Furry or feathery, four-legged or finned, spending time with animals is always fun, especially when you take your creature curiosity overseas! For those passionate about animal welfare and interested in learning more about wildlife habitats, conservation efforts, and ongoing threats to endangered species, animal volunteer opportunities are as diverse as the critters you’ll be helping out. Whether you volunteer at an animal sanctuary or elsewhere, your time volunteering abroad with animals will be rewarded with heaps of furry snuggles and exotic friends as you build a better world for Earth’s non-homosapien inhabitants.
Keep your eye on the tiger.
Volunteering with animals abroad FAQs
1. Can I REALLY volunteer abroad with animals?
Yes! Volunteering with animals abroad is an incredibly rewarding experience. Take it from these folks who did it recently:
- Meg Capshew on animal volunteer programs like the Peru Dog Rescue Project
- Jane Palmer on restoring Africa’s wildlife with Conservation Travel Africa
If you have a heart for scaly, feathery, or furry friends, we might go so far as to say animal volunteer work isn't only a desire, but a duty. Don’t be shy. There are creatures out there that need the help of volunteers just like you.
2. Who is eligible to do animal volunteer work abroad?
Come one, come all! Helping out creatures less fortunate is ideal for animal lovers of all shapes and sizes, stripes, spots, and styles. The animal kingdom is one where differences are celebrated. If you are passionate about animals and interested in traveling abroad, then you’re more than eligible to volunteer abroad with animals.
Before taking any more hops, crawls, slithers towards animal volunteer programs, we encourage you to read:
C’mon, sign up for animal volunteer opportunities abroad— you know iguana.
3. What qualifications do I need before volunteering with animals?
Never notched a rhino or nursed a sick sloth back to health? No problem. Some more specialized volunteer positions – such as those involving direct contact with endangered species – may require veterinary experience or research skills. However, the lion’s share of animal volunteer opportunities abroad are grateful for any help they can get, even if your koala-fications aren’t up to snuff. Just be willing to get your hands dirty!
4. Why volunteer abroad with animals?
There are TONS of reasons to volunteer abroad with animals. The biggest one, of course, is that ecosystem conservation and animal support are worthy causes that desperately need more allies. Ecosystems all over the world are threatened by industrial development, pollution, climate change, and human abuse. Without ongoing conservation, protection, and rehabilitation efforts, many of Mother Nature’s most vibrant species will lose their home. Volunteering offers the opportunity to get to know these animals in their natural habitats, learn how they live, and protect their futures.
Whether you’re working with whales or wallabies or wildebeests, heading abroad to volunteer with animals is the adventure of a lifetime. While volunteering, you’ll meet volunteers from around the world who are passionate about the same causes, and have to opportunity to steep yourself in a new culture.
Added bonus: Shake your resume tailfeathers! Volunteers gain invaluable work experience during their time as a volunteer abroad with animals, especially those hoping to work in the veterinary or animal care fields. If that competitive position comes down to you and someone who hasn’t contributed to turtle conservation efforts in Central America, you’re a shoe in.
[6 Endangered Animals Asking YOU to do Wildlife Volunteering]
Don’t worry, his lips are sealed.
5. Where are the best places for animal volunteer opportunities abroad?
Arguably the hardest part about volunteering abroad with animals is deciding where to go. How can you choose between snuggling the sloths in Costa Rica or saving the bears in Romania? Start by deciding which creature’s cause most speaks to your heart, whether it’s because of their unbearable cuteness or the dire situation they're in. Then follow in their four-legged footsteps (or waves or winds, as the case may be) to the destination that they call home.
Need a nudge in the right direction? These are some of the best countries to volunteer abroad with animals:
But remember Mowgli, follow your heart. Wherever you end up, you can count on having a hoot of a time.
6. Is it ethical to volunteer with animals abroad?
Great question, meaningful traveler. You’re off to a solid start, as asking critical questions is the best way to ensure you volunteer in an ethical way. There are a lot of excellent opportunities to volunteer abroad with animals that not only consider creatures’ well being; they are vital to sustaining their existence! Whether it’s rescuing animals from abuse, advocating for the conservation of natural habitats, or caring for endangered species, these volunteer programs have a positive impact on all involved (including you!).
Since you’re asking, you probably also know that there are programs out there that are more interested in curating epic photos for tourists than caring for other species. The best way to be sure an animal volunteer program is ethical is to ask the right questions before heading abroad.
[27 Questions to Ask Before Volunteering with Animals Abroad]
7. What should I know before I become a volunteer at an animal sanctuary?
Accommodation is a critical consideration for volunteers choosing an animal aid program. Volunteer accommodation options include everything from five-star hotels to basic tent camping, and the whole spectrum in between. If you’re looking for luxury, angle for a program that offers higher-end accommodations. Volunteers on a budget, on the other hand, may want to stake out more basic programs with low-end accommodation, and a smaller price tag.
Visas are likewise important to keep in mind. Most program providers will offer volunteer assistance in obtaining a visa, if required for the destination. For DIY volunteers, start your visa research with the GoAbroad embassy directory.
[Get Matched with Animal Volunteer Opportunities Abroad]
These are anything but crocodile tears, help a croc out!
8. How can I find programs for volunteering with animals?
GoAbroad’s directory of animal welfare volunteer programs is your one-stop-shop for everything from one week programs close to home to year-long residencies, vetted to ensure maximum impact and fun! Whether you’re inspired to volunteer with Himalayan mountain goats or tropical fish, this directory helps you turn inspirations into reality.
Don’t see what you’re looking for right away? Click on any program provider to uncover endless other opportunities to volunteer with animals. All of the best animal sanctuary volunteer programs in one place, so you can get straight to saving the world.
