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You’ll be matched with your personal volunteer travel expert who’ll guide you every step of the way.
Meet Your Travel Expert
Receive your welcome pack with everything you need: arrival info, contacts, visa and insurance help, packing tips, vaccines, language basics, and so much more.
Get Ready to Go!
Choose your dream project and apply for free—no commitment, just excitement!
Pick Your Destination & Apply
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Once your dates are confirmed, pay your program fee—choose to pay in full or in easy installments.
Secure Your Spot
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Want to volunteer as a Primate Husbandry Assistant in Malaysia? Our Travel Roots gibbon conservation program offers a truly immersive wildlife experience for those passionate about primates, forest ecosystems, and meaningful action.
This program is based at a dedicated gibbon rehabilitation centre tucked away in the Malaysian rainforest. As a volunteer, you’ll become part of a dedicated team caring for gibbons rescued from the illegal pet trade and other human-wildlife conflicts. The end goal? Rehabilitating and releasing them back into the wild, where they belong.
Throughout your stay, you'll assist with animal care routines, prepare enrichment, monitor behaviour, and maintain the centre’s grounds and equipment. There’s also a strong educational component: you may help with visitor tours or support eco-tourism activities that raise awareness and generate sustainable income for the centre.
Key activities include:
Preparing daily food and feeding gibbons
Cleaning and maintaining enclosures
Creating enrichment to stimulate natural behaviours
Observing and recording gibbon behaviour for rehabilitation tracking
Assisting with maintenance and basic site improvements
Supporting jungle survival skill workshops and wildlife tracking
Helping develop and produce eco-products like soaps and carvings
Educating guests through outreach and eco-tourism tours
This is a hands-on, earthy, and heartwarming project that will challenge and inspire you. Expect mud, sweat, laughter, and memories to last a lifetime.
By volunteering on our Primate husbandry Program in Malaysia, you will:
Participate in the daily care, feeding, cleaning, and enrichment of rescued gibbons
Observe gibbon behaviour to support their rehabilitation and potential reintroduction to the wild
Learn jungle survival and wildlife monitoring skills in a Malaysian rainforest setting
Assist with the centre’s operations including dog care, cooking, and general site maintenance
Contribute to public education and eco-tourism initiatives that raise awareness about gibbon conservation
Help produce sustainable products that generate income for the project and promote eco-conscious living
Develop leadership, problem-solving, and teamwork skills through immersive hands-on tasks
What to Expect: A Day in the Life of a Primate Husbandry Assistant
Your time at the gibbon rehabilitation centre will be both grounding and energising—full of purpose, learning, and the quiet joy of watching wild creatures slowly reclaim their nature.
Example Day:
7:00 AM – Wake up in the jungle and enjoy a simple breakfast with your fellow volunteers. Listen to the gibbons’ melodic morning calls echoing through the trees.
8:00 AM – Morning husbandry tasks begin: food preparation, feeding routines, and thorough cleaning of enclosures.
10:30 AM – Behavioural observation session. You’ll sit quietly by enclosures and record key behaviours—helping assess a gibbon’s progress toward possible release.
12:00 PM – Lunch break and downtime. Relax in the volunteer house, journal, or help with kitchen duties.
2:00 PM – Enrichment time! Design and deliver creative enrichment activities using ropes, branches, or hidden treats that mimic natural foraging behaviours.
4:00 PM – Assist with daily centre care—tending to the vegetable gardens, helping with light construction, or preparing products for outreach and sustainability.
6:00 PM – Group dinner and reflection with the team.
7:30 PM – Optional educational session, jungle walk, or quiet time under the stars.
Days Off:
You’ll typically have one day off per week to rest or explore the lush beauty of Pahang. Visit local waterfalls, trek through nearby forests, or simply unwind in the peaceful atmosphere of your jungle surroundings.Your Impact As A Volunteer
By volunteering as a Primate Husbandry Assistant in Malaysia, you’ll be making a tangible difference in the long-term survival of gibbons—one of Southeast Asia’s most threatened primates.
Every day you spend preparing food, creating enrichment, and supporting behavioural assessments directly contributes to the emotional and physical rehabilitation of rescued gibbons. Many of these individuals arrive at the centre traumatised by years of captivity in the illegal pet trade. With your help, they begin to recover—rediscovering how to climb, forage, vocalise, and, eventually, live wild again.
Your presence also helps lighten the workload of the small, dedicated local team, ensuring they can focus on specialised care and training. Beyond the animals, your participation supports vital outreach efforts that raise awareness among the public and tourists, turning education into action.
And your personal transformation is part of the ripple effect. You’ll leave this program with a deeper understanding of conservation ethics, gibbon biology, and jungle ecology—skills and insights that are not only meaningful, but transferable to future work in wildlife conservation around the world.
Your Home in The Jungles of Pahang
Your home during the program is the GReP (Gibbon Rehabilitation Project) Camp—an off-grid, eco-conscious base nestled deep in the Malaysian forest. It’s an immersive, back-to-nature experience that connects you with the sights and sounds of the wild.
Wake each morning to the haunting calls of gibbons echoing through the trees, with macaques, tropical birds, and a loyal group of rescue dogs sharing the camp space. The camp is located around 40 minutes from the nearest town, Raub District, and lies beside a crystal-clear river—perfect for a cooling dip after a day’s work.
