Endangered Animals Road To Freedom Internship

location
2 - 20 weeks  ·  Age 18 - 50+

rating  Outstanding 4.9  · 
  Verified by Volunteer World
  Good response rate

Highlights

  • Working with teams to monitor and release critically endangered and rescued Spider Monkeys, Howler Monkeys, Capuchin Monkeys, Peccaries, Macaws, Parrots, and more
  • Collecting data during the prerelease process to help us determine release fitness and monitor the animals post-release to ensure their long-term survival
  • Prepare food, refill wildlife feeding stations, and quantify how much has been eaten
  • Conceptualize, create, and implement environmental enrichment activities for the animals in pre-release
  • Identify and collect natural foods to teach the animals to forage for food post-release


Especially good for

Age 18+
Singles
Couples
50+

About the program

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.

Road to Freedom Internship

Our Bosque Escondido internship gives you the unique opportunity to not only see, but to play an active part in what we call: The Road to Freedom. Our Rescate Wildlife Rescue Center in La Garita, Alajuela receives hundreds of primates and other animals that have been ...

About the program

Road to Freedom Internship

Our Bosque Escondido internship gives you the unique opportunity to not only see, but to play an active part in what we call: The Road to Freedom. Our Rescate Wildlife Rescue Center in La Garita, Alajuela receives hundreds of primates 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. 


Recommendations

  • Health insurance while in Costa Rica

  • Basic Spanish proficiency is helpful but all our internships are conducted in English

  • Tolerance for various field conditions (heat, humidity, rain)


What you will be doing

  • Working with teams to monitor and release critically endangered and rescued Spider Monkeys, Howler Monkeys, Capuchin Monkeys, Peccaries, Macaws, Parrots, and more

  • Collecting data during the prerelease process to help us determine release fitness

  • Monitor the animals post-release to ensure their long-term survival 

  • Prepare food, refill wildlife feeding stations, and quantify how much has been eaten 

  • Conceptualize, create, and implement environmental enrichment activities for the animals in pre-release 

  • Identify and collect natural foods to teach the animals to forage for food post-release

  • Personal Project: Volunteers who stay 8 weeks or longer, have the opportunity to create and carry out a personal project based on an area of their interest or conduct research for your University 


Knowledge and Skills that will be developed

  • Ethical wildlife conservation and critically endangered species practices

  • Wildlife behavioral observations 

  • Data collection and analysis

  • Wildlife tracking techniques

  • Learn how to utilize the ZooMonitor program

  • Ability to identify and collect various natural foods for wildlife 

  • Ability to conceptualize, create, and implement environmental enrichment for wildlife 

  • Field experience alongside experts

Certificate and University Credit: If you stay a month or longer, you have the opportunity to receive a certificate of completion. We are happy to help you design a program that meets your university’s academic requirements for credit.



Typical day

Example schedule

Every day is different, but here is a sample of what you might expect:

  • 6:00 - 7:00: Collect natural foods for the animals in prerelease habitats
  • 7:00 - 8:00: Observe macaws, parrots, or monkeys at the feeding stations and record data
  • 8:00 - 9:00: Breakfast
  • 9:00 - 12:00: Create and ...

Typical day

Example schedule

Every day is different, but here is a sample of what you might expect:

  • 6:00 - 7:00: Collect natural foods for the animals in prerelease habitats
  • 7:00 - 8:00: Observe macaws, parrots, or monkeys at the feeding stations and record data
  • 8:00 - 9:00: Breakfast
  • 9:00 - 12:00: Create and implement environmental enrichment for animals in prerelease habitats
  • 1:00 - 2:00: Lunch
  • 2:00 - 4:30: Tracking and data collection of Spider Monkey troops
  • 6:00 - 7:00: Dinner

Free-time activities

After-hours activities: Game nights, movie nights, workshops, and more
Days off: 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!

Free-time activities

After-hours activities: Game nights, movie nights, workshops, and more
Days off: 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!

Requirements

Requirements

Minimum Age: 18 years

In order to join the program you need to be at least 18 years old on the program start date. There might be exemptions if you can provide the permission of your legal guardian(s) or if your are accompanied by your parents.

Language Skills

You need to speak English (intermediate level)

Nationality Restrictions

No restrictions. Helping hands from all over the world are welcome.

Other Skills

- Interest in Conservation, Endangered Species Rehabilitation, Biology, Ecology, and/or Forestry - Respect for and commitment to Rescate aims, objectives, and ethos - A positive “can-do” attitude and the ability to work well in a globally diverse team environment - The ability to work calmly around animals in a respectful and humane matter - Moderate degree of physical fitness

Time Commitment

Your helping hand will be required on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday

What's Included

What's Included

Services by Rescate Wildlife Rescue Center

Accommodation and food & drinks are included in the fees.

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

Food & Beverages

3 meals a day are provided 7 days a week. (Special dietary requirements can be accommodated on request)

Internet Access

Good access at the project site

What's NOT included?

What's NOT included?

Airport Pickup at Juan Santamaria International Airport

An airport pickup isn't included within the program fees either.

Flight Tickets

The nearest airport is Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) in San Jose. We assist you to find cheap flights to Costa Rica. FIND CHEAP FLIGHTS

Travel Insurance

Going abroad is an adventure and it is always best to be prepared. Sudden illness or injury, cancellation or theft - a travel insurance for Costa Rica provides security and is a plus to have. GET A QUOTE

Vaccines

If you are intending to volunteer in Costa Rica you should seek medical advice before starting your social journey. Check your required vaccinations for Costa Rica. VACCINE CHECKER

Details on arrival

The program is available from June 16th on.

