THIS IS A GENERAL LIST. PLEASE REVIEW THE JOB APPLICATION FOR SPECIFICS.
- Be able to commit at least 3 or 6 months
- Must be 18 years or older
- Have a current tetanus vaccination (good for 10 years)
- Must have two doses of Covid-19 vaccination
- International emergency medical insurance while interning
- Willingness to get dirty, sweaty, tired, and work for wildlife
- The ANIMAL RELATED INTERNSHIP(s) must get the rabies vaccination to apply.
Internships are voluntary self-funded positions. You will be responsible for all travel expenses/flights and immigration expenses.
Meals:
Meals are provided 7-days a week. We will show you the local stores where you can buy additional food to supplement your meals. Please let us know if you are vegetarian, vegan, or have special dietary requirements.
Other:
All other costs are to be paid for by the intern. This includes travel expenses, medical insurance, entertainment expenses, and a 5-day trip out of the country every three months to renew your visa. Common household items.
All internships have a 3 or 6-month requirement. If you would like to apply for a longer duration please indicate in your internship application. You must have education, training, or experience regarding the internships you apply for.
As a part of the application process, we will ask for 3-professional references.
The Toucan Rescue Ranch provides housing for international interns:
- The Headquarters Intern House: Here you will be staying with fellow interns at the Toucan Rescue Ranch. Housing includes a bedroom (private and/or shared), 2-bathrooms, common area, and kitchen. Laundry access is at the Toucan Rescue Ranch (not the house). The house is in a safe gated community with WiFi. The house is located off grounds and is a 6-minute walk to/from the Toucan Rescue Ranch. Located in San Josecito, San Isidro, Heredia.
- The Sloth House: Depending on your internship position you may be staying in the Sloth House located on TRR grounds. This is a small cabin with a shared bedroom, small common area, kitchenette, and 1-bathroom. There is laundry access and Wi-Fi. Located at Toucan Rescue Ranch Headquarters - San Josecito, San Isidro, Heredia.
- Release Site Intern House: If you are applying for a Main Release Site internship you will be located at our Release Site in a remote area in Sarapiqui, Costa Rica. Housing includes a bedroom (private and/or shared), 2-bathrooms, common area, and kitchen with some laundry access. Wi-Fi included. The house is located on TRR Release Site grounds. You will be living and working at the same location. Located in Nazareth, Sarapiqui, Heredia.
The Toucan Rescue Ranch provides 3-meals per-day for all internships. Please indicate in your application if you have any dietary restrictions or allergies so we can plan accordingly.
- Carta de interés de una página
- Currículum Vitae
- Información de contacto con tres referencias profesionales
You can Google Map these locations and familiarize yourself with where you will be located during the internship:
- Headquarters (HQ) in San Josecito, San Isidro, Heredia.
- Release Site (RS) in Nazareth, Sarapiqui, Heredia.
Application Deadlines & Service Dates
- HQ Animal Husbandry
- HQ Clinic
- HQ Sloth Rehabilitation
- HQ Nightshift Nursery
- HQ Marketing
- Recruiter, Remote
- RS Clinic
- RS Animal Care
- RS Howler Monkey Rehab
Animal Husbandry at Headquarters: San Isidro, Heredia, Costa Rica
- Internship Dates: February 12, 2024 - August 13, 2024
- APPLICATION DEADLINE: January 1, 2023
Clinic Internship at Headquarters: San Isidro, Heredia, Costa Rica
- Internship Dates: June 24, 2024 - December 20, 2024
- APPLICATION DEADLINE: November 27, 2023
- Internship Dates: December 9, 2024 - June 10, 2025
- APPLICATION DEADLINE: May 13, 2024
Sloth Rehabilitation Internship(s) at Headquarters: San Isidro, Heredia, Costa Rica
- Internship Dates: March 18, 2024 - September 17, 2024
- APPLICATION DEADLINE: September 21, 2023
- Internship Dates: April 8, 2024 - October 8, 2024
- APPLICATION DEADLINE: October 11, 2023
Nightshift Nursery at Headquarters: San Isidro, Heredia, Costa Rica
- Internship Dates: March 24, 2024 - September 24, 2024
- APPLICATION DEADLINE: August 28, 2023
Marketing & Communications at Headquarters: San Isidro, Heredia, Costa Rica
- Internship Dates: July 15, 2024 - January 14, 2025
-
- APPLICATION DEADLINE: December 18, 2023
-
- Internship Dates: January 6, 2025 - July 8, 2025
- APPLICATION DEADLINE: June 10, 2024
Service Program Recruiter
- November 27, 2023 - June 10, 2024
- APPLICATION DEADLINE: May 1, 2023
Clinic at the Release Site: Nazareth, Sarapiqui, Costa Rica
- Internship Dates: April 15, 2024 - July 8, 2024
- APPLICATION DEADLINE: September 1, 2023
- Internship Dates: July 1, 2024 - September 23, 2024
- APPLICATION DEADLINE: November 1, 2023
Animal Care Internship(s) at the Release Site: Nazareth, Sarapiqui, Costa Rica
- Internship Dates: June 10, 2024 - September 02, 2024
- APPLICATION DEADLINE: November 13, 2023
- Internship Dates: May 6, 2024 - July 29, 2024
- APPLICATION DEADLINE: September 1, 2023
Howler Monkey Rehabilitation at the Release Site: Nazareth, Sarapiqui, Costa Rica
- Internship Dates: August 26th - October 28 2024
- APPLICATION DEADLINE: February 1, 2024
Internships Locations & Job Descriptions
- GREEN - Headquarters (HQ) in San Josecito, San Isidro, Heredia.
