Sloth Rehabilitation Internship

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The Toucan Rescue Ranch (TRR) San Josecito, San Isidro de Heredia, Costa Rica.
TRR has multiple locations. This is your primary location. However, depending on evaluation
and team availability you may be asked to transfer sites.

THE TOUCAN RESCUE RANCH (TRR)
The Toucan Rescue Ranch’s (TRR) mission is to rescue, rehabilitate, and release Costa Rica
wildlife. TRR works with a model that focuses on conservation, education, and research to
ensure a brighter tomorrow for Costa Rica wildlife.

TRR’s emphasis is on the care, rehabilitation, and release of national wildlife. We receive and
care for confiscated, sick, and injured animals from government agencies. The Toucan Rescue
Ranch works closely with the Ministry of Environment and Energy of Costa Rica (MINAE) who
brings injured and displaced wildlife to the center. TRR provides sanctuary while giving
treatment and rehabilitation. Whenever possible the animal is released to their natural
environment.

The Toucan Rescue Ranch is a licensed Costa Rica wildlife rescue facility, Costa Rica foundation
(300667701803) and a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization (EIN: 80-0516453).

THE SLOTH INSTITUTE (TSI)
The Sloth Institute Costa Rica (TSI) was founded in 2014 for enhancing the welfare of captive
and wild sloths through research and education while collaborating with sloth rescue programs
to assist with the care, raising, and release of orphaned sloths. While TRR Sloth Interns do not
usually work at TSI, staff from TSI will communicate with TRR Sloth Interns and periodically visit
to assist with monitoring and caring for TRR’s sloths.

SLOTH REHABILITATION AND RELEASE PROGRAM
The Toucan Rescue Ranch rescues injured and orphaned sloths that are victims of
electrocution, car accidents, dog attacks, and other incidents. An individual sloth’s
rehabilitation and release depends on its condition and age. Adult sloths with minor injuries will be released directly back into the wild as soon as they’re fully recuperated, while adult sloths with more severe cases (such as amputees) will require a longer recovery.

Orphaned babies will be placed with a specific "grade" in the release program depending on
their age, including Preschool (newborn to 6 months), Elementary School (6 months to 1 year),
High School (1 year to 1 and a half years), College (1 and a half year to 2 years), and Graduate
School (2+ years). The College and Graduate School phases are located at the Toucan Rescue
Ranch’s Release Site, where sloths are kept in soft-release enclosures before being given tracking collars and finally being released into the wild. From this point on, TRR’s Release Site Interns will track released sloths in the forest.

SLOTH REHABILITATION INTERN DESCRIPTION
The Toucan Rescue Ranch is looking for an intern to work with the Toucan Rescue Ranch’s Sloth Team and Toucan Rescue Ranch’s Staff to care for sloths living at the Ranch. The Sloth Rehabilitation Intern collaborates with the other Sloth Rehabilitation Interns, animal husbandry volunteers, the founder, and TRR medical staff to ensure the best possible care is provided for the sloths. The Sloth Intern’s primary responsibilities include feeding, cleaning up after, exercising, taking to the bathroom, and monitoring baby and adult sloths. Additionally, the sloth intern will aid the clinic with procedures, cleaning, and feeding. You will not only be working with sloths. You would be also assisting with all animals received at TRR and animal’s recovery in the clinic.

SLOTH REHABILITATION ACTIVITIES; RESPONSIBILITIES
Activities include:
● Feed adult and baby sloths solid foods
● Potentially assist the Sloth Nanny with syringe-feed milk to baby sloths if needed
● Bathroom and monitor weights and overall health of sloths
● Perform physical therapy and exercise for release candidates on climbing structures,
trees, etc.
● Clean outdoor sloth enclosures
● Provide enrichment to permanent sloth residents
● Monitor release candidate sloths in outdoor enclosures
● Help vet staff clean and organize the clinic
● Aid vet staff with clinical procedures, including exams, surgeries, emergency cases,
wound care and caring for critical patients
● Carry out daily inspection (rounds) of the property to ensure all animals on the
Toucan Rescue Ranch property are healthy and properly cared for, reporting any issues
to the vet staff
● Take monthly animal inventory while recording new arrivals, deaths, releases, and
transfers
● Train new interns for Sloth Team
Extra tasks may include: Train release candidate birds of prey in pre-release enclosures (flying
and hunting). This task is not necessarily exclusive to sloth interns but can be taken on by any
long-term intern or volunteer. We are always open to suggestions. Let us know if you have a special skill you think will be
useful.

REQUIREMENTS & QUALIFICATIONS
All applicants require experience in an animal related veterinary setting. Suggested course
work: veterinary, primatology, zoology, biology, environmental science, wildlife ecology
discipline or have some experience working with animals. Experience traveling to a tropical
country and living in remote conditions are preferred. New exp reqm?
Basic Requirements:
● Must be 18 years of age or older
● Provide proof of emergency health insurance while in Costa Rica
● Provide proof of current tetanus and rabies vaccinations
● Basic Spanish proficiency
● First Aid course is highly recommended
● Moderate degree of fitness
● The ability to follow directions with attention to detail
● A positive "can-do" attitude and the ability to work well in a team environment
● Experience working with wildlife or animals is a plus
Ensuring Best Practice Implementation:
● Fostering practices that support and improve the Ranch’s philosophy, goals, and
standards of care.
● Maintaining quality care by establishing and enforcing organization standards.

WORK SCHEDULE
The Sloth Rehabilitation Intern works 6 days a week with two days off one week a month -
variable to change. Days off are not necessarily on the weekend. Expect long days and split
shifts.

You will learn about your schedule and days off during your orientation at the Toucan
Rescue Ranch.

INTERNSHIP PROGRAM BENEFITS AND COSTS
Internships are voluntary self-funded positions. You will be responsible for all travel
expenses/flights and immigration expenses.

Housing: Provided by TRR. Includes utilities and Wifi. Sloth Interns will stay at either the Sloth House at TRR Headquarters at the Intern House (6-minute walk).

Meals: Meals are provided 7-days a week. We will show you the local stores where you
can buy additional food to supplement your meals. Please let us know if you are
vegetarian, vegan, or have special dietary requirements.

Other: All other costs are to be paid for by the intern. This includes travel expenses,
medical insurance, entertainment expenses, common household and a 5-day
trip out of the country every three months to renew your visa.

I’D LIKE TO APPLY
If you would like to be a part of the TRR Team, please send the following documents to
applications@toucanrescueranch.org
● One-page cover letter of interest - specify which internship(s) you are interested in and
when you are available to start
● CV or resume
● Contact information for three professional references
We will promptly contact you to schedule a Skype interview after reviewing your application. If
you have any questions we are always available via email to answer any questions.

CONTACT
Toucan Rescue Ranch
www.toucanrescueranch.org
applications@toucanrescueranch.org

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