RESQ Wildlife Volunteering Programme

About the Programme

The RESQ Wildlife Volunteer Programme offers individuals a meaningful opportunity to contribute to wildlife rescue and rehabilitation, guided by real-world conservation practice and a genuine commitment to animal welfare.

This is a structured programme with defined objectives, supervised learning, and clear expectations around conduct and performance. It is designed for people who are ready to show up consistently, take direction, and put animals first. It is not a drop-in or short-stay experience.

Volunteering is offered on a non-fee basis and is built on RESQ's core principle of "Animal First". This means that all learning takes place without compromising animal welfare, clinical integrity, or ethical standards.

We also welcome student interns who are completing a fixed number of hours for academic credit. Internships at RESQ follow the same structure and standards as the volunteer programme. There is no separate track: the same commitment, conduct, and care is expected of everyone who walks through our doors.

Who This Programme Is For

We look for people who:

• Are genuinely interested in wildlife ethics, rescue, and rehabilitation
• Are willing to follow instructions, work within a supervised structure, and place animal welfare above personal goals
• Can commit to assigned schedules and work reliably as part of a team
• Are emotionally resilient enough to work in environments involving injured, distressed, or critically ill animals
• Respect ethical, legal, and operational boundaries

Age Eligibility

RESQ Charitable Trust reserves the right to decline applications from minors at its discretion, regardless of documentation submitted. All decisions regarding minor participation are final.

A Few Honest Notes Before You Apply

We want everyone who applies to have accurate expectations of what this programme is and is not.

This programme may not be suitable for individuals who:

• Are seeking independent hands-on veterinary practice, animal handling, or clinical decision-making experience.
• Expect direct interaction with wildlife for photography, social media content, or personal fulfilment
• Are uncomfortable working within strict ethical, legal, and supervisory boundaries
• Are unable to commit to assigned schedules, follow operational instructions, or work as part of a structured team
• Are expecting guaranteed certification without meeting performance and conduct requirements
• Are looking for short-term, casual, or tourism-focused volunteering experiences
• Are physically unable to participate safely in a working wildlife rescue and rehabilitation environment, which may involve long hours, uneven terrain, strong odours, outdoor exposure, and physically demanding tasks
• Are currently experiencing mental or emotional health challenges that may be aggravated by high-stress environments, exposure to injured or distressed animals, unpredictable field conditions, or emotionally demanding situations

The Environment

The programme is based in Pune, Maharashtra, and operates from a Transit Treatment Centre managed by RESQ Charitable Trust. The centre serves as a critical hub for multi-species wildlife rescue, veterinary care, rehabilitation, and coordination with the Maharashtra Forest Department.

Volunteers and interns work alongside trained wildlife rescuers, rehabilitators, and support staff in a professional, regulated conservation environment.

Scope and Responsibilities

Volunteers and interns are assigned duties by their supervisor based on the centre's daily requirements. Responsibilities may include:

• Cleaning and maintaining enclosures, outdoor areas, and shared workspaces
• Assisting with preparation of animal diets and enrichment materials
• Supporting feeding routines and basic animal welfare observations, where appropriate and under supervision
• Assisting with animal husbandry activities
• Supporting field teams with documentation, public interaction, and awareness activities
• Assisting the administration team with data entry and bookkeeping
• Supporting fundraising efforts

Duration and Commitment

• Minimum duration: A commitment of at least 32 hours per month is expected from all volunteers and interns.
• Daily schedule: Approximately 8 hours per day, subject to centre operations and case load.

Note: The programme operates seven days a week. Duty days and rosters are assigned by RESQ based on operational requirements, supervision capacity, and animal welfare priorities. Preferences may be noted, but schedules cannot always be arranged around individual convenience.

Supervision and Evaluation

• All volunteers and interns work under direct supervision.
• Feedback may be provided during or at the close of the volunteering period.
• Daily reports are to be submitted to the assigned supervisor.

Vaccination and Health Requirements

Given the nature of the work environment, the following up to date vaccinations are mandatory prior to joining:

• Anti-Rabies Vaccination (pre-exposure prophylaxis)
• Tetanus Vaccination (TT/Tdap)

How to Apply

1. Submit the Volunteer Application Form
2. Internal screening and interview with the RESQ team
3. Confirmation of duration, scope, and reporting structure
4. Issuance of participation confirmation

All volunteers and interns must complete a mandatory orientation before commencing duties.

Code of Conduct and Declarations

All participants are required to:

• Sign a Code of Conduct covering ethical behaviour, confidentiality, and professional boundaries
• Submit declaration forms related to physical fitness, medical history, and mental well-being
• Adhere to RESQ's photography, videography, and social media guidelines

Additional Conditions

• Volunteers may be exposed to sensitive operational, clinical, or case-related information. All such information is strictly confidential and may not be shared externally without prior written permission from RESQ.
• Volunteers do not represent RESQ Charitable Trust in any official capacity and may not issue statements, provide interviews, or communicate with media or authorities on behalf of the organisation.
• Volunteers are required to submit signed copies of Code of Conduct and Vaccination Certificates as requested by RESQ Charitable Trust
• Volunteer certificates are issued at the discretion of RESQ, subject to satisfactory completion of duties and adherence to programme guidelines.
• RESQ Charitable Trust reserves the right to modify, restrict, or terminatea volunteer's participation at any time if conduct, health, safety, or compliance concerns arise. Decisions taken by RESQ shall be final.

Certification

A Volunteer Participation Certificate is issued upon satisfactory completion of the programme, subject to:

• Fulfilment of minimum attendance requirements
• Completion of assigned duties to a satisfactory standard
• Adherence to programme guidelines and ethical standards

For student interns: A certificate confirming participation and hours completed may be issued for academic purposes, subject to the same conditions. Hours are recorded and verified by RESQ staff as completed. Certificates are not issued in advance, and documented hours cannot be adjusted retroactively to meet institutional requirements.

Certification is issued at the sole discretion of RESQ Charitable Trust.

RESQ Charitable Trust reserves the right to modify, restrict, or terminate a volunteer's participation at any time if conduct, health, safety, or compliance concerns arise. Decisions taken by RESQ shall be final.