6 Countries Where You Can Volunteer with Animals Abroad

Do you cry when you see cute puppies? Are you a total Kristen Bell about sloths? Do you semi-frequently berate people on dating apps for taking staged photos with big cats or riding on elephants? Are you an aspiring hu-manatee-rian—you know, someone who really, really, really cares about manatees? 

Then I don’t think we need to tell you that you should volunteer with animals abroad. What we *can* do is tell you where to volunteer with animals abroad. No matter your preference: soft or scaly, furry or feathered, on land or by sea, there are plenty of ways for you to join the claws, er…. cause. 

6 amazing places where you can find animal volunteer programs abroad

If you’re looking for a specific type of critter or habitat to work with, these are our top six picks across the globe for places to volunteer with animals abroad. All critters big and small need our help (and when appropriate—our cuddles), from the tallest rainforest trees to the deepest ocean floor. Try your helping hand at animal volunteering in one of these countries (but be sure to ask these animal ethics questions first): 

1. Thailand

You’re no travel schmo, you know that riding elephants in Thailand is problematic and you want to hang with your favorite gentle giants in an ethical, sustainable way. Rather than contribute to the mistreatment of elephants on behalf of the tourism industry, you want to get your pad thai fix and then help rehabilitate elephants who have been rescued from a life of cruel treatment and inappropriate selfies. 

If you’re looking for voluntary work abroad with animals beyond elephants, there are plenty of affordable programs where you can work with monkeys, sun bears, and all sorts of lil’ critters on land or by sea (though primarily on land). 

Not a Dr. Dolittle? No problem! Animal volunteer programs in Thailand have plenty of opportunities for you to conduct entry-level field research. So, you don’t have to be acing conservation bio to get great experience with animals abroad—it never hurts to have a little background in biology and animal welfare, though. 

• Recommended program: Conservation Volunteer with GVI
• Volunteer with: Elephants
• Browse ALL animal volunteer programs in Thailand

2. South Africa

Whether you’re running around singing “The Circle of Life,” or you’re just a fan of really big cats, you bet giraffe that you’ll find a perfect fit volunteering on game reserves in South Africa. Help protect the king of the jungle and all of their friends—leopards, rhinos, elephants, buffalo, giraffes, zebra, hippos, the list spans across the grasslands. 

If you’re wanting to do volunteer work with these animals in South Africa, some prior research experience and work with animals—especially if you’re working with big cats—is going to be necessary. They’re not just going to throw you into the lion’s den!

Less interested in life on land? With miles of gorgeous coastline, there are tons of opportunities for you to gear up and dive right into marine conservation volunteer projects abroad. You got options, my friend. 

• Recommended program: African Big Five & Wildlife Conservation Project with African Impact
• Volunteer with: Lions, leopards, rhinoceros, elephants, and Cape buffalo
• Browse ALL animal volunteer programs in South Africa

3. Costa Rica

You’re ready for some Pura Vida and the opportunity to snuggle a sloth. Well, stop moving so slow! There are tons of animal volunteer programs abroad to take advantage of in Costa Rica. In between surf sessions, jungle exploration, and volcano hikes, you can work with a variety of different projects to help save your favorite friends—furry and otherwise. 

Work to save endangered sea turtles who are fighting to survive despite widespread poaching and beach erosion. You will work to safeguard hatcheries and ensure the world’s few remaining sea turtles make it to the ocean for their own lifetime of adventures on the waves. 

Don’t find wetsuits comfortable? Look to the jungle for volunteer work with animals abroad in Costa Rica. The sloth may move slow, but deforestation and the destruction of their habitat does not. Work to help your jungle friends and maintain their habitat. With a lot of entry-level fieldwork for you to lend a hand to, the birds will be sure to sing your praises. 

• Recommended program: Animal Rescue and Conservation with GoEco
• Volunteer with: Tapirs, spider monkeys, green macaws, scarlet macaws, and wild cats
• Browse ALL animal volunteer programs in Costa Rica

4. Madagascar

Did your days as a lil tyke watching Zoboomafu have to dreaming of an island off the Eastern coast of Africa? No? Just me? Well, whatever inspired your love of animal volunteer programs abroad, know that Madagascar has plenty of animals who would love your help—on land and down below. 

Help with reforestation and conservation efforts to help preserve our ringtailed buddies habitat. You’ll really become one with nature as you camp out in tents, have no access to running water or hot water, and use long-drop toilets. Roughing it was never so much fun! 

If you’re not down to spend majority of your day on land, in collaboration with a number of oceanographic organizations, you could volunteer to monitor turtles, survey fish, sample water, and collect data on corals and invertebrates all across the seafloor and join the fight to save the world’s coral reefs. While some previous experience is preferred, training for this data collection is included in some programs. However, if you want to volunteer with the fishes, you need to be Open Water Diving certified. 

