Volunteer with Animals Abroad

Join our projects to work with animals around the world and gain experience in the field! Join our wildlife conservation and marine conservation projects to get a taste of conservation work in action.

Do you dream of relaxing on a remote island or adventuring deep into the jungle? Turn that dream into a reality through animal volunteering abroad - no prior experience required!

On our animal volunteer programmes, you can:

Interact directly with animals
Complete wildlife surveys from the depths of the ocean to the rainforest canopy
Support and learn from expert conservationists
Connect with local communities by clearing marine debris and invasive plant species
Run community education initiatives to leave a long-term impact

Join us to volunteer with animals and look out for amazing animals like:

We offer three ways to travel: Fully supervised youth trips for ages 15 to 18, flexible independent trips for anyone 16 or older, and exclusive projects for travelers over 50.

All our international animal volunteer opportunities are safe, ethical, and sustainable.

Have a look at all our conservation projects to find the perfect one for you!

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Popular animal care volunteer opportunities abroad

We’re here to help you choose the best voluntary work with animals abroad. With us, you can join a Wildlife Conservation volunteer project, get real Marine Conservation experience, or do a Veterinary Internship.

Here are some of our most popular ways of working with animals abroad.

Volunteer with lions & giraffes in Kenya

Live in a remote conservation lodge, humbled by the giants that surround you in the vast savannah. Kenya is one of the world’s great biodiversity hotspots, but much of its wildlife is under threat and in need of protection.

As a conservation volunteer in Africa, you’ll volunteer with animals to help protect lions, giraffes, and more.

You’ll do this by:

Researching and monitoring the Rothschild’s giraffe and other animals
Setting up camera traps to monitor the behaviour of elusive wildlife
Conducting educational outreaches in the community
Planting trees, installing eco-stoves, and maintaining waterholes

Ready to help protect the world’s most spectacular animals? Learn more about our Conservation Project in Kenya.

Rehabilitate animals in the Amazon (for teenagers)

If you love wildlife, then you’re probably already obsessed with the Amazon rainforest.

There are few places on Earth that are as untouched and teeming with biodiversity.

What if you could live and work in the heart of the Amazon, contributing to conservation efforts as an animal sanctuary volunteer abroad?

By volunteering with animals in Peru, you will:

Collect crucial data on animal and plant species
Assist with the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of vulnerable animals
Contribute to butterfly and turtle breeding programmes
Tend to crops like bananas, avocados, and chillies on a pilot farm

If you want to immerse yourself in nature while leaving a positive impact, then nothing beats a trip to the Amazon. Get more information about our Conservation Project in Peru.

Care for giant tortoises in the Galapagos Islands

Famous for Darwin’s visit in 1835, the Galapagos Islands are a unique ecosystem with an abundance of incredible wildlife. There’s no better place to spot sea lions and giant tortoises. But what if you could also help protect these important animals too?

Why not combine a tropical island adventure with working with animals abroad?

In the Galapagos, you will:

Gain exclusive access to the Galapagos National Park
Assist at the giant tortoise breeding centre
Remove non-native plants which can upset the ecosystem, replacing them with indigenous vegetation
Monitor and survey local wildlife like sea lions
Run community education programmes

This is your chance to explore a distant, famous, and fascinating ecosystem. Start your journey by learning more about our Conservation Project in the Galapagos.

Protect Sea Turtles and Coral Reefs in the Maldives (for teenagers)

The Maldives is home to some of the most stunning tropical island paradises around the world and is a very popular tourist destination. However, what you might not know is that the islands in the Maldives are made from coral, and is one of the most biodiverse ecosystems in the world.

You’ll snorkel in the crystal clear waters of the Maldives, identifying and surveying marine life, participating in community beach cleans, and volunteering at a local marine centre. You’ll get up close and personal with endangered sea turtles and fully immerse in island life.

