Ecuador - Animal Rescue Internship

Participants will work with the staff to take care of the day to day tasks at the center and make sure the animals have the best conditions possible considering for space and budget available for the project.

The centers work to grow their capacity so they can extend their resources and provide a higher quality of life for the animals, for example improving the cages and providing toys and etc.

The process of reintegrating animals to the wild is lengthy and not always feasible.  In many cases animals are born in captivity or have lived too long with humans so they have lost their instincts for catching food/hunting or avoiding danger.  Often times they are moved to other centers closer to their natural environment. An example might be the discovery of an illegally trafficked monkey found in Quito.  The monkey might be placed in Ibarra, but as this is high up in the Andes they try to find a space in another center closer to the Amazon.

Participants role in the project is to support and work with the local staff to collect food in their surroundings, do reforestation as this will be food for the animals, clean cages, give water and food to animals, repair and build cages, make and repair toys in the cages, show visitors around the center, clean and repair the paths and infrastructure as well as assist the veterinarian that comes from time to time.

Requirements

Intermediate Spanish is recommended.

Interest in working with animals and people and to learn new things.

Open-mindedness to work and live in a different culture.

You, our staff and the other interns live together in a house just outside of Tena. Our home-base is a secure compound with an eating area, a small yard and a living room. You’ll share a room with two or three other interns and have a private bathroom and shower . In the mornings you can take the local bus into town to go to work.

Breakfast will be served every day, but lunches are on your own. Most interns will eat at their workplace or will sometimes be invited to eat out with their co-workers. Dinner is served from Monday to Thursday, but not on Friday, Saturday or Sunday; this allows you to explore local restaurants or travel on the weekends.

The tuition for this program is $5,395.

Included in the program:

• Group Lodging

• Breakfast and dinner*

• Ground transportation**

• Two weekend excursions

• Intensive Spanish language

• On-site speakers

• Professional staff assistance

• Local pay-as-you-go cell phone

• Welcome Reception

• Orientation

• Regular meetings your Internship Supervisor

• Official Internship Record documenting your placement

• Supplemental Travel Medical Insurance

*Program includes Breakfast and Dinner. Lunch is not included. Meals are not included on weekends as many interns do independent excursions during the weekend.

 ** Ground transportation includes airport pickup and drop-off, transportation for all scheduled group activities and excursions.

Not included:

• International airfare

• Weekend trips

• Public transportation to/from work

• Credits for your cell phone

• Immunizations

• Passport, Visa or Airport fees

• Laundry

• Personal expenses

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