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Gain hands-on wildlife veterinary experience in West Java, Indonesia, assisting local veterinarians at a large wildlife conservation centre near Sukabumi.
This internship is designed for veterinary students, veterinarians, vet nurses, and vet technicians who want practical exposure to wildlife medicine, animal health observation, routine examinations, preventive and curative treatment, and veterinary care procedures.
The centre cares for a diverse range of Indonesian wildlife rescued from the illegal pet trade. Its mission is to rehabilitate and release animals back into the wild whenever possible, while also providing permanent sanctuary for animals that cannot be released.
The Wildlife Veterinary Assistant Internship in Java is designed for veterinary and animal care candidates seeking practical experience in wildlife medicine, conservation, animal husbandry, enrichment, and clinical support.
Interns assist local veterinarians and supervisory staff with routine animal health tasks, veterinary procedures, observation, recordkeeping, and centre-wide support work. Veterinary students typically spend 3 mornings and 2 afternoons per week in the vet clinic, with additional involvement in husbandry and enrichment work around the centre.
Key responsibilities may include:
• Administering prescribed medications, supplements, or treatments under veterinary supervision
• Assisting veterinarians and other professionals with veterinary procedures
• Observing animal food consumption and checking for signs of illness or stress
• Reporting unusual behavioural changes to managers or veterinarians
• Maintaining daily reports, logs, training records, enrichment records, research records, and veterinary records
• Keeping detailed records of behaviour, eating habits, births, deaths, and other animal care events
• Supporting animal behaviour management to make feeding, medicating, and monitoring safer
• Helping with special care for sick or orphaned animals that may need hand-feeding
• Assisting with the capture of animals that need examination or relocation
• Supporting pest and rodent control
• Following safety guidelines and reporting safety concerns
Learning outcomes include:
• Clinical proficiency in treatment support, veterinary procedures, and health observation
• Record and data management related to wildlife care, behaviour, and health events
• Safe animal handling and understanding of wildlife care safety protocols
Applicants should have a degree or be currently studying as a veterinarian, vet nurse, or vet technician. Clinical experience is desirable.
Required attributes include:
• Confidence and patience when handling animals
• Strong organisation and project management skills
• Computer literacy
• Strong observational and recordkeeping skills
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Flexibility to adapt to a different culture
• Ability to perform practical, manual, and sometimes physically demanding work
• Ability to manage allergies related to animal hair, fur, feathers, or dust
• Fluency in English; Bahasa Indonesia is useful but not essential
Required vaccinations:
• Hepatitis
• Typhoid
• Tetanus
• Rabies
• Tuberculosis vaccine or negative TB screen test
The minimum internship duration is 4 weeks.
Interns typically work from 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday to Saturday, with a lunch break from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM. Sundays are off.
The internship includes approximately 2.5 days of clinic work per week, plus husbandry, enrichment, and general centre support.
A typical experience may include:
• Morning or afternoon clinic sessions with the veterinary team
• Daily animal health observation
• Assisting with routine examinations and veterinary procedures
• Supporting preventive and curative treatments
• Helping with animal husbandry and enrichment
• Maintaining animal care and veterinary records
• Observing feeding and behaviour
• Supporting care for sick or orphaned animals
• Assisting with animal capture or relocation when needed
• Working on academic assignments, research, protocol review, or species assessments with on-site mentors
Accommodation is provided in single-sex dormitories at the centre. Each intern has an individual space with a single bed, cabinet, and curtain for privacy. Pillows and blankets are provided.
The showers are Indonesian style, using cold water buckets, although the tropical temperature often allows for lukewarm water. Laundry service is provided, and volunteer areas are cleaned daily.
There is a communal volunteer space with views of the rice fields, serving as a canteen and social area with hammocks and games.
Food is vegetarian, local Indonesian cuisine, including Sunda-style rice, noodles, and vegetables for lunch and dinner. Vegan and special dietary needs can be accommodated when requested in advance. Volunteers are expected to arrange their own breakfast.
Travel notes:
International interns require an Indonesian Volunteer Visa. The centre can arrange this special 60-day visa for a fee of $205.
The conservation centre is approximately a 6-hour drive from Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta Airport. Public transport is possible but recommended only for local or experienced travellers.
Airport transfer from Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta Airport to the centre can be arranged by private car for $110 per one-way transfer.
Programme fees:
4 weeks = $3,000
Included:
• Dormitory-style accommodation with a private partitioned area
• Local toilets and showers
• Cooked local meals served for lunch and dinner
• Vegetarian meals and special diets catered for
• Laundry service
• Daily cleaning of the facilities
• On-site mentoring for academic credits or projects
• Wildlife veterinary and conservation experience
• A memorable hands-on internship in West Java
Not included:
• International flights
• Personal insurance
• Transportation to and from the centre
• Visa costs
• Additional snacks or drinks
• Breakfast
• Indonesian Volunteer Visa fee, arranged by the centre for $205
• Airport transfer from Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta Airport to the centre, available for $110 per one-way transfer
Location
Indonesia
Start Date
2026
Price
Starting at $3,000
