Apply to Volunteer Helping Wildlife Around the World
Do you love animals? Do you have a passion for wildlife conservation? Would you like to volunteer abroad helping animals? The hard part is deciding where you would like to go and which animals you would like to volunteer with! There is a lot of choice - popular animals to volunteer with include elephants, lions, tigers, monkeys, sharks and whales.
On our website you can find volunteer abroad programs with wildlife where you can travel to destinations around the world where you can really help conservation efforts. There are several rehabilitation and release wildlife programs where you can nurse wildlife back to health and then release animals into the wild. You will be able to work in a foreign country and really help animals in need by working with them or educating local people about he need to help them.
Programs lengths can vary from one week to over a year, please note you are unlikely to need any prior experience. If you have a passion for animals and conservation, volunteering with animals will be a really worthwhile experience. You will also get to make new friends and get free time to travel and see more of the country you are in.
These placements are popular with people are seeking to help animals or further studies and also gain practical experience at the same time. If you are in a similar sitation and are possibly studying towards a qualification and would like to become more involved in the rehabilitation of wild animals then our programs will appeal to you. There are a diverse range of placements with animals abroad, for example helping at a game reserve or if you are seeking a career in veterinary there are skilled options.
Search Programs by Species
- Baboons
- Bears
- Birds
- Cats
- Cheetahs
- Chimps
- Crocodiles
- Dogs
- Dolphins
- Donkeys
- Elephants
- Giraffes
- Gorillas
- Horses
- Kangaroos
- Koalas
- Leopards
- Lions
- Meerkars
- Monkeys
- Orangutans
- Pandas
- Pangolins
- Penguins
- Reptiles
- Rhinos
- Sharks
- Sloths
- Tigers
- Turtles
- Whales
Locations
Top Reasons to Apply
If you work on wildlife rescue or rehabilitation programs you will have the best experience ever, there are not many things like seeing wildlife you have cared for being released back into the wild! Participating is a great way to gain experience, volunteer roles with animals vary, from collecting food and cleaning enclosures to gaining hands on work by caring and really helping animals get back to health. Animal volunteering opportunities are amazing if you are seeking career experience or you are looking for a job as a vet.
Volunteering is a great way to do something rewarding. Programs with animals let you help protect and have a real impact by taking part in endangered animal rescue projects. You might be researching, monitoring and protecting wild animals from poachers. Despite conservation efforts, lots of animals are endangered and facing extinction.
Best Animal Volunteer Programs
We promote a lot of organisations who recruit international volunteers, all sanctuarys and rescue centres are different and saying which one is the best one is difficult. Where you go and what you do really comes down to personal preference.
Free Wildlife Volunteer Programs Abroad
You can find free wildlife volunteering projects with charities and animal shelters around the world. You can browse opportunities on our website there are free programs worldwide so you will need to decide where you want to go. Also please note, although some animal volunteer programs are free, you might be required to pay for flights, accommodation and transport independently.
Paid Volunteer Work with Animals Abroad
We get a lot of enquiries from people asking if we offer any internships or paid jobs with animals overseas. To get a paid position working with animals you will usually need a specific skill for example work in vetinary or agree to a long term commitment. You will need to have something to offer.
Finding paid short term volunteer programs with animals can be tough as most organisations struggle for funding and to keep operational throughout the year. There though paid wildlife programs and some companies offer help towards airfare, accommodation and meals. It really depends on the company though.
How to Apply
We have hundreds of organisations and programs available to join and each one is different. You will need to choose a location/project - this comes down to personal preference. Some organiations around the world charge a sign up fee to volunteer with, on these placements you usually get a structured experience including:
- Placements
- A donation
- Airport pick-up and transfer to project
- All food and accommodation
- Training materials and science equipment
- Pre-departure support and services
- Comprehensive training necessary for research techniques
- 24-hour in-country support and a 24-hour emergency phone line
Whilst other animal sanctuaries and rescue centres offer completely free programs.
Requirements
No previous experience is required for most general placements, but volunteers must be able to work as part of a team, have a strong interest in wildlife and conservation, a sense of adventure and be prepared to a new culture and living conditions. Participants must be enthusiastic, adventurous and respectful of their host country’s culture and environment. Minimum age limit is usually 18 years old but there are taster trips for 16-17 year olds and also family programs which accept younger children. If you are applying for a skilled position you will need to show certifications and qualifications.
