Build Your Vet Skills in the Sumatran Rainforest

In this Sumatra Wildlife Veterinary Internship, you will join local veterinarians to manage the health of about 25 native gibbons and 6 sun bears on the edge of Gunung Leuser National Park, North Sumatra. From day one, you’re helping run health rounds, set up quarantine protocols, prep for surgeries, and care for sick or orphaned animals.

This internship will teach you to be resourceful, adaptable, and sharp with your clinical observations—all skills that will carry you through your veterinary career. As a veterinary intern, you may also take on a specific project to assist the clinic. Such projects range from field research and protocol reviews to species or individual assessments, depending on the current needs of the centre and your clinical interests. This gives you the chance to personalise your placement to your clinical interests while building a strong project for academic credit or your CV.

You’ll follow a standard 35-hour schedule from Monday to Friday, leaving weekends free to recharge. Daily hours run from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, complete with a two-hour lunch break from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm. While weekends are usually your own, you may occasionally be needed for emergency field rescues or urgent clinical care outside regular hours.

This is your chance to join a dedicated team and make a real difference for Sumatran wildlife!

Your Responsibilities & Learning Opportunities

• Clinical & Medical Support: Assist local vets with daily treatments, health checks, medical procedures, and specialised care for sick or orphaned animals.

• Surgical & Quarantine Care: Help prep animals for surgery, assist during emergency procedures, and support daily health protocols in the quarantine section.

• Diagnostic & Health Surveillance: Observe animal health trends, monitor behavioural changes, and report early signs of stress or illness.

• Behaviour & Recovery Monitoring: Track natural animal behaviours and physical progress as rescued wildlife adapt and heal.

• Patient Records & Inventory: Maintain detailed clinical logs, track daily feeding habits, and keep the clinic organised and well-stocked.

• Emergency Response: Gain real field experience by staying flexible for sudden wildlife rescues, confiscations, and critical care needs.

• Cross-Cultural Mentorship: Work side-by-side with experienced Indonesian veterinarians, learning how a community-based wildlife clinic operates.