About Toucan Rescue Ranch

The Toucan Rescue Ranch’s (TRR) mission is to rescue, rehabilitate, and release Costa Rican wildlife. TRR works with a model focusing on conservation, education, and research to ensure a brighter future for Costa Rican wildlife. TRR emphasizes the care, rehabilitation, and release of national wildlife. We receive and care for confiscated, sick, and injured animals from government agencies.

The Toucan Rescue Ranch works closely with the Ministry of Environment and Energy of Costa Rica (MINAE), which brings injured and displaced wildlife to the center. TRR provides sanctuary while giving treatment and rehabilitation. Whenever possible the animal is released to their natural environment.

The Toucan Rescue Ranch is a licensed Costa Rica wildlife rescue facility, Costa Rica Foundation (300667701803), and a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization (EIN: 80-0516453).

Internship Description

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.

This Intern will help oversee general maintenance and repairs of the property. Will work with TRR’s biologist on enrichment activities. As well as train Animal Care Team “Toucan Team” Volunteers and manage the enclosure cleaning schedule.

Internship Duration: 4-Months

Work Schedule

The Intern works 5 days a week with two days off a week. Days off are not necessarily on the weekend. You will learn about your schedule and days off during your orientation at the Toucan Rescue Ranch.

Internship Location – Headquarters

Toucan Rescue Ranch’s main location in San Isidro, Heredia, Costa Rica, offers a unique environment for aspiring interns eager to work in wildlife conservation. Nestled in a region with a mild tropical climate, The Ranch experiences temperatures ranging from 60-80°F (16-27°C) year-round, with a dry season from December to April and a lush, green, rainy season from May to November. This climate creates a comfortable atmosphere for interns and staff and provides an optimal habitat for the diverse wildlife in our care.

Interns at The Ranch enjoy amenities designed to support their hands-on experience, including comfortable living spaces, shaded walkways through wildlife enclosures, and a fully equipped educational center where training and team collaboration sessions are held. With native plant gardens attracting local species like butterflies and birds, the Ranch offers a peaceful yet dynamic environment ideal for learning about Costa Rican ecology and developing practical animal care, enrichment, and conservation education skills.

Whether working in the sunshine of the dry season or witnessing the vibrant transformation during the rains, an internship at TRR’s Headquarters offers an immersive experience combining Costa Rica’s natural beauty with meaningful conservation work.

Skills You Will Learn from this Internship

• Understand each species’ specific nutrition, environment, and animal behavior.
• Enrichment building and knowledge.
• Learn and take part in the rehabilitation and release processes.
• Leadership skills.
• Time management and organizational skills.
• Exposure to the running of a wildlife center.
• Construction skills, including woodwork, use of electric tools

Activities & Responsibilities

• Provide fresh water and prepare and provide a complete nutritional diet to the permanent residents at the sanctuary.
• Clean enclosures to a high standard.
• Prepare carnivore diets. (This will include handling dead prey and butchering meat.)
• Daily observations of the animals, carrying out health checks.
• Daily observations of the animals, carrying out health checks.
• Complete daily rounds at the beginning and end of each shift and ensure there are no safety hazards in the enclosures.
• Communicate with the husbandry coordinator and vets if concerns are raised.
• Monitor individuals who are being evaluated for release.
• Participate in general maintenance and construction of enclosures.
• Collect wild diet for release candidates.
• Create enrichment for the sanctuary animals.
• Clean, feed, and take care of the Bioterium animals.
• Dispose of organic waste and maintain the compost area to a clean standard.

Administrative Work

• Welcome Interns and Volunteers into the Volunteer/Intern house.
• Train new volunteers to be professional so they can independently complete the required tasks.
• Lead the team throughout the day and carry out all husbandry tasks.

Requirements & Qualifications

General Requirements

• Must be 18 years of age or older.
• Provide proof of emergency health insurance while in Costa Rica.
• Provide proof of at least 2 COVID-19 vaccines.
• Provide proof of current tetanus and rabies (recommended) vaccinations.
• The ability to follow directions with attention to detail.
• A positive “can-do” attitude and the ability to work well in a team environment.

Specific Requirements

• Fluent in English. Basic or intermediate Spanish.
• Studying an animal-related discipline or having some experience working with animals.
• Have excellent communication skills.
• Have a strong interest in animal welfare and conservation.
• A moderate degree of fitness.

Other Valuable Skills

• A first aid course is highly recommended.
• Experience traveling to a tropical country and living in remote conditions is preferred.
• Experience working with wildlife is a plus.

Ensuring Best Practices Implementation

• Fostering practices that support and improve the Ranch’s philosophy and goals.
• Maintaining quality by establishing and enforcing organization standards.

Program Benefits & Costs

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.

Apply Today!

One-page cover letter of interest—specify which internship you are interested in and the start date, CV or resume, and contact information for three professional references. After reviewing your application, we will promptly contact you to schedule a virtual interview.

If you have any questions, we are always available via email to answer any questions

Application form