A wildlife rescue centre and sanctuary near Rieti, active since 1980, caring for several hundred injured or rescued animals, local and exotic, and releasing them back into the wild whenever possible.
About the park
Giardino Faunistico di Piano dell’Abatino is a non-profit organisation in Poggio San Lorenzo, in the Lazio region. Since 1980 it has worked as a rescue centre for wild animals in difficulty, offering refuge and care to animals injured by human activities, saved from laboratories, or no longer able to survive in the wild. Whenever possible, fully recovered animals are released back into nature, in collaboration with environmental associations and the Italian forestry authorities.
Today the park cares for several hundred animals, from local mammals and birds to reptiles. It specialises in exotic species and is a sanctuary for more than 100 primates of different species. Beyond animal care, the park runs environmental education activities and carries out research in behavioural ecology together with universities and research institutes.
What volunteers do
Through the European Solidarity Corps, and with the coordination of Associazione Kora, the park hosts young volunteers from all over Europe. Their activities include:
- preparing the animals’ food and feeding them;
- monitoring the animals’ wellbeing;
- cleaning the enclosures and maintaining the facilities;
- supporting the recovery centre;
- preparing food-based enrichment activities for the primates;
- spreading awareness on biodiversity conservation;
- whenever possible, taking part in releasing recovered animals back into the wild.
Learning and support
Volunteers are coordinated and supported by Associazione Kora throughout their placement and document their learning through Youthpass.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the Agenzia Italiana per la Gioventù. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.