Are you looking for a Wildlife Veterinary Internship, pre Vet Internship, pre vet volunteer opportunity, Vet Tech Internship, or veterinary clinic volunteer opportunity? Look no further and explore opportunities at Rescate Wildlife Rescue Center-Zoave.
Incoming animals
Over 3,000 wild animals are admitted to the rescue center on an annual basis and include orphans, injuries, electrocutions, confiscations and surrendered pets. In addition, there are 800 non-releasable wild animals in the Life-time Care Sanctuary that require medical management.
The case-load will vary widely depending on the time of year and the species, age and condition of the animals admitted to the center during the internship. Typical species include parrots, passerines, raptors, monkeys, sloths, various small mammals, iguana, turtles and other reptiles, with 70% of the intakes being avian species.
What you will do as a Veterinary Intern
This internship will help prepare you for a career in Veterinary Medicine.
You will assist our veterinary team in the clinic:
What to expect
Interns should expect a busy, highly variable environment with a high number of emergency cases and/or confiscations coming in at a moment‘s notice. The level of participation in clinical cases will depend greatly on the skill and experience level of the student and the number and type of cases presented during the internship period.
Internship opportunities and projects outside the clinic
The interns also have the opportunity to attend lectures, wet labs and round tables organized by the wildlife and veterinary internship coordinators covering different topics in biodiversity conservation. Interns staying longer periods of time have the opportunity to develop their own small projects during their internship period.
Schedule
Students participate in rehabilitation and clinic activities for 8 hours per day, 5 days per week with two days off for rest or travel. The clinic is staffed from 6 am to 6 pm. Students work roughly 8 hours per day on a flexi-schedule depending on the needs of the clinic, the caseload and the time of the year.
Accommodation
Accommodation is provided in a guest house with shared bedrooms, kitchen and bathroom. Towels and blankets are provided. Rescate Wildlife Rescue Center is fenced and has 24-hour security.
We are seeking serious, passionate individuals with the desire to dedicate themselves to helping us return Costa Rican wildlife back to where they belong.
Coursework in pre-vet, veterinary medicine or veterinary nursing is required.
Some experience working with animals is preferred, particularly in a clinic setting.
Must be 18 years of age or older.
You must be able to speak and read English or Spanish to participate in our programs. Spanish language skills are not required, but many of our staff members do not speak English and an understanding of some common Spanish words and phrases will help you integrate into our team.
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.
Having the ability to maintain a positive attitude in stressful situations is essential.
What is included?
What is not included?
Meet the team!
Who will you work with?
Veterinary interns work directly with Dr. Isabel Hagnauer and Dr. Sofia Astorga, our experienced wildlife veterinarians, Dr. Sara Goñi, our intern coordinator and the rehabilitation team.
Dr. Isabel Hagnauer
Veterinarian
Dr. Sofia Astorga
Veterinarian
Dr. Sara Goñi
Veterinarian & Intern Coordinator
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! 🙂 🦥 🌴
This past week, I had the honor of learning about the experience of one of the first wildlife veterinary internship participants at Rescate Wildlife Rescue Center: Izzy, who came in 2021 for five weeks. …
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.