- BLUE - Release Site (RS) in Nazareth, Sarapiqui, Heredia.
- ORANGE will be a remote internship.
Professional Internships with the Toucan Rescue Ranch!
Get involved by becoming an intern at the Toucan Rescue Ranch! By applying for an internship - you are given a unique experience, gaining an in-depth understanding of our mission and the animals we serve. We have several internships requiring various skills and experience - from marketing, business administration, animal clinical work, conservation research, ecology and environment, and veterinarian education. We also work with various schools worldwide if you want an externship or earn credit with your university. We happily accept university students, graduates, individuals working in their respective fields, and so on. Please read our various descriptions for a better understanding of your applied position.
Your Safety, Our Priority:
Regardless of your role, we are committed to providing a rich internship opportunity that utilizes your unique skills to help Toucan Rescue Ranch achieve its mission of rescuing, rehabilitating, and releasing wildlife. Your health and safety are of utmost concern to us during your internship assignment. While working with animals, it’s essential to understand and minimize the risks you take to ensure your safety and that of the wildlife. We’ll work to provide our interns with appropriate training and protective gear throughout their stay.
We require that ALL internships have a current tetanus vaccination. You must also have international medical insurance covering you in Costa Rica. We have insurance coverage recommendations for those being covered in Costa Rica. If you are interested, please ask in your application. You must turn in document proof of your current vaccinations and insurance during orientation.
By agreeing to come to volunteer/intern at Toucan Rescue Ranch, you must be aware that while working with wildlife, you may encounter zoonotic diseases. It’s your responsibility to follow strict biosecurity measures advised by the staff while volunteering or as an intern at Toucan Rescue Ranch.
What you will gain from this experience:
As an intern at Toucan Rescue Ranch, you will have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience working with a variety of animals, including toucans, sloths, owls, and more.
- Animal care, rehabilitation, and release, as well as the importance of conservation efforts.
- You will also be able to work alongside experienced professionals and volunteers, gaining valuable knowledge and skills that will benefit your future career.
- You will have the opportunity to explore the beautiful country of Costa Rica, learning about its culture and history while immersing yourself in its natural beauty.
- You will have the satisfaction of knowing that you are contributing to the important work of protecting and rehabilitating animals in need.
- Interning at Toucan Rescue Ranch is a unique and rewarding experience that will provide you with valuable skills, knowledge, and memories that will last a lifetime.
Read what past interns & volunteers have to say!
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.
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!
I began my volunteering a couple of months ago in Toucan Rescue Ranch, since then I have been overblown by the commitment of the owner, staff, interns and volunteers. What amazes me that most is that the people who works there are mostly from abroad. Thank you for the work you have done and continue to do to preserve wildlife in Costa Rica!
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!
I’ve been to the ranch four times, three of them as a volunteer. The Toucan Rescue Ranch staff and volunteers are like my family and I consider it my home away from home. They all share their passion and love for wildlife with everyone who visits. Leslie Howle and the veterinarians, along with the others who work there should be recognized as one of Costa Rica’s biggest assets as an animal rescue and release facility.
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!
Latest Service Program News
Life As The Animal Husbandry Intern!
Posted by Dani Calvo on August 16, 2023Toucan Rescue Ranch’s dedication to wildlife goes beyond rescues and releases. We provide a lifelong home for many permanent residents who have found refuge in our sanctuary. Ensuring their health, happiness, and overall well-being is the biggest responsibility of our dedicated Animal Husbandry Intern. Caring for Permanent Residents Our Animal Husbandry Internship is a unique […]
Continue reading
Everything You Will Get as a Sloth Intern at Toucan Rescue Ranch!
Posted by Dani Calvo on July 13, 2023Are you passionate about wildlife conservation and eager to make a difference in the lives of sloths? Our sloth rehab internship program offers a unique opportunity to acquire valuable skills and knowledge while actively contributing to the rehabilitation and care of these fascinating creatures. Let’s dive into what you can gain from this enriching experience. […]
Continue reading
What it’s like being the Marketing Intern for Toucan Rescue Ranch!
Posted by Zara Palmer on March 28, 2023Hi, my name is Maria, and I’ve been working as the Marketing Intern at Toucan Rescue Ranch for the past six months. It feels like I just started yesterday; time flies when you are doing something you enjoy. I will tell you more about my experience of What it is like to be a marketing […]
Continue reading