Spend a whole month in beautiful Costa Rica working with dogs, dolphins, and victims of wildlife trafficking in this special 4-week program.

Combine two of our popular programs to spend a full month exploring Costa Rica from the jungle to the city to the coast. For one-half of the program, you’ll work alongside veterinarians and researchers whose job is to teach you so you can learn and practice new skills while helping animals in need. Work in a dog shelter or a dog clinic and learn clinical skills including blood draws, suturing, skin scrapes, and assisting in spay and neuter surgeries. Spend one week living at a dolphin research facility learning doing boat-based and lab research on dolphin health and behavior. Your program will also include fun exploration and cultural activities, including ziplining and touring beautiful natural sites.


The other half of the program is based at a wildlife rescue center located on the west coast of Costa Rica that rehabilitates, reintroduces, and cares for animals who are victims of wildlife trafficking or who otherwise need care. In addition to learning about the animals of Costa Rica and their conservation and care in the sanctuary and veterinary clinic, you’ll also get a chance to explore the famous Manuel Antonio National Park on the mid-program weekend.

Who It’s For
This program is designed for university-aged students who are interested in becoming veterinarians or working professionally with animals. Participants must be at least 18 years old. Most are 18 to 25, but we also accept full-time undergraduates over 25.

There are no pre-requisites for this program. You do not need to be in school currently to apply. Individuals of any nationality may apply.

Applicants should be comfortable working with animals and getting their hands, and everything else, dirty. You must be able to swim (no special advanced swimming skills are required.) This program can accommodate a maximum of 10 participants per session.

Highlights

• Study and research wild dolphins
• Assist in dog neuter surgeries
• Learn and practice small animal clinical skills
• Discover what it’s like to be a vet in the tropics
• Live in the Costa Rican rainforest
• Care for sloths, kinkajous, monkeys, parrots, and other Costa Rican animals
• Research and create enrichments for monkeys
• Perform veterinary labs such as coprological exams and necropsies
• Help to provide free pet care and spay and neuter surgeries for locals (when available)
• Enjoy a fun weekend of exploring Manuel Antonio National Park, where you might see two-toed and three-toed sloths, howler monkeys, squirrel and spider monkeys, coatis, pacas, and anteaters in the wild
• Learn and practice veterinary Spanish (no experience required)

Dates open for applications
May 14- June 10, 2023

These program sessions are covered by Loop Abroad’s COVID-19 100% Tuition Refund Policy. If a program is canceled by Loop Abroad due to COVID-19, we will refund 100% of any program tuition you have paid (including the deposit).