Facilities at the camp are basic but comfortable, designed to promote sustainability and minimal environmental impact. Expect shared rooms or dormitories, simple communal areas, and all the essentials needed for a remote jungle stay. While it may be rustic, the unique location and close connection to nature make this accommodation truly unforgettable.
History
Founded in Pahang, Malaysia, this grassroots initiative began with a powerful mission: to rescue and rehabilitate gibbons that had been victims of the illegal wildlife pet trade. Over the years, their dedication has evolved into a structured and impactful rehabilitation center, currently home to 12 White-handed gibbons.
Each gibbon here has a story—often one of trauma and loss. Most require 5 to 10 years of patient rehabilitation, supported by personalized training to help them regain their natural instincts and prepare for a hopeful return to the wild.
Mission & Vision
The organisation is driven by a vision to see gibbons thriving in their natural forest habitats once more. Their mission extends beyond rehabilitation—through education, research, and enforcement. They work to raise public awareness about the dangers gibbons face due to habitat destruction and illegal wildlife trade, while empowering local communities to become part of the solution.
By promoting environmental stewardship and conservation ethics, they ensure that gibbons—Malaysia’s unforgettable singing apes—continue to play their crucial role in maintaining healthy forest ecosystems.
Program Fees & What’s Included
4 Week Volunteer Program Price:
€498(For stays over 4 weeks, contact us directly for long-term discounted pricing.)
This program requires a minimum commitment of 4 weeks due to the remote location and the nature of the long-term rehabilitation process.
Whats Included
✅ 4+ Week Volunteer Placement
✅ Shared forest camp accommodation
✅ Two vegetarian meals per day (lunch and dinner)
✅ Clean drinking water, coffee, tea, and basic supplies
✅ Guidance and training from experienced gibbon conservationists
✅ Daily project transfers and in-field coordination
✅ Opportunity to learn new skills and contribute to vital conservation efforts
✅ Welcome pack with essential project and safety information
✅ Full support before, during, and after your placement
✅ Certificate of Completion
✅ 100% Money-Back Cancellation Guarantee
✅ So much more – including lifelong memories and meaningful impactYour investment in wildlife, conservation, and yourself:
By volunteering with us, you’re not only contributing directly to the care, enrichment, and rehabilitation of endangered gibbons—you’re also investing in your own growth. Volunteers gain transferable skills in animal husbandry, behavioural observation, project coordination, team collaboration, and jungle survival—all valuable for anyone pursuing a future in wildlife conservation or environmental education.
Your fees help support:
The rescue, rehabilitation, and daily care of gibbons
Facility upkeep, enrichment creation, and forest maintenance
Education and awareness campaigns to stop illegal wildlife trade
Support for the local community through outreach and eco-tourism
Where You'll Be – The Rainforests of Pahang, Malaysia
Nestled deep within the lush rainforests of Peninsular Malaysia, your volunteering journey unfolds in the heart of Pahang—a region known for its rich biodiversity, tranquil rivers, and traditional kampung (village) life. The gibbon rehabilitation camp is set on a peaceful forested hillside, about 40 minutes from the nearest town, Raub. Here, you’ll wake up to the haunting songs of gibbons echoing through the trees, and fall asleep to the calming hum of the jungle.
This secluded location not only supports the peaceful rehabilitation of primates but also offers a rare opportunity to unplug and fully reconnect with nature. The camp is intentionally remote—so expect limited phone signal and internet access, but an abundance of wildlife encounters, starlit skies, and real adventure.
About Malaysia
Malaysia is a dynamic country where ancient rainforests, modern cities, and diverse cultures meet. From bustling Kuala Lumpur to the emerald jungles of Borneo and the Peninsula, it offers unforgettable experiences for every kind of traveller. Known for its friendly locals, spicy street food, and multicultural charm, Malaysia is also one of the most biodiverse nations on Earth—home to orangutans, gibbons, elephants, and some of the world’s rarest plants and animals.
Volunteering in Malaysia is a chance to not only make a difference for endangered wildlife but to immerse yourself in a unique blend of Malay, Chinese, Indian, and Indigenous cultures. It's an ideal destination for ethical travel, conservation, and personal transformation.
While your days at the gibbon camp will be purposeful and hands-on, your downtime offers the chance to explore, unwind, and embrace the beauty of your surroundings.
River Swimming
Cool off in the refreshing river that runs beside camp—perfect after a day of forest activities.
Nature Trails & Wildlife Watching
Explore jungle paths and observe macaques, hornbills, monitor lizards, and even the occasional wild boar.
Campfire Nights
Share stories and bond with fellow volunteers around the fire under the stars.
Cultural Experiences
On days off, head to nearby Raub to try local food, visit markets, and experience rural Malaysian culture.
Weekend Excursions
Volunteers sometimes arrange weekend trips to Taman Negara (one of the world’s oldest rainforests), the Cameron Highlands, or Kuala Lumpur for a dose of adventure, cooler climates, or city energy.
Jungle Skills Practice
Practice your wildlife tracking, eco-building, or cooking skills with guidance from local experts.
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