Hi, I’m Irene from Italy, I’m 23 and I study Animal Care. I spent 8 weeks at Alturas as a wildlife husbandry intern, and I couldn’t have chosen a better place to carry out my university internship. The work at the sanctuary mainly involves cleaning the enclosures, feeding the animals, and building new enrichment, but it was a very rewarding job as it allowed me not only to learn about the species’ biology but also the individual animals’ specific needs and of course to be in contact (always following the hands-off policy!) with such amazing species, some of which I didn’t even know about before coming to Costa Rica. I really enjoyed the shifts in the animal kitchen, preparing each animal’s meal and learning about the different diets, but my favourite part was definitely helping out in the nursery, either during day or nightshifts. It was also so fulfilling to be able to witness releases of rehabilitated animals and knowing that in some way I was part of the rehabilitation process.
What also truly made this experience special were the people: the staff members, so prepared, kind, and willing to share their knowledge, and the other interns/volunteers, with whom I shared not only work, but also moments of joy, effort, and personal growth.
I’m really grateful to have been able to do my internship at Alturas and I would recommend this experience to everyone who’s interested in animals and conservation!
Irene Siani
