Gain Hands-On Wildlife Conservation Experience in Costa Rica!
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Get involved by becoming an intern at Toucan Rescue Ranch!
As an intern, you’ll gain a unique, hands-on experience while learning about our mission and the wildlife we serve. We offer a range of internship opportunities across various fields, including marketing, business administration, animal clinical work, conservation research, ecology, and veterinary education.
We also collaborate with schools worldwide for externships and university credit. Whether you’re a student, a recent graduate, or a professional in your field, we welcome individuals at all stages of their careers.
To make our internships accessible to a wide range of people, we’ve worked hard to keep them free. However, due to rising costs and fluctuations in tourism income, we must implement costs in our internship program. This fee covers room, board, and the valuable education you’ll receive throughout your internship.
Your contribution directly supports the medical care, food, and daily needs of the animals in our care, helping us maintain and improve our facilities, staff, and learning environment. Thank you for helping us continue our mission! Your donation is tax-deductible in the United States.
What You Will Gain as an Intern
Why Choose an Internship at Toucan Rescue Ranch? By joining Toucan Rescue Ranch as an intern, you’ll gain:
- Hands-On Experience in Wildlife Care: Work directly with rescued animals, including sloths, toucans, owls, and monkeys, contributing to their rehabilitation and release into the wild.
- Valuable Field Skills: Learn about animal behavior, diet preparation, habitat enrichment, and conservation techniques in real-world settings.
- Immersive Cultural Experience: Live in the heart of Costa Rica, engaging with local communities and discovering the country’s rich biodiversity.
- Expert Guidance: Receive mentorship from experienced professionals in wildlife conservation, veterinary care, and environmental education.
- Resume-Boosting Opportunities: Build a strong portfolio with practical experience that stands out to future employers or universities.
- Teamwork and Leadership Skills: Collaborate with a passionate, international team to achieve conservation goals.
- Unique Living Experience: Stay in one-of-a-kind accommodations, including the Toucan Rescue Ranch Headquarters or the remote Release Site, surrounded by nature.
- Networking Opportunities: Connect with conservation experts, fellow interns, and visiting researchers from around the world.
- Conservation Impact: Be part of a mission-driven organization working to protect Costa Rica’s wildlife and promote environmental awareness.
- Personal Growth: Develop confidence, adaptability, and a deeper appreciation for wildlife and the environment while making memories to last a lifetime.
This is more than an internship—it’s an unforgettable adventure where you’ll make a real difference for wildlife while building your skills and future.
General Internship Requirements
Please review the job application for specific details
- Ability to commit to at least 4 to 6 months
- Must be 18 years or older
- Since January 2025, we have updated our policy to no longer require COVID vaccinations. Volunteers and interns can either provide proof of vaccination or present a negative test taken within 48 hours before starting their volunteering or internship. Additionally, we require an up-to-date tetanus vaccination (valid for ten years).
- International emergency medical insurance coverage during the internship
- Willingness to get dirty, sweaty, and work hard for wildlife
- For animal-related internships, rabies vaccination is required to apply
At Toucan Rescue Ranch, we are committed to providing a valuable internship experience that allows you to contribute your unique skills while helping us achieve our mission of rescuing, rehabilitating, and releasing wildlife. Your health and safety are our top priority, and we ensure appropriate training and protective gear throughout your stay. Working with animals comes with certain risks, and it is crucial to understand and minimize them for the safety of both you and the wildlife.
Requirements:
- All interns must have a current tetanus vaccination.
- You must have international medical insurance that covers you in Costa Rica. We can provide insurance recommendations if needed—just ask during your application process.
- Proof of current vaccinations and insurance must be submitted during orientation.
Please note, while working with wildlife, there may be a risk of zoonotic diseases. It is your responsibility to follow strict biosecurity protocols as advised by our staff to ensure the safety of both yourself and the animals.
Headquarters Intern House:
You will stay with fellow interns in the Headquarters Intern House at Toucan Rescue Ranch. This multi-level house includes three shared dormitories and one private room. The house has 3.5 bathrooms and a shared kitchen, which is used by staff members to prepare prepped meals. The kitchen is available for communal use after 4 p.m. Laundry facilities are inside the house, with a hang-dry option. The house is shared with administrative employees who have an office within the home.
The property features a large yard area and a balcony, providing ample space for relaxation. The house is located in a safe, gated community with shared employee parking. Please note that the property is shared with the landlord, who lives on-site. The house is just a 3-minute walk from the Ranch Headquarters and is situated in San Josecito, San Isidro, Heredia.
Headquarters Nightshift Cabin:
For Sloth Rehabilitation and Nightshift Animal Care Team members, you may be stationed in the Nightshift Cabin located on TRR grounds. This small, open-concept cabin includes a shared bedroom, a small common area, a kitchenette with a microwave and mini-fridge, and one bathroom. There is laundry access with prior approval from the owner and Fiberoptic WiFi.
The cabin is situated at Toucan Rescue Ranch Headquarters in San Josecito, San Isidro, Heredia. You will share this space with baby mammals and other wildlife that require overnight feedings and care, providing a unique opportunity to work closely with the animals during their rehabilitation.
