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If you’re studying animal sciences, veterinary studies, or related fields, or if you’re simply passionate about animal welfare and would like to intern with an animal charity – we have some exciting opportunities for you. By joining an animal internship, you can be part of animal charities that focus on the welfare of street animals, and contribute in a way that aligns with your study program or professional interests. Whether you’ll be doing fundraising or communications work, or working with animals hands-on, you’ll gain valuable work experience while contributing to an important cause.
An animal welfare internship brings forth a platform to advocate for the rights and well-being of animals while offering you the chance to develop your personal and professional skills further. You’ll be a voice for the voiceless and contribute to a more empathetic world.
Why choose Roots Interns for Animal Welfare Internships?
Grassroots work
You’ll join an organization that works directly with their community to solve problems on the ground and make a real impact.
Matchmaking
We’ll help you find and prepare for an internship with the organization that’s right for you and your skills, background, and passions.
Academic Placements
Working abroad is an experience like no other and your internship will be tailored to your studies and interests.
Browse All animal Welfare Internship Projects
Animal Welfare Marketing Internship
- Min. 4 weeks
- Puyo, Ecuador
- Animal Welfare, Marketing & Communications,
Use your marketing skills to support animal welfare and raise awareness for rescued wildlife in the Amazon.
Find out more
Wildlife Sanctuary Program
- Min. 2 weeks
- Lilongwe, Malawi
- Animal Husbandry, Orphan Care, Observations, Integrations
Work directly with rescued animals, gain conservation skills, and contribute to meaningful rehabilitation efforts.
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Veterinary Internship
- Min. 4 weeks
- Lisbon OR Porto, Portugal
- Hands-On Clinical Work, Animal Care, Treatments & Consultations
Gain practical clinical experience through a hands-on opportunity that will immerse you in the animal welfare field.
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Veterinary Medicine Internship
- Min. 4 weeks
- Costa Rica, Guatemala, OR Peru
- Clinical Practice, Animal Rehabilitation, Veterinary Observations
Gain hands-on animal care experience while supporting clinics, rescue centers, or zoos in Latin America.
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Veterinary Internship
- Min. 4 weeks
- Santarém, Portugal
- Animal Care, Veterinary Assistance, Treatment
Get first hand veterinary experience by caring for vulnerable animals in a sanctuary surrounded by forest.
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Wildlife Husbandry Internship
- Min. 4 weeks
- Puntarenas Province, Costa Rica
- Animal Care, Camera Traps, Training, Feeding
Gain hands-on experience caring for sick, injured and orphaned wildlife of Costa Rica.
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Orphan Care Internship
- Min. 6 weeks
- Puntarenas Province, Costa Rica
- Animal Care, Nursery Assistance, Animal Research
Immerse yourself in nurturing and rehabilitating orphaned wildlife, contributing directly to their conservation in the heart of the biodiverse Puntarenas province.
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Veterinary Internship
- Min. 4 weeks
- Puntarenas Province, Costa Rica
- Veterinary Assistance, Reporting, Animal Care
Work on the frontline of wildlife conservation in a wildlife sanctuary in Costa Rica and assist with animal treatments, record-keeping, and overall care.
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Galapagos Conservation Internship
- Min. 8 weeks
- Galapagos, Ecuador
- Conservation, Eco Tourism, Monitoring
Undertake a unique journey of conservation and transformation, working closely with experts to maintain Galapagos’ ecosystem.
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Wildlife Veterinary Internship
- 2-12 weeks
- Lilongwe, Malawi
- Animal Care, Integrations, Observations, Daily Veterinary Medicine
A hands-on wildlife veterinary internship at a rescue and rehabilitation center
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Remote Media Marketing & Content Creation Internship
- Min. 8 weeks
- Remote
- Content Creation, Videography, Design, Writing
Gain multifaceted working experience in design & marketing while supporting street animals.
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Related Academic Focus Areas
Benefits of Animal Welfare Internships
Practival Experience
An animal welfare internship will enable you to apply prior academic knowledge in real-world settings as you gain hands-on experience in animal care, rights, and welfare practices.
Personal Network
Build connections with the animal welfare community and establish relationships and contacts for future career opportunities.
Personal Growth
Animal internships can foster a sense of determination, responsibility, and patience through the challenges of animal care.
Make an Impact
Contributing to the well-being of animals and being part of initiatives that promote animal rights is sure to make a meaningful and tangible impact.
