A man conducting a wildlife census as part of Projects Abroad's conservation volunteer work abroad.

Animal Conservation Volunteering Abroad

Explore the world of wildlife conservation in the savanna, rainforest, and small islands

Once you’ve traveled with us on a wildlife volunteer program, you won’t see the world in the same way again. You’ll experience the raw beauty and vulnerability of nature as you work alongside an international team. Together, you’ll protect endangered animals and ecosystems. So get your backpack, because you’re going on an adventure!

Our programs cover an incredible range of environments, from mountains at the top of the world, to the islands that inspired Darwin to ponder the origin of life. If you love volunteer work with animals, you can unleash your passion in different ways, like:

  • Protect the Big 5 and work with animals like elephants, lions, and leopards at a nature reserve in Africa
  • Explore the rich biodiversity and wildlife of the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador
  • Support wildlife rehabilitation at the renowned Taricaya Ecological Lodge in the heart of the Amazon. 

You’ll support and learn from professional environmentalists and scientists, as well as people from the local community. We offer safe, ethical, and sustainable animal conservation projects. You’ll always be aware of the impact of your work and you’ll develop important skills for working in conservation. These include reforestation efforts, and scientific research methods.

We’re here to help you choose the project that lets you pursue your passion for animals and nature. Read about our best animal volunteer programs abroad, or if your interests are drawing you more to ocean depths, check out our Marine Conservation Projects.

Gain Academic Credit

As a wildlife volunteer, you can sign up for our Diploma in International Volunteering. This has the option to specialise in Wildlife Conservation, designed to pair perfectly with our animal volunteer programs. You’ll gain academic credit while you volunteer, giving your university applications an extra boost.

Choose a Wildlife Conservation Project

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1-3 of 24 Projects

Take a Gap Semester Abroad in South America
See this project
  • Price: $8,795 CAD for 8 weeks
  • Extra Weeks: $850 CAD
  • Start Date: Throughout the year
  • Minimum Duration: 8 weeks
  • Ages: 17-24
A group of gap semester students experience cultural immersion in a Maasai village in Tanzania, East Africa.
Take a Gap Semester Abroad in East Africa
See this project
  • Price: $7,345 CAD for 6 weeks
  • Extra Weeks: $710 CAD
  • Start Date: Throughout the year
  • Minimum Duration: 6 weeks
  • Ages: 17-24
Projects Abroad volunteer collects Giraffe data on the Kenya Conservation Project
Giraffe & Lion Conservation in Kenya
See this project
  • Price: $3,335 CAD for 1 week
  • Extra Weeks: $580 CAD
  • Start Date: Anytime
  • Minimum Duration: 1 week
  • Ages: 16 or over
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Can’t find what you’re looking for?

We’d be happy to talk about creating a custom project for you. Most of our staff have been volunteers themselves, so they’re well placed to answer your questions, big or small. 

(+1) 917 810 4744

or email:

to start planning your project

Is animal conservation volunteering abroad right for me?

Our wildlife conservation volunteer opportunities are ideal for people who want to work with animals and carry out fieldwork in fascinating environments. You’ll get the relevant training when you arrive, like how to set camera traps or to complete wildlife surveys, so you don’t need previous experience. A passion for wildlife conservation and your explorer’s hat are great starting points! 

These programs are also a good fit for anyone interested in getting first-hand insight into global environmental issues. You’ll do hands-on work, which includes educating local people about the importance of protecting the planet. Your activities will involve doing scientific research, collecting data in the field, reforestation, and more.

If you're looking to complete a conservation internship abroad, we've got just the thing. Read our blog on Wildlife Conservation internships, where we give more details on practical opportunities in the field.  

If you’re interested in animal volunteering abroad, but feel a Conservation & Environment Project isn’t right for you, you may be interested in our Veterinary Medicine & Animal Care Projects. Read our full list of programs for international volunteering.

A leopard spotted by volunteers at the Wildlife Conservation Project in Botswana.

What will I gain from conservation volunteering abroad?

By working with animals in the heart of nature, you’ll give back to a community that needs help while developing your own skills.

Here are just some of the benefits that our previous volunteers talk about:

  • Knowledge of practical conservation and environmental sciences.
  • Global competencies like teamwork, communication, leadership, resilience, organizing, planning, and time management.
  • The ability to work and empathise with people of different cultures and backgrounds, helping to develop a ‘global mindset’.
  • Confidence from pushing past your comfort zone.

All of the above will help your personal development and add practical conservation work experience to your resume.

Why do Conservation volunteer projects abroad matter?

Protecting our planet is more important than ever. As the human population increases, natural habitats and resources are declining. This has a devastating impact on wildlife and vulnerable ecosystems. They cannot recover and begin to thrive once more without our help.  

In today’s fast-paced society, it’s easy to feel like part of the problem rather than the solution. Now’s the time to start making a worthwhile contribution, so that future generations can enjoy our planet for years to come.

How are our animal volunteer opportunities different?

At Projects Abroad, our first aim is to benefit the communities and environments we work in. You can be assured that your project is ethical, well supported, and part of a better future. Here are just a few elements of our work that set it apart from other programs:

Be fully supported by staff

You’ll work alongside members of the local community and Projects Abroad staff. You’ll also be part of a wider network of volunteers. At each project, there is a full-time member of staff whose job it is to support our volunteers. They’ll work with you to make sure you spend your time in a way that genuinely makes an impact and brings value to the program you do.  

In addition, many of our staff at Conservation Projects are experts in their fields, with years of training and practical experience under their belts.

Recording our work in a secure database

We created a Global Impact Database so we can track the positive impact our projects have. This is a secure and anonymous database that we use to identify specific areas of need. We can also monitor individual projects to track their development.

For example, at our Rainforest Conservation Project in Peru in 2018, volunteers released two groups of Peruvian spider monkeys. According to our database, we’ve released a total of 35 spider monkeys since 2010. This is critical work because this species was extinct in the area for almost a century due to hunting.

Our wildlife rehabilitation volunteer opportunities in Peru are slowly changing this. In the same year, we saw the birth of seven baby spider monkeys in the wild. This is tangible evidence that we’re helping to re-establish wild populations!

Programs that have an impact

All our programs are well researched, targeted, and sustainable. We aim to make a difference to the local community for the long term, as well as the animal species we work with. 

A group of Projects Abroad Conservation volunteers listen to a staff member explain an activity outdoors at their project.

Our Animal Protection Policy

We take protecting the animals and wildlife we work with very seriously. That’s why we’ve put together a comprehensive Animal Protection Policy.

Projects Abroad volunteers work together with our conservation partner organisations to protect the environment.

Next Steps

Our accreditations