• Recommended program: Lemur Research and Biodiversity Monitoring with Fronteering
• Volunteer with: Lemurs
• Browse ALL animal volunteer programs in Madagascar

5. Ecuador

Not just for the crew of the HMS Beagle, volunteer work with animals abroad in Ecuador is an animal conservation biologists dream. Whether you stay on the mainland or venture offshore to the Galapagos Islands (like we know you ‘guana), the voluntary work abroad with animals in this South American country is diverse as the animal populations you’re setting out to help. 

With so many species to cover and so little time, there’s plenty of entry-level fieldwork in addition to more heavy-lifting and research work. Not only will you volunteer to help animals abroad, and gain valuable experience in environmental and wildlife conservation, but you also have the opportunity to live with a host family to brush up on your Spanish in the process. That’s what we in the biz like to call a win-win. 

• Recommended program: Animal Rescue Project with ELI Abroad
• Volunteer with: 300+ animals including the American Crocodile, brown-headed spider monkey, and the Guayaquil Macaw
• Browse ALL animal volunteer programs in Ecuador

6. Australia

In loving memory of are number one dude, Steve Irwin, Australia is one of the best places to volunteer to help animals abroad. And while we miss him and his crocodile antics every day, his daughter Bindi Irwin is carrying on the great family tradition of wildlife conservation and education. Head down under to join them in their mission and sign up for volunteer work with animals abroad. That’s no croc. 

From the creepy crawly to the tall and hoppy, there are tons of animals that could benefit from a little volunteer TLC. And, The Great Barrier Reef—ever heard of it?—well, it could use a lot of TLC, that’s where you come in! Work with local organizations to help save the world’s largest coral reef ecosystem. THEN you can go find 42 Wallaby Way, Sydney. We promise, there will be time for it. 

• Recommended program: Australian Wildlife Rescue, Care, and Rehabilitation with Ocean2Earth Volunteers
• Volunteer with: Koalas, kangaroos, dingos, wallabies, wombats, possums, turtles, flying foxes, bandicoots, wallaroos, lizards, snakes, emus, and echidnas 
• Browse ALL animal volunteer programs in Australia

[MORE Animal Volunteer Opportunities Abroad to Make Their Lives Less Ruff →]

Where can I volunteer with animals abroad for free? 

Uhhhh. We have some news for you. Volunteering abroad is very rarely free, and we don’t think it should be: Here’s why.

While it volunteer work in your host country doesn’t usually have you paying anything for your service, your program fees to volunteer with animals abroad go a long way in making your program possible and contributes to the overall sustainability of the project long term. Your mission is to help our furry/scaly/feathered friends abroad, right? Well, this is part of it. Don’t cheetah a cheetah out of proper care. Not cool.  

This handy dandy infographic outlines countries with plenty of great, affordable animal volunteer programs abroad, but it’s unlikely you’ll find somewhere to volunteer with animals abroad for free.

[Watch: The Lowdown on How to Volunteer Abroad for Free]

Next steps to voluntary work abroad with animals

If you’re ready to be an apple right off the Irwin tree or try your hand at being the next David Attenborough, here’s everything you need to know to make it happen: 

• Decide where to go. Figuring out where YOU should volunteer with animals abroad is paramount. Have a short list of locations that sound ideal for your goals and skills (i.e. if you don't have experience working with big cats, you might reconsider volunteering in Kruger National Park). Don't let your need for bug spray hold you back—choose a place that's right for you.
• Pick your project. We outlined a few common ways that international volunteers work with animals abroad above. Do some reflection on what skills and knowledge you bring to the table, and which project would best benefit from your time and energy.
• Choose from the best animal volunteer abroad programs. Pay attention to past participants’ reviews, program/university reputation, location, and how the project's needs match your skills. Some programs may even share contact info for ambassadors or past participants if you want the REAL dirt. Here are more considerations to make as you figure out how to choose the right volunteer program for you. Pro tip: You can use MyGoAbroad to compare programs side-by-side.
• Plan your finances. Sort out funding before you go to afford daily essentials and splurge on travel (in addition to program costs and airfare). Be sure to raise a little extra money to donate to the organization that you'll be working with. Learning how to fund your volunteer abroad adventure is essential prior to your travels!
• Get prepared! Preparing to volunteer abroad is as fun as it sounds. With the days til departure number dwindling and your excitement boiling, it can be easy to overlook the details. Lean on us to help guide you through your pre-departure process—that's what we're here for.

Now you’ve just got to buy a khaki vest and watch your wildest Thornberry dreams come true.

You’ll get the allllllllllllll the warm and fuzzies when you volunteer to help animals abroad

To save the sloth, you gotta *be* the sloth.

No matter where you go in the world, there will be opportunities for you to find voluntary work abroad with animals. The sheer number of choices are almost too much to bear. You gotta stop lion around and hop on this volunteer work with animals abroad train. We guarantee the experience will be unforgettable. Start your search now and start saving the world, one creepy crawly at a time. 

DON’T Hold Your Horses: Find Animal Volunteer Programs Abroad