Release Site Intern House:
If you are applying for a Main Release Site internship, you will be staying at our Release Site in a remote area of Sarapiquí, Costa Rica. The accommodation includes a private or shared bedroom, two bathrooms, a standard room, and a kitchen with some laundry access. WiFi is provided. This house is located directly on the TRR Release Site grounds in Nazareth, Sarapiquí, Heredia.
Free for Local Applicants (Gratis para costarricenses)
Para visitar el sitio web en español, haga clic aquí.
We welcome and encourage local interns! We require you to be 18 years of age or older, have health insurance and be a student of something related to animals. You will be asked to have the same requirements as an international volunteer. If this is a formal application, please complete the items below.
Application Process:
- One-page letter of interest
- Resume
- Contact information with three professional references
- Apply through the application form that is in each internship description below
Learn More about Our Various Internship Opportunities
Are You Ready to Start Your Career in Wildlife Conservation?
Internship Fee $1,800
Animal Husbandry & Zookeeping Internship
The Animal Husbandry & Zookeeping Intern is responsible for completing the daily feeding and care of Toucan Rescue Ranch. This intern is primarily responsible for ensuring animals are fed and clean enclosures. You will work closely with the Kitchen & Animal Care Employee responsible for food preparation. This intern participates in feeding and cleaning and provides direction to short-term volunteers helping with these activities.
Apply Today
Internship Fee $2,430
Conservation Marketing Internship
Toucan Rescue Ranch is seeking a passionate and motivated Conservation Marketing Intern to join our team in San Isidro, Heredia, Costa Rica. This internship provides a unique opportunity to contribute to wildlife conservation efforts while gaining valuable experience in marketing, communications, photography, videography, copywriting, SEO, corporate sponsorships, and donor management within a non-profit organization.
Graphic Design Internship-Virtual
As a graphic design intern at Toucan Rescue Ranch, you ´ll apply your skills in branding and visual comunication to develop both print and digitsl pieces: social media content, web assets, merchandise, signage, educational materials, and fundraising campaigns.
Apply Today
Internship Fee $2,000
Release Site Wildlife Care Internship
We are looking for an enthusiastic intern to help with husbandry and administrative activities. You will live in close contact with
nature and wildlife. You will also be able to
contribute to the improvement of the animals’ wellbeing.
Apply Today
Internship Fee $2,430
Release Site Wildlife Veterinary Internship
The Release Site Wildlife Veterinary Intern works under the direction of the vet manager at the Release Site to care for the animals at the clinic undergoing rehabilitation. Maintaining supplies and clinic records. Conducting treatments, examinations, diagnostic procedures, feeding, and caring.
Apply Today
Internship Fee $2,100
Sloth Rehabilitation Internship
The Toucan Rescue Ranch is looking for an intern to work with the Toucan Rescue Ranch’s Sloth Team and Toucan Rescue Ranch’s Staff to care for sloths living at the Ranch. The Sloth Rehab Intern collaborates with the other Sloth Rehab Interns, animal husbandry volunteers, the founder, and TRR medical staff to ensure the best possible care is provided for the sloths.
Apply Today
Internship Fee $2,400
Wildlife Veterinary Internship
The Wildlife Veterinary Intern works under the direction of our vet and our founder to care for the animals in our clinic and undergoing rehabilitation. Maintaining supplies and clinic records. Conducting treatments, examinations, diagnostic procedures, feeding, and caring. Expect to work long hours and to be available for emergencies.
Hear What Other Interns & Volunteers Say:
A really great organisation. A lovely place, weather to visit, volunteer or donate too. The toucan rescue ranch provides excellent care for all wildlife and always aims to release and rehabilitate. The team and owners are all so hardworking, pleasant and welcoming and all just want the best for the animals. Supporting important initiatives such as the no animal selfies and trying to educate locals and tourists on why holding or taking photos with animals is a bad thing, the rescue ranch is doing an amazing job and is a leading example of how to run a great wildlife sanctuary. I miss this place with all my heart!
Lucy M.
United Kingdom
I started my journey at Toucan Rescue Ranch as a Marketing Intern in 2020. It quickly became a place for me to grow, learn, make friends for a lifetime, and enjoy the little things in life that nature teaches us. Every single animal that the staff works on truly gets the best treatment possible, which really made me believe there are real people who care for conservation. If you want to learn and experience wildlife up close with the best teachers in Costa Rica, you found your place!
Mariana Diaz
Costa Rica
I toured the Toucan Rescue Ranch and had such a great experience, I decided to start volunteering there! Tours in English and Spanish are offered … the staff is really nice and very professional. Highly recommend a visit!
Sheena K.
United States
Best experience I’ve ever had: being able to help a great cause, plus meeting a group of amazing people that do everything they can to help and take care of injured or neglected animals; it’s the best. I get inspired every day by each and every vet, coordinator,guide, volunteer and their passion for the cause. I hope I can stay there helping for as long as possible.
Majo Montero
Costa Rica
Get in touch with our recruitment team
Have Questions about our Internship Program?
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