In the Maldives, you will:

Survey and inspect the health of coral reefs
Support the care and rehabilitation of Sea Turtles
Patrol white-sand beaches to remove waste
Join a local fishing trip to learn sustainable fishing techniques

Ready to set out on the tropical island trip of your dreams and contribute to positive, local conservation initiatives? Join our Sea Turtle & Coastal Conservation project for Teenagers!

Protect sharks in Fiji

A tropical island paradise, Fiji is one of Earth’s most unspoilt landscapes. This makes it a vital hub for biodiversity, both on land and in the water. One of the best ways to complete volunteer work with animals abroad is helping to protect sharks in Fiji.

Given their fearsome reputation as predators, it may surprise you to learn that sharks are often under threat due to changes in their environment.

You’ll dive into the depths of the ocean to identify and observe marine life. As part of this project, you’ll also receive a Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) certification, joining the ranks of over 29 million worldwide who are already PADI certified!

By volunteering with sharks in Fiji, you will:

Collect marine life data on survey dives
Replant mangroves along the picturesque coastline
Run awareness campaigns in the local community
Gain PADI diving certification (included in the fee!)

If you’re ready to dive into a magical underwater world, then browse our Conservation Project in Fiji.

Something caught your eye?

If you’re interested in joining your own life-changing conservation volunteer project, get in touch with our Project Experts and we can guide you through the process.

What our participants say about our conservation projects

“Staying at the turtle camp was a once in a lifetime experience I will never forget! From waking up to the sound of the waves crashing on the beach every morning; to seeing the sun set over the ocean every evening, every second spent there was incredible.”

Sea Turtle & Coastal Conservation in Mexico by Jennifer S

“I am extremely proud to have been part of a group that helped to remove a whopping 47 snares in one anti-poaching activity. Knowing it may prevent another animal suffering like this makes me feel like we achieved something.”

African Bushveld Conservation in Botswana by Clayre B

“If you love animals, care for the environment, are eager to learn new things, and aren't afraid to get dirty, then this project is definitely for you!”

High School Special Rainforest Conservation in Peru by Sarah K

Support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

Our projects actively support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs).

Our volunteer work with animals abroad aims to progress with Goals 14 and 15: Life below Water and Life on Land.

We strive to protect, restore, and promote ecosystems through:

Conservation and reforestation projects, planting coral, trees, and mangroves.
Animal sanctuary volunteering, assisting with the protection and rehabilitation of local wildlife
Working with local communities to adapt their use of natural resources.
Raising awareness of the impact of humans on wildlife.

A key part of this goal is to halt biodiversity loss. Animal volunteer work helps to protect the most vulnerable species.

The protection, rehabilitation, and release of animals can preserve at-risk species and their fragile habitats.

Our work makes a difference

We don’t just list some buzzwords and say the right things. Our work supports local initiatives around the world targeting real issues and affecting real communities.

Every year, we produce an Impact Report that delves into the details of all our volunteer and intern projects. For example, in 2024, we:

collected 1,170KG of waste from beaches
conducted 616 animal surveys
recorded 4,709 coral health checks
operated 54 anti-poaching activities
planted 5,730 Mangrove trees

But it wasn’t just global ecosystems that benefited from our overseas conservation volunteering projects. Our participants also reported significant personal growth as part of the experience.

We conducted a survey for all our participants in 2024 and found that:

99% felt they had “connected with new people and cultures”
94% believed their trip gave them a better understanding of global issues
93% thought that the skills and knowledge they acquired will help them in future
91% reported feeling more confident in handling life’s challenges

Learn more about our annual Impact Report.

Our ethical approach to volunteering abroad with animals

We’re immensely proud of the work done by our animal care volunteers. Together, they’ve made a genuine and lasting positive impact on ecosystems around the world.

Our volunteer with animals projects are carefully guided by our Animal Welfare Policy. All the partner organisations or institutions we work with, such as animal sanctuaries or marine centres, must fulfill these criteria. If they don’t, we will not work with them.

These guidelines help ensure that we’re always making a positive impact on the planet.