Guatemala Wildlife Course
Guatemala
Join one of the world’s largest and most advanced wildlife rescue and rehabilitation centres in Guatemala. Dedicated to combating illegal wildlife trafficking and protecting native species through rescues, rehabilitation and releasing. Bring curiosity, initiative and a willingness to get hands-on. This experience offers a unique opportunity to contribute to real conservation efforts while building your skills in wildlife veterinary medicine.
PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS
Volunteer at one of the world’s largest and most advanced wildlife rescue and rehabilitation centers in Guatemala
Gain hands-on veterinary and husbandry experience with various native wildlife
Work alongside a friendly and encouraging team of veterinarians, biologists and wildlife care teams.
Help with Interesting and varied veterinary work, such as laboratory sample collection, post-operative care, rehabilitation and release.
Develop you medicine and surgery skills
Practice safe, humane capture, restraint and transport of various wild species.
Project video
As a volunteer you will gain hands-on veterinary and husbandry experience, assisting with daily care, feeding routines, handling and restraint, anaesthesia monitoring, post-operative care, enrichment, and basic record keeping. You will also explore wildlife medicine, conservation, rehabilitation protocols, chemical immobilisation, animal behaviour, and regional challenges like the illegal pet trade, all through workshops, lectures, and clinical training sessions.
You will participate in: Theoretical sessions covering natural history, anatomy, physiology, handling, husbandry, anesthesia, diagnostics, medicine overview, and zoonosis. After the theory, you will apply your knowledge with practical sessions including animal handling, safe capture techniques, environmental enrichment, injection sites, sample collection, physical exam, and diagnostics. Finally, you will apply your knowledge further during clinical days with the veterinarians, differential diagnostics, dose calculations, therapy design, assistance on surgeries and anesthesia (as required), assistance in treatments and necropsies (as required). Species to be covered and/or managed: Neotropical primates, Neotropical parrots, Reptiles, Small Carnivores, Small mammals, and any wild patient that comes in need. Topics and case-based discussions: Medical management, Wildlife ex-situ/in-situ Medicine, One Health, Conservation Medicine, Rescue and Rehabilitation techniques.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Wildlife Medicine & Clinical Skills
Develop hands-on experience with wildlife diagnostics, physical exams, wound management, and treatment planning.
Assist with anesthesia induction, monitoring, recovery, and post-operative care.
Gain an introduction to surgical procedures in wildlife and understand the role of veterinarians in rehabilitation and release.
Learn practical techniques for medication preparation, dosage calculation, fluid therapy, and laboratory sample collection.
Animal Handling & Husbandry
Practice safe, humane capture, restraint, and transport of various wild species.
Support wildlife enrichment planning, behavioural observation, and stress-reduction strategies during rehabilitation.
Conservation Medicine & One Health
Understand the impact of illegal wildlife trafficking on species survival and ecosystem health.
Explore the One Health approach—linking wildlife health, human activity, and environmental sustainability.
Wildlife Rehabilitation Protocols
Understand the full rehabilitation process, from rescue, quarantine, treatment, recovery, behaviour assessment, and final release.
Learn to assess release suitability using physical, behavioural, and ecological indicators.
Gain knowledge of quarantine procedures, disease control, and biosecurity in wildlife facilities.
Communication & Fieldwork Skills
Work alongside veterinarians, biologists, and wildlife care teams.
Improve teamwork, problem-solving, and decision-making in real clinical and field environments.
Support community education and wildlife awareness initiatives when possible.
Project Photos
ACCOMMODATION
Your accommodation offers comfortable double rooms with private bathrooms, providing a peaceful retreat after rewarding days of hands-on work. Outside, you’ll find inviting leisure spaces tucked beneath the forest canopy, complete with hammocks perfect for relaxing between the sounds of birds, howler monkeys, and rustling palm leaves. Gather around the firepit in the evenings to reflect on the day, connect with fellow interns, and share stories under star-studded Central American skies. Meals are served in a spacious, open-air dining area where you can enjoy delicious food while watching wildlife wander through the nearby forest.
LOCATION
Your experience takes place in one of the most breathtaking settings in Central America, the ARCAS Rescue Center, nestled on the serene shores of Lake Petén Itzá, right at the gateway to the magnificent Mayan Biosphere Reserve. This protected region is Guatemala’s largest rainforest and one of the most biologically rich areas in the world, home to jaguars, spider monkeys, scarlet macaws, tapirs and countless other native species. Here, conservation isn’t just studied, it surrounds you.
The center sits within 47 hectares of pristine forest, where animal enclosures, clinic spaces, and living facilities are thoughtfully blended into the natural environment. You won’t just be learning about wildlife, you’ll be living in their world.
PROJECT FEE
£2,225
What is included
Want to know what is included in the fee? Good news, it is just about everything including:
Pre-departure assistance from our destination specialist
Your transfers to and from the airport
3 meals a day
Shared accommodation
24 hour support on every project and at the volunteer accommodation by onsite staff
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED
Flights
Personal travel insurance
Visa
Extra Activities
Wifi (additional cost)
Laundry (additional cost)
FITNESS REQUIREMENTS
Due to the isolated nature of our locations, and the demanding nature of our work, a certain level of fitness is required to join this project. While we try to make our work as comfortable as possible, there are times when physical tasks are necessary to ensure safety and efficiency.
As such, you should be able to:
Climb up and down from a high pickup truck
Comfortably run 50 metres
Walk 1 kilometres over rocky and uneven ground
Not suffer from severe or unmanaged depression or anxiety
If mental or physical challenges prove problematic to safety, attendees will be required to sit out of activities, and in severe circumstances, we reserve the right to terminate a stay based on incorrectly or undisclosed disabilities. If you have a history of physical injuries, disabilities, or mental health conditions and would like to discuss your fitness to attend, we encourage you to apply and highlight this in your application form. We’re more than happy to have a conversation with you, and always do our best to be inclusive and accommodating.
START DATES
This project has set start dates throughout the year, with arrivals on Sundays and departures on Saturdays.
18th-30th May 2026
6th July - 18th July 2026
17th August - 29th august 2026
WHAT NEXT?
We want you to join us in Guatemala, to help combat illegal wildlife trafficking and protect native species through rescues, rehabilitation and releasing, while having an adventure of a lifetime. Sound good? Just fill in the form below and we will be in touch with you right away.
Project Fees
Volunteering is a rewarding experience that makes a real impact on animal welfare and provides a chance to learn and travel to beautiful places....
booking conditions
Worldwide Vets aims to provide you with an easy booking experience and the a trip of a lifetime. As such, we have terms and conditions we ask you to abide by when booking a project with us...
PAST feedback
Emily Brown
July 2024
"Joining the Guatemala project was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Every day was hands-on, challenging and incredibly inspiring, from working closely with wildlife to learning from passionate vets and educators. The team made you feel supported and involved from day one and the setting was unforgettable. I left with new skills, unforgettable memories and a deeper respect for conservation and animal welfare. I would go back in a heartbeat.”
Chloe Bennett
August 2024
“My time on the Guatemala Wildlife Course was truly an eye-opening experience. The balance of practical learnings and conservation work made every day different. I gained confidence handling species I’d only ever studied before and the guidance from the vets and instructors was outstanding. Beyond the clinical skills, I learned so much about the bigger picture of wildlife conservation and the challenges faced on a daily. The experience pushed me outside my comfort zone in the best way possible and I came home with new skills, new friendships and a completely different perspective on my future career.”
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