Availability
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Program fees

2 weeks (min. stay) 994€
3 weeks 1,466€
4 weeks 1,939€
5 weeks 2,386€
6 weeks 2,833€
7 weeks 3,281€
8 weeks 3,728€
9 weeks 4,150€
20 weeks (max. stay) 8,699€
Average fees 465€/week

Program fees

465€ per week 2 - 20 weeks Age 18 - 50+

Payment methods

Visa Master Card Maestro American Express PayPal

NO CREDIT CARD FEES


Duration

2 - 20 weeks

Deposit

The deposit is simply to reserve your volunteer placement. Payments are handled by PayPal, our trusted global payment provider. If you don't have a PayPal account, you can also pay using a credit card.


Final Payment

Your final payment will be agreed with Rescate Wildlife Rescue Center during the application process. Common solutions are either via bank transfer or a cash payment at the project site.


Meet your organization

Rescate Wildlife Rescue Center

Outstanding 4.9 rating (18 reviews)

Non-profit - founded in 1989

Verified by Volunteer World

  Good response rate

Coordinated by

Jeanne Marie Pittman

Spoken languages: English

About the project

Costa Ricas largest wildlife sanctuary encompassing a Rehabilitation Center, Endangered Species Breeding Center, Lifetime care sanctuary and two release sites.

Meet your organization

Who We Are

Rescate Wildlife Rescue Center (formerly Rescate Animal Zooave) is a registered non-profit wildlife rehabilitation facility founded in 1989 and located on 34 acres of natural tropical forest in the province of Alajuela, Costa Rica.


What We Do

Our mission is to protect and restore the country’s biodiversity through wildlife rehabilitation, endangered species breeding, habitat preservation and the provision of lifetime care for truly non-releasable animals.

There are three main centers at Rescate’s facility in Alajuela:

1.      A state-of-the-art Wildlife Rehabilitation Center

2.      An Endangered Species Breeding Center

3.      A Lifetime Care Sanctuary with more than 125 species of animals.

Over 2,700 wild animals are admitted to Rescate on an annual basis including sloths, jaguars, monkeys, tapirs, pumas and coyotes as well as a wide variety of birds, small mammals and reptiles. 

Roughly 2% of the birds, mammals, and reptiles that have been rescued cannot be released due to health or behavioral reasons. Non-releasable endangered species in the Endangered Species Breeding Center have an opportunity to contribute to the survival of their species through successful breeding and release of off-spring. Non-releasable wildlife of other species are provided with lifetime sanctuary in the Lifetime Care Sanctuary.

Where we work? 

We are located in Alajuela, Costa Rica just 20 minutes from the main international airport. Rescate Wildlife Rescue Center is a lush green forest that provides a natural environment to our resident animals. Costa Rica is known for it’s incredible biodiversity and there are beautiful views at almost every turn. As we are so close to San Jose it’s possible to get a bus to just about everywhere in the country!


Who are we looking for?

We are looking for people passionate about animal welfare and conservation who would like to learn more about real-world conservation and improve the lives of animals.


Why choose us?

Rescate Wildlife Rescue Center is the largest wildlife sanctuary in Costa Rica and we are one of only two sanctuaries in Costa accredited by GFAS (Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries). There is no other organisation in Costa Rica that provides the opportunity to experience a sanctuary, rehabilitation center, endangered species breeding center and two release sites! 

18 reviews · rating4.9

Julie Bouchard rating5

2022 at Wildlife Internship

I spent 2 weeks as a wildlife intern. Living at the site and participating in the care of so many animals was amazing. The work was physical at times. The entire staff was awesome and always willing to teach me about the wildlife and also improve my Spanish. I highly recommend this experience ...
Ana Luiza Versiani rating5

2022 at Wildlife Internship

Amazing experience. We loved our stay at this place. It's very organized and they are doing a serious work on helping wild animals in Costa Rica. I highly recomend it. Nice people, good lodging, nice food, beautiful place. We were so happy to have chosen this particular place. ..
Dana Kumprechtova rating4.8

2022 at Wildlife Internship

I volunteered at Rescate Animal ZooAve for 3 weeks and enjoyed this experience tremendously. The centre is highly professional and the care of animals is excellent. Many rescued animals (or their offspring) are released back into the wild at the Rescate Animal release sites, at one of which I also ...
Abigel Fekete rating4.8

2022 at Wildlife Internship

Really enjoyed my stay at the rescue center, got to meet incredibly knowledgeable people, have had marvelous experiences during my 8 days. I wished the food they served for the volunteers was better. ..
Serena rating5

2021 at Wildlife Internship

When I came to Costa Rica for this internship, I was nervous. I didn’t know what to expect. I expected to see a few cool animals and mostly ask questions and ask if I could jump in at times. I was hoping to be able to do as much hands on as possible, but I didn’t expect to be able to at first. I ...
Kade Hudgins rating5

2021 at Wildlife Internship

My time at rescate was amazing and is truly a time I will not forget! Working along side other volunteers and learning from Phil and Sophie has pushed me to want to continue my journey in conservation. I highly recommend this program for anybody who wants to get into conservation, or even to just ...

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Contact Jeanne Marie Pittman
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