Our Internship gives you the unique opportunity to not only see, but to play an active part in what we call: The Road to Freedom.
Overview
Our Rescate Wildlife Rescue Center in La Garita, Alajuela receives thousands of primates, sloths, wild cats and other animals that have been rescued from the pet trade, injured, sick, or orphaned. It is at Bosque Escondido on the Nicoya Peninsula that we see the fruition of our team’s hard work, and aid the animals in their release and their second chance at life in the wild, the final step on their Road to Freedom.
If needed, we are happy to help you design a program that meets your University’s academic requirements for credit.
What will you do as an Road to Freedom Intern?
What you will learn in this program
Schedule
Every day is different, but here is a sample of what you might expect:
6:00 a.m. – 7:00 a.m.:
Collect natural foods for the animals in prerelease habitats
7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.:
Observe macaws, parrots, or monkeys at the feeding stations and record data
8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.:
Breakfast
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.:
Create and implement environmental enrichment for animals in prerelease habitats
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.:
Lunch
2:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.:
Tracking and data collection of Spider Monkey troops
6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.:
Dinner
Days off and activities
Interns have two days off a week. On days off you have the opportunity to travel in Costa Rica. We can recommend beaches, hikes, trips, and more!
After working days there will be activities like:
Accommodation
Provided by Rescate. Interns will live in a newly renovated shared housing unit. Accommodations include utilities, Wifi, laundry, bathrooms, showers, shared kitchen and social area.
Interest in Conservation, Endangered Species Rehabilitation, Biology, Ecology, and/or Forestry.
Respect for and commitment to Rescate aims, objectives, and ethos.
The ability to work calmly around animals in a respectful and humane matter.
A positive “can-do” attitude and the ability to work well in a globally diverse team environment.
Must be 18 years of age or older.
You must be able to speak and read English or Spanish to participate in our programs. Basic Spanish proficiency is helpful but not required.
The experience traveling to a tropical country and living in a group setting are helpful but not required.
Flexibility, ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds.
Moderate degree of physical fitness.
Tolerance for various field conditions (heat, humidity, rain)
What is included?
What is not included?
Meet the team!
Who will you work with?
Road to Freedom interns work directly with María Igual Beltrán and Leonardo Sale, the Wildlife Internship Managers of this program.
María Igual Beltrán
Wildlife Internship Manager
Leonardo Sale
Wildlife Internship Manager
Fill out this application form to start your wildlife experience at Rescate Wildlife Rescue Center - Zoave. You will receive first some more information from us. If you're interested please just reply to this E-Mail and we will get back to you as soon as possible. See you at Rescate! 🙂 🦥 🌴
Hailing from across the pond, Paul made the trans-Atlantic journey to work with animals here at Rescate Wildlife Rescue Center as a Wildlife Intern for one week. As a photographer, he took great snapshots of Rescate’s permanent residents: Q: What …
This depends on the Internship you’re choosing. For more information just apply on our application-form and we will send you a detailed list of everything you will be doing. Alternatively you can also check out each Internship-Website here: Veterinary Internship, Wildlife Internship & Road to Freedom Internship
No, there is a strict policy on contact with the animals. If you are in the Vet program you will have a little bit more hands on approach, but it is strictly based on medical care. You will not be cuddling any animals. Wildlife and Road to freedom interns will not have any physical contact with the animals.
Costs vary depending on length or stay or time of year. For more information, enquire now!
We can organize for a driver to pick you up at the airport or anywhere in Costa Rica. We are located in La Garita, Alajuela about 15 minutes from the San Jose airport. For more information click HERE.
Once you sign up for our programs, we will send you a packing list and a manual to help you prepare for your experience with us. For more information fill out this form here.
We require the Covid vaccine or a negative covid test. We recommend that you are vaccinated for tetanus.
Interns work 5 days per week, 8 hours per day with two consecutive days off.
We have various different things that can be done in the evenings including night tours, our onsite movie theater, going out for dinner with other volunteers/Interns, heading to the local farmers markets, games nights and more!
There are various tours and activities that can be done as a day trip from the central valley, or you are able to explore the country with maybe a visit to the volcanos, Manuel Antonio, or other beach areas.
For the Veterinary Internship we limit participation to 4 interns, for the Wildlife Internship we limit participation to 10 participants and for the Road to Freedom Internship we limit participation to 6 participants.
Yes, for more information on traveling outside of your stay with us, you can email Amy at amy(at)rescatewildlife.org
Yes, we have free wifi in the Internship-houses and various parts of the sanctuary, including the main entrance and restaurant. There is not wifi on all of the trails.
There is a pool at Rescate in La Garita Alajuela, and a pool at the local hotel near Bosque Escondido in Nicoya.
