Join Intern Abroad HQ, the world’s most affordable international internship organization, and invest in your future with a Wildlife Veterinary Internship in Costa Rica.

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Program Information
 
In this rewarding Costa Rica internship program, interns help care for injured and displaced wildlife, assisting local vets with treatment and rehabilitation. This internship is strongly focused on the care, rehabilitation and release of national wildlife. Interns will learn from and assist experienced veterinarians, gaining a deeper understanding of rehab techniques, animal well-being, and conservation initiatives.

This program ranges from 6-24 weeks and has start dates every other Monday throughout the year.

Your fully-hosted experience includes sourcing of your internship placement, personalization of your project plan, airport pick-up, orientation, accommodation, meals, and onsite student support. See our full list of fees and inclusions on our website.

Eligibility Requirements

Wildlife Veterinary internships in Costa Rica are suitable for students and recent graduates with at least one year of relevant college/university study in a related field, such as Veterinary Sciences, Zoology, Animal Sciences, etc. Interns must also provide proof of current tetanus, rabies, and at least two doses of the Covid vaccine.

This internship is conducted in either Spanish (if the intern speaks the language), or English (via a supervisor who speaks English, if the intern does not speak Spanish). Interns should expect that a language barrier could be encountered to a certain extent.

Internship Details

Wildlife Veterinary internships in Costa Rica take place in San Josecito, part of the municipality of Heredia, approximately 11 miles from Costa Rica’s capital, San Jose. This internship is your chance to make a real difference in the lives of animals, while gaining experience in the field of animal care, and boosting your resume.

Wildlife Veterinary interns in Costa Rica assist to support an Animal Sanctuary and Rescue Center. The sanctuary operates to foster sick and injured wildlife, providing in-house care and rehabilitation through their onsite veterinary clinic.

Located in San Josecito, approximately 35-minute’s from San Jose, participants should come prepared to network directly with local sanctuary staff, or other program volunteers/externs/interns, as this site is not situated near to other internship placements in Costa Rica. However, nearby amenities include small convenience stores (within walking distance), as well as easy access to supermarkets and shopping malls, via public transportation.

As a Wildlife Veterinary intern, you’ll collaborate alongside a team of experts and veterinarians, all actively working to provide the animals with a safe and nurturing environment. You will have a broad range of tasks to collaborate with, ranging from assisting vet doctors with medical procedures, feeding, bathing, administering medicine, and cleaning cages to supporting conservation efforts, and assisting with animal rehabilitation, treatment, and diagnoses.

Local staff specifically run this “externship” program, to provide valuable learning experiences for students, wildlife enthusiasts, and young professionals. In addition to the “externship” program, the Sanctuary may also accommodate international volunteers, who assist with less skilled tasks. Interns with higher degrees of professional qualification, who can dedicate a minimum of 4 months to the Center’s operations, may likewise be present, to support the activities of the externship.

In all cases, interns should expect that the first week of your experience will focus on settling in and gaining some introductory knowledge. Understand and expect that individual internship experiences vary, as some interns are at a more advanced level than others. If you’re at a more introductory level, you should reasonably expect a more introductory internship. Likewise, if you’re interning for a shorter duration, you will have a different experience from someone who is interning for a longer duration. Interns should be adaptable, proactive and willing to help where it’s needed.

Ensure that you ask questions and provide feedback during the introductory period, so that your supervisor understands how you’re progressing, and what your interests and abilities are. This will help them to support your professional development, within reasonable boundaries. Preferences are always subject to availability.

Typical Schedule: approx. 7am to 4pm, Monday to Friday. Occasionally, weekend activities may arise, depending on wildlife rescue priorities, but this will be optional and subject to availability.

Program Highlights

Intern Abroad HQ's Costa Rica programs are available year-round, with start dates every other Monday.

Intern Abroad HQ provides the most affordable and top-rated programs. Check out our intern reviews on our website.

We match you with innovative and entrepreneurial host organizations around the world that give you the opportunity to make a real contribution on high-impact projects with the support of travel experts with an outstanding safety system and track record.

Our experiential learning approach provides a structured and guided platform for you to think critically about your experiences on your internship. It accelerates and deepens your learning by asking self-reflective questions around the contexts, actions, and outcomes of your placement.

Academic credit is available for all experiences, through our School of Record partnerships with University of Montana (1-5 credits) and Warren Wilson College (6-16 credits). Check in with your academic advisor to understand if you can apply these transfer credits toward your degree at your home institution.

We offer flexible booking and free changes so you can register with confidence.

How to Apply

Apply for free: Complete an online application form via the Intern Abroad HQ website.

Select your start date and duration: All Intern Abroad HQ programs are available year-round and you can choose to intern for durations on this program ranging from 6 to 24 weeks.

Complete your registration: After you have been accepted on your chosen program, you can secure your place by paying the Deposit.

Pay your Balance: This is due 60 days before your program starts.

Need to make changes to your booking? You can make free unlimited changes to your destination, project and dates up until 60 days before you start.

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