Wildlife Care and Veterinary Internship

Alturas Wildlife Sanctuary is a nonprofit rescue and rehabilitation center located in the southern Pacific region of Costa Rica. Our mission is to give injured, orphaned, and displaced wildlife a second chance while raising awareness about the importance of conservation. We envision a future where wildlife thrives safely in its natural habitat.

Every year, we rescue more than 700 animals, release as many as possible back into the wild, and educate over 1,000 visitors. We are the only wildlife rescue center serving three major conservation areas that together protect 19.7% of Costa Rica’s territory.

Alturas Wildlife Sanctuary began in 2014 as a small rescue project responding to the increasing number of animals affected by human development in the region. What started with only a few enclosures and a small team has grown into a fully equipped sanctuary with a veterinary clinic, nursery, research programs, and year-round internship and volunteer opportunities. Today, we are recognized as a leading center for wildlife rescue, rehabilitation, and education in the region.

01. Fully Equipped Veterinary Center

Our veterinary team works year-round to treat injured and orphaned wildlife. The clinic includes surgical equipment, diagnostic tools, and a specialized nursery with incubators for baby animals.

02. Sanctuary

Some animals cannot safely return to the wild. For most of them, this is because they were kept as illegal pets. Our sanctuary provides long-term, species-appropriate care while maintaining the primary goal of releasing as many animals as possible.

Interns support our veterinary, sanctuary, and orphan-care teams, gaining hands-on experience in wildlife rehabilitation and research, while also participating in nighttime emergencies and clinical procedures.

At Alturas, we believe in the positive impact an internship can have on a person’s academic and professional development. That’s why we provide opportunities for interns to participate in activities aligned with their interests while also helping meet the daily needs of the sanctuary and rehabilitation center.

We offer four internship opportunities:

- Wildlife Husbandry Internship
- Veterinary Internship
- Junior Veterinary Internship
- Orphan Care Internship

Our goal is to tailor each internship experience to the individual, ensuring that every intern leaves feeling they have taken a significant step toward achieving their future goals.

All interns at Alturas are mentored and closely supervised by our animal care professionals. We strive to make each intern’s day as varied as possible, allowing them to gain diverse experiences and maximize their learning throughout their time with us.

General Requirements for All Interns

All interns must:

- Speak fluent English
- Provide at least two educational or professional references
- Successfully complete a Zoom interview
- Have an up-to-date tetanus vaccination
- Have personal travel insurance
- Specific Requirements for Each Internship

Wildlife Husbandry Internship:

- Currently enrolled in or recently graduated from a related field of study, such as zoology, animal husbandry, wildlife conservation, or a similar discipline

Veterinary Internship:

- Currently studying or graduated in a veterinary-related field
- Have previous clinical experience

Junior Veterinary Internship:

- Currently enrolled in a pre-veterinary program, working as a veterinary nurse or technician, or have previous studies in an animal-related field and plan to pursue a veterinary degree

Orphan Care Internship:

- Currently studying toward a degree in veterinary medicine, veterinary nursing, veterinary technology, animal care, or a related field