ladies t-shirts or blouses that cover mid rift and shoulders.

Application:

Those wishing to volunteer should apply by filling the Volunteer Application Form on our website www.tigertemple.org and submitting it via e-mail to the webmaster at: webmaster@tigertemple.org. Please include the following with your application:

• A short letter of motivation addressing the above mentioned requirements for volunteering plus a description of related experience and/or education
• Resume  

Applicants should be aware that submission of application form does not guarantee acceptance for volunteering. Travel arrangements should not be made until confirmation of acceptance has been received in writing from the Tiger Temple . 

Tiger Temple reserves the right to make any change of above information without prior notice. 

 

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