Communication Skills
An animal care internship will improve your teamwork abilities and enable you to communicate with diverse audiences from various backgrounds.
Animal Care
You’ll get the chance to enhance your resume with relevant real-world experience which displays your devotion to animal welfare.
Why Choose Roots Internships in Animal Welfare
Find out from our previous interns how internship positions in Animal Welfare can boost your professional career and grow your interpersonal skills.
I would definitely recommend this internship for people who have a passion for animal care and rewilding. It was an amazing experience that taught me so much. It was rewarding whilst also providing time to explore Costa Rica as a tourist. The internship has helped to focus my university studies and has confirmed that I want to work in wildlife conservation after graduation.
Amelia, British – University of Liverpool
Orphan Care Internship, Costa Rica
Being surrounded by such a wonderful team of caring individuals, all dedicated to rehabilitating and caring for wildlife, was truly inspiring. Shadowing the head veterinarian and assisting with daily tasks like administering medications and handling patients gave me a glimpse into the complexities of wildlife medicine and the dedication it requires. While the experience differed from my initial expectations, it reminded me how much I admire and want to pursue a career in wildlife conservation, and I left with immense respect for everyone working tirelessly to protect these incredible animals.
Lora, Bulgarian – CEU Cardinal Herrera University
Veterinary Internship, Malawi
My internship was invaluable for developing clinical skills and gaining hands-on experience with species I’d never encountered before. While many tasks like feeding and cleaning were repetitive, the opportunity to assist with animal exams and emergencies, and especially to witness the rehabilitation and release of a rescued bat, deeply impacted me. This experience has strengthened my commitment to becoming a wildlife veterinarian and taught me the importance of keeping an open mind, resilience, and compassionate care.
Larissa, American – Northeastern University
Veterinary Internship, Costa Rica
Animal Welfare FAQs
What kind of work will I do during an animal internship?
Your exact tasks depend on the role you take within the organization. At Roots, we always want to ensure that as an intern, you’ll meet your desired learning outcomes and that the work you do fits within your academic focus and career goals. Our internships with animal charities have a range of focus areas; communications, content writing, fundraising, veterinary/husbandry support, project coordination, and overall nonprofit management. If you’re not sure which exact internship fits you best, just get in touch and we’ll help you figure it out!
What are the requirements for animal care internships?
This depends on the animal care internship you’re applying for. The specific requirements are listed on each individual internship page, so do check this out. But overall, it’s important that you have a flexible attitude and that you’re willing to take on a variety of tasks (as you’ll be part of a small organization). And it helps to have a passion and love for animals!
Where will I stay during my internship?
We’ll arrange comfortable and convenient accommodation for you, wherever you do your internship. You’ll share a house or lodge with other international students, volunteers, or travelers so that you’ll land in a welcoming social environment. We’ll get everything set up for you so you don’t have to worry about the details.
How will doing an animal welfare internship help my career?
There are so many ways in which an animal welfare internship can help build your resume, steer your career, and inspire you. First of all, you’ll get great exposure to the animal welfare sector. As part of a small and field-based organization, you can expect to get a thorough understanding of everything involved in operating a successful animal charity. If you’re planning on working in this field, the experience you’ll get will be invaluable. It will also give you great insight into the nonprofit world in general.
You can expect to have more responsibility than you’d have during a more traditional internship, and you’ll gain a wealth of experience in the specific focus area of your choice, which might be communications, fundraising, or veterinary medicine.
Your internship will easily translate into useful knowledge and experience for various types of careers. So even if you’re not planning on a career in the nonprofit sector, you can expect to have a resume-building, confidence-strengthening experience that will help you going forward.
HOW TO APPLY
If you’re ready to apply for this internship, here’s what to do:
APPLY
Fill in the application form (it will show in a new screen) which includes sharing your CV to us.
SPEAK WITH AN ADVISOR
We’ll set up a call with you to go through your application.
INTERNSHIP MATCHING
If we feel it’s a good match, we’ll set up a call between you and the supervisor for this internship.
PAYMENT
If everyone’s happy, we’ll provisionally confirm your placement! We’ll then send you the invoice for the deposit, getting started with the booking process and all the info you need.
CONFIRMATION
Only once we receive payment of the deposit your placement will be confirmed.
NEED TO MAKE AN ENQUIRY FIRST?
Or if you’d just like to ask us some questions about this internship first, just fill in the contact form below. We’ll be happy to assist!
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