Provide veterinary care for rescued wildlife

This Wildlife Veterinary internship is an incredible opportunity to help care for rescued animals. Poaching and illegal wildlife trafficking of endangered species are at crisis levels. Our Wildlife Rescue Centre in West Java, Indonesia accepts and cares for rescued animals. Moreover, where possible, it rehabilitates and releases them back into the wild. However, behavioural and health conditions caused by previous owners mean that, for many animals, the centre becomes their permanent home.

The centre is seeking Wildlife Veterinary Interns to provide crucial care to a wide range of animals, including sun bears, binturongs, porcupines, turtles, primates, and various bird species. Gibbons, orangutans, and leopards may also be present, although we cannot guarantee which species will be undergoing rehabilitation during your internship.

You will work alongside the two resident vets at the vet clinic and quarantine facility, with a maximum of 2.5 days per week of veterinary shadowing and observation during your stay. Depending on your previous experience or year of study, as well as the cases and situation at the time, you may have the opportunity to assist with procedures or carry out some medical tasks yourself, but this cannot be guaranteed. You will also spend time working in general animal care alongside the animal keepers.

Wildlife Veterinary Internship Responsibilities

The intern assists the resident veterinarians at the centre to:

• Administer prescribed medications, supplements, or treatments
• Work with the vets in assisting with veterinary procedures
• Operate and maintain medical equipment
• Maintain medical records and supplies for the animals
• Observe animals’ food consumption and check for any signs of ill health or stress
• Help with the special care of sick or orphaned animals that may need hand-feeding
• Work in general animal care

The resident vets are often very busy, so interns are encouraged to take initiative and ask questions. The vets will explain procedures whenever possible, although they may sometimes need to focus on the task at hand and provide further explanations afterwards. We also encourage interns to ask the vets afterwards if there is anything they would like further clarification about.