9. How do I choose an animal volunteer work program?
It’s true what they say about the tyranny of choice. There are just not enough days in the year to join all of the ferociously fun animal volunteering programs the world has to offer. Thankfully, this handy cheat sheet takes some of the sting out of choosing for all the busy bees out there. Whether it’s land, sea, or sky that calls to you, there are plenty of wildlife volunteering programs to choose from.
[How to Choose Between Volunteer Programs Abroad]
These animal volunteer opportunities abroad are fur real
Here, we've broken down our favorite ways for you to volunteer with animals abroad by their habitats.
Volunteering with land creatures
What’s as big as a rhino, but weighs nothing? It’s shadow!
Lions and tigers and bears, oh my! (Also, elephants and monkeys and horses and pandas and sloths!). Ironically, many of these vicious (and adorably fluffy) hunters face extinction as a result of irresponsible poaching and human impacts on their environment. That’s why they need volunteers on their side.
Are these animals just a teeny bit scary? Yes. Is the Earth more awesome because they live here? Double yes! Predators are predatory, but they also balance the ecosystem in a beautiful way, and they need volunteers like you to preserve their future. It’s the cirrrrccclllllle of liiiife…
Particularly awesome programs for volunteering with animals abroad on land:
- The Giant Panda Center in Chengdu, China — lend a hand (and a paw) here, where you’ll join an organization that has dedicated more than 20 years to the preservation of endangered panda species. At this panda paradise, volunteers help with observation, documentation, food preparation, and center maintenance.
- Work with elephants in Thailand with GVI — looking for a bigger experience, literally? One of the most popular volunteer animal sanctuary activities is with elephants in Thailand. Here, volunteers live with local Karen tribes and support the mahouts’ (traditional elephant keepers’) efforts to rehabilitate elephants that were abused in the tourist industry. Spending time with these winkley giants is a life-changing experience, and volunteering is a great way to contribute to their well-being for future generations.
- African Impact’s Big 5 Wildlife Conservation Project — meanwhile, in South Africa, this project offers volunteers the opportunity to assist local wildlife foundations in monitoring and protecting the “Big Five:” the African lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard, and rhinoceros. Learn the in’s and out’s of reserve management and wildlife protection while immersed in South African culture on this program.
Volunteering with sea critters
Oh, hello! I almost didn’t sea you there.
“Darling, it's better, down where it's wetter… Under the sea!” If this Little Mermaid power ballad has you dancing around the room, imagine deep sea diving for a cause! Volunteer with sea turtles, dolphins, whales, sharks, or other ocean life and get a splash of life abroad.
Sure, water conservation work can be a bit wet and cold. #notfordoggiepaddlers But don’t let that stop you from diving in! 95.6% of the Earth is water, so marine conservation and underwater biodiversity are kind of a big deal. Volunteering to save the oceans and their inhabitants is a noble quest for the planet.
Particularly awesome programs for volunteering with animals abroad in the ocean:
- Save the sea turtles in Costa Rica –– worth coming out of your shell for! Recognized as an endangered species, under continued threat due to poaching and beach erosion, the sea turtles could really use a helping hand. This program has volunteers safeguarding hatcheries, ensuring the world’s few remaining sea turtles can come ashore to bring in the next generation.
- Marine conservation in Madagascar — get down to business when you volunteer to support this funky ecosystem. In collaboration with a number of oceanographic organizations, volunteers monitor turtles, survey fish, sample water, and collect data on corals and invertebrates on the seafloor. Training is included. Volunteers need to be Open Water Diving certified before they begin work, but courses are offered prior to the start of each program.
- Environmental scuba diving in Portugal — get deep underwater as a scuba diving volunteer. On this program, you’ll contribute to ongoing efforts to protect native marine life by participating in underwater pollution clean-ups. Volunteers need to be Open Water Diving certified.
Volunteering with our flying friends
What did one puffin say to the other at the gym? “You okay, bro? You’re really huffin’ and puffin.”
Birds, bugs, bats, and flying squirrels fill the airwaves with color and sound, and help balance Earth’s delicate ecosystem. Unfortunately, their livelihoods are endangered by hunters and industrial pollution. Donating your time to improving airborne animals’ quality of life is the opposite of flighty.
This is some of the most challenging animal volunteer work, both in terms of technical skill and conditions. However, helping the planet’s winged friends is as important as it is fulfilling. Wing five!
Particularly awesome programs for volunteering with animals abroad in the sky:
- Rescuing parrots and toucans in Costa Rica — for a dash of color, this is where to spend your volunteer hours. Volunteers work at a sanctuary for animals that have been saved from captivity or found injured. Help nurture birds, monkeys, sloths, and (uber cute) kinkajous in their time of need, and, when possible, reintroduce them to the wild.
- A Ecuadorian woodland wildlife sanctuary — tucked in the forest outside of Quito, volunteers can contribute to daily animal care while volunteering at a renowned animal sanctuary. Learn the ins-and-outs of animal rescue, while making new friends – bird and human!
- Preserve wildlife diversity in the Galapagos Islands — These islands off the coast of Ecuador host one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world! Encounter a dazzling ranges of species, from rare birds to lava lizards, and join local conservation efforts to defend their natural homes.
Volunteering abroad with animals: more fun than a bucket of monkeys!
We know you have all the best koala-ties of animal volunteers abroad.
Animal volunteer work abroad is critical to building a better future for global ecosystems and their furry, feathery, and finned residents. What could be more rewarding? Don’t leave the animals hanging out to dry. Alpaca your bags; adventure awaits.
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