Ecuador Veterinary Internship

Ecuador is a pocket-sized slice of beautiful South America. Despite its diminutive size, it is bursting with vibrant culture, mesmerising landscapes, exotic tropical wildlife and pristine habitats. Including the all-consuming emerald rainforests of the Amazon, it is rich in rare and endangered species.

Ecuador has a picture-perfect capital painted in pastel colours, alive with cafés, clubs, bars, churches and museums. Markets where friendly locals sell their wares are surrounded by the hustle and bustle of traditional street life. In contrast, the peaceful and serene Andes provide a home for indigenous mountain communities and enigmatic mountain creatures alike. This captivating country contains a culture that is expressed in an abundance of wholesome and delicious cuisine, diverse musical forms and colourful festivals that will enliven your senses. Whilst it is South America's tiniest country, it has everything you could possibly want, including stretches of white sand beaches, expansive plains, steamy jungles and spectacular mountains. All this and more is waiting to be discovered on your spectacular Ecuadorian adventure!

This placement will allow you to take what you have learnt in the classroom and apply this in a practical way working hands-on with our experienced staff caring for the animals at this incredible wildlife sanctuary based in the forest. A moderate knowledge of Spanish would be useful.

  

PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS

• Discover a a pocket-sized slice of beautiful South America
• Gain invaluable experience
• Immerse yourself in a new and exciting culture

PROJECT REQUIREMENTS

• Minimum age of 18 years
• Moderate level of Spanish.

FAST FACTS

Location	Ecuador
Activities	Filing and keeping animal records Caring for sick and injured animals Operations (where applicable) Animal check-ups / monitoring Meat inspections Food distribution
Transport	Airport pick-up
Accommodation	Volunteer cabins / Dorms

WHAT'S INCLUDED

Before you go	Pre-departure support Travel & medical advice & documentation Equipment advice Discounted medical kit Free Frontier T-shirt
In-country	Accommodation Food Airport pick-up  Ground transfer to project site & in-transit accommodation Local orientation Project training In-country emergency support 24-hour international HQ backup

QUALIFICATIONS

A variety of qualifications are available on many of our projects. For example, BTEC certificates and diplomas on our Group conservation projects and TEFL certificates and BTECs on most of our teaching projects. You may also be able to gain a CoPE to support your university application. For more information on these qualifications, please see the qualifications section of our website or ask your volunteer advisor.

WHAT WILL I BE DOING?

The aim of the Frontier-Ecuador Veterinary Internship is to provide volunteer support to this local animal rescue centre NGO. While this project does cater for a range of experiences, the centre is also in desperate need of experienced veterinary surgeons. If you are trained in a particular field such as veterinary science, biology or other related areas you may be able to assist more closely with a specific area of animal care and the technical functions of the centre, depending on your Spanish ability. Volunteers with limited veterinary experience, but that have other skills and interests such as photography, marketing or mural painting can help in promotional activities for the centre. Whatever your background all volunteers make a really important contribution offering their ideas and experiences and helping to improve the centre and its important operations.

The work that you will be involved in will be dependent upon your level of experience and the needs of the animal rescue centre at the time of your visit. The kinds of activities that you could be involved in whilst shadowing the local staff include filing and keeping animal records, meat inspections and the routine treatment of rescued animals. You will also assist with activities such as food distribution.

You could get the chance to observe veterinary operations or even the opportunity to assist with care treatments such as vaccinations and flea and tick treatments depending upon your level of expertise.  In some cases you may be involved in emergency rescues where an animal may have been mistreated or abused.

Your programme will typically run five days a week, Monday to Friday. This will provide you with a comprehensive learning experience whilst still giving plenty of time to see the sights and experience rural life in the local community.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I ARRIVE?

You will be met upon arrival at Quito airport and transferred to a hostel for the night. The next day you will travel by bus from Quito to the bustling town of Tena in the Amazonian region, a journey of around 6 hours that will give you the opportunity to view Ecuador from a local's point of view. From Tena you will take a local bus for around 30 minutes to arrive at your project site. A member of staff will accompany you to and from the project site.

WHERE WILL I BE STAYING?

Volunteers live on site at the project, where there are a number of volunteer cabins. Each cabin is fitted with bunk beds, a bathroom and a living area, and whilst the facilities will be basic they will of course be clean. There is a communal kitchen where everybody eats together and a swimming pool next to the project site that volunteers are allowed to use free of charge.

WHAT WILL I BE EATING?

Your food is included while on the project site, but not when you are in Quito. Volunteers and staff eat all of their meals together and vegetarians and special dietary requirements can easily be catered for. Food will be typically Ecuadorian fare, delicious and often characterised by rice, lentils, potatoes and beans.

ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

Ecuador offers a wide variety of extra activities, both adventurous and cultural alike, such as rafting, caving, hiking, and trips to thermal pools.  We prefer you to arrange and book these direct with local providers thereby contributing to the local economy.

COSTS

DEPARTURE DATES

Weekly. The project begins on a Monday but you will need to arrive on Sunday in order to travel to the project the following day.

Monthly (please arrive Sunday in order to transfer to the project)

This project is not available on the following dates in 2019:

New Year: 1 January
Carnaval: 4-5 March
Good Friday: 19 April 
Labor Day: 1 May
Battle of Pichincha: 24 May
Indedpendence Day: 10 August
Guayaquil Independence Day: 12 October
Day of the Dead: 1 November
Cuenca Independence Day: 03 November
Christmas: 25 December - 01 January

DURATION

Minimum of four weeks, up to a total of six months

WHAT'S INCLUDED

Before you go

• Pre-departure support
• Travel & medical advice & documentation
• Equipment advice
• Discounted medical kit
• Free Frontier T-shirt

In-country

• Accommodation
• Food
• Airport pick-up
• Ground transfer to project site & in-transit accommodation
• Local orientation
• Project training
• In-country emergency support
• 24-hour international HQ backup

WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED

• Flights
• Visas
• Insurance

For detailed information on flights, visas and insurance, click here.

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LEGAL STATEMENT

Please read our legal statement regarding the running of NGO projects.

To apply for this placement, click on "Apply Now" below. Fill in the short application form and one of our advisers will then call you back to answer any questions and make sure this is the perfect placement for you. Applying doesn't cost a penny and you won't pay anything until you're completely happy and you're ready to reserve your place.