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 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.

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. Daily schedule needs to be flexible depending on the animals in the clinic. Nightwork is required. Works long hours and expect to be ready for emergencies. 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

• Teamwork.
• Exposure to the running of a wildlife rescue center.
• Triage.
• Conducting intake examinations.
• Animal restraint techniques.
• Medication administration.
• Testing procedures.
• Safety and sterilization best practice.
• Anesthesia procedures.
• Small animal health management.
• Clinic records maintenance.

Activities & Responsibilities

• Feed and monitor animals in the clinic.
• Clean clinic and kennels.
• Triage animals received at the Toucan Rescue Ranch.
• Assist in exams and treatments.
• Animal enrichment.
• Proper maintenance regarding animal enclosure and zookeeping.
• Backup to other Toucan Rescue Ranch Interns.

Administrative Work

• Manage cleanliness and ordering of animal care supplies.
• Evaluate and perfect quality of rehab animals’ diets.
• Complete thorough record keeping, and detail observations as needed We are always open to suggestions. Let us know if you have a special skill you think will be useful.

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.
• Coursework in veterinary studies, primatology, zoology, environmental education, wildlife ecology or a related field.
• Have excellent communication skills.
• Have a strong interest in animal welfare and conservation.
• Moderate degree of fitness.

Other Valuable Skills

• First aid course is highly recommended.
• Experience traveling to a tropical country, living in remote conditions are preferred.
• Experience working with wildlife is a plus.
• Experience handling animals.

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