From voluneering to rescueing thousands of wild animals

When traveling to Guatemala, I got in contact with Anna Bryant. She came 14 years ago from New Zealand to the jungle of Flores, Guatemala, and never left. She is now a biology coordinator at ARCAS and does important work to rescue thousands of animals and release them back into the wild.

The Problem Explained

Wild animal captivity is a significant issue in Central America, driven by illegal wildlife trade, tourism demands, and poverty. Many animals, such as parrots, monkeys, turtles, and jaguars, are captured from the wild and sold as exotic pets or attractions. This practice disrupts ecosystems, endangers species, and often subjects animals to harsh conditions, such as cramped cages, malnutrition, and stress.

The trade also fuels habitat destruction, as poachers enter protected areas to capture animals, harming both the environment and local biodiversity. Efforts to combat this problem include stronger enforcement of wildlife protection laws, public education, and promoting eco-tourism as a sustainable alternative to the exploitation of wildlife.

ARCAS mainly focuses on five key topics:

1. Rescue, rehabilitation, and release of wildlife

2. Environmental education

3. Research

4. Co-administration of protected areas

5. Sustainable community development and ecotourism

   
   

I had the unique opportunity to visit ARCAS’ rehabilitation program. This is not open for everyone to visit because they want to ensure that the animals do not become comfortable with humans. The goal is to release the animals back into the wild as soon as possible.

ARCAS has a part of the park open for visitors. Here, you can find animals that, unfortunately, cannot return to the wild. The reason is that they have been in captivity for too long and can no longer take care of themselves, or they are too injured.

I was very amazed by the impressive work they do at ARCAS. It was also wonderful to see all the wild animals and meet people who dedicate themselves every day to making the world a better place.

If you want to learn about and see wild animals, even a jaguar, please watch the video below that I made about ARCAS.

Special thanks to Anna and the whole team of ARCAS for being so open and kind. They do amazing, hard work over there—so much respect for them.

All true Purpose Drivers!