Internships (12 weeks)

Wildlife Biology Internship

Wild Sun Rescue Center offers a 12-week internship to students and those looking to gain relevant experience in wildlife research, rescue and rehabilitation.

Wildlife Biology Interns conduct impactful research to improve the rehabilitation and reintroduction of wildlife. We offer a variety of project topics that can be tailored to your interests, depending on the needs of the center and the animals in care at that time. You will have the opportunity to carry out a project from idea proposal to a final outcome, whether this be a scientific report or a practical alternative.

You will be assisted by our Internship Manager for the duration of your project, helping you to advance your research skills. You will receive weekly progress meetings, educational presentations, training in particular areas of interest and the chance to learn from other members of staff. At the end of your stay, you will receive a certificate of completion and a feature on our social media platforms.

Examples of possible projects include:

Behavioral scans of animals in pre-release to better understand release criteria
Post-release monitoring
Life history research on local wildlife
Improving nutrition and enrichment plans

We also offer internships focused on sustainability, conservation and education.

Internships at Wild Sun Rescue Center include training on the fundamentals of animal care and feeding. Interns spend 50% of their time assisting the centre with animal care tasks, including diet preparation and feeding, enclosure maintenance and cleaning, nursery animal care, enrichment making, and possible managerial responsibilities, such as shift leading.

The internship is a minimum of 12 weeks and runs year-round.

To apply for the Wildlife Biology Internship, fill out our online application and send an email with your resume to internships@wildsunrescue.org with the subject line ‘Wildlife Biology Internship’.

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program rates

Testimonials

I had a great time doing the wildlife biology internship at Wild Sun Rescue! My project involved improvements to howler monkey enclosures, to prevent habituation and better prepare them for release. I felt that this experience perfectly complimented my degree in Conservation Biology that I just graduated from, because I was able to be hands-on in the processes of wildlife rehabilitation and repopulation. Not only was I able to contribute to a great cause, I was also able to live and be integrated into the community of a beautiful town in Costa Rica. A definite highlight was being able to meet and connect with likeminded people from around the world. The center had a big emphasis on sustainability and coexisting with wildlife which was reflected throughout the country as well. It was awesome to see widespread use of monkey bridges across roads to prevent electrocution mortalities from power lines! I feel like I’ll take this experience home with me and in the rest of my career as a wildlife biologist. - Jenna Stea, February 2024

**Michelle Flatley, Wildlife Biology Intern**

I absolutely loved my time at Wild Sun and highly recommend the internship. It was amazing getting to work with the rescue animals, both helping with daily care and for my wildlife biology project. I was able to see how my work was improving the lives of the patients in care and helping conserve the local ecosystem. I learned so much during my internship, not only related to my project, but as a person. It was so fun working in the jungle with the management team, other interns, and volunteers. Everyone I’ve met has been amazing and it was truly an unforgettable three months. - Lina Winiski, March 2024

I thoroughly enjoyed my time at wild sun rescue. I got to live in an environment surrounded by nature contributing, in some way, to the release of local wildlife. All of the staff are truly dedicated to what they do and are a real joy to be around, as were the other volunteers/interns. I believe I have made lifelong friendships and unforgettable experiences from my time here. - Michelle Flatley, April 2024

Macaw reintroduction internship

Macaw reintroduction interns will focus on our macaw breeding and release program along with a research project related to the same. Duties may include but are not limited to: