Here at Working Abroad Magazine, we’ve spoken about working with animals mostly in the context of conservation work abroad – marine research jobs in Fiji, or animal rescue in South Africa. But we may not have paid quite that much attention to other kinds of animal jobs – with zoos, aquaria and other organizations that may not only be interested in conservation, but also have an element of training and showmanship.

There are a variety of types of animal jobs abroad. It seems that the greatest demand for people willing to work with animals is for people who have veterinary training. From my experience living abroad, many countries have little emphasis on veterinary training, or for animal control – especially in major cities. This leads to an abundance of strays and no where to take sick pets. In addition, cultural attitudes towards animals as pets are very different across the world, and this can affect the care and treatment of animals.

Veterinary jobs abroad are not exactly lucrative, but they are plentiful. Travellers Worldwide (based in the U.K. ) offers veterinary internship placements in South Africa and Argentina. Students can work in local animal clinics, seeing domestic and street animals and nursing them back to health. Projects Abroad also offers veterinary internships abroad, targeting places where animals are an integral part of daily like (farm villages and small towns) like Mongolia and India.

Alternatively, farm work is a very popular way to get in the door with animal jobs abroad. The Australian outback is an ideal location for adventurers looking to work (and get paid) with horses and other ranch animals. For most farms and ranches, prior animal experience is required. But you can also sign up for one of the more general jobs (as an assistant or ranch had) and use your time abroad to learn more about horses. Kingsbrook USA offers job placements for U.S. citizens on horse ranches in Brisbane, Australia, which Commonwealth Services Group places workers on farms and ranches throughout New Zealand. You’ll find that the websites for these organizations are the usual flashy pages full of smiling people at work abroad – because of the specific nature of the work, more organizations use placement and consulting companies based in the U.S. that simply screen resumes. All of the other supports come directly from the horse ranch or farm in the host country.

Zoos are a popular place for animal abroad jobs, and many zoos overseas are in need of experienced animal experts to support their programs. The European Alliance of Zoos and Aquaria is an excellent resource for job postings around the world; current posting range from Bear Manager in a Chinese bear reserve to zoo management programs at Chester Zoo in Manchester, U.K. Pay for zoo jobs will vary based on location and area of expertise. Many zoo jobs require advanced animal science degrees which will also increase the pay rate.

Central America and the Caribbean offer a great opportunity to work with underwater animals in a warm and sunny climate. Many resorts and other tourist attractions are on the lookout for people with marine biology experience to serve as tour guides and educators for people visiting the area. In the Bahamas, Sail Caribbean hires Marine Biology Instructors to work with groups of young adults attending the school, including scuba diving and exploring underwater habitats. In nearby Mexico, the plethora of resorts in Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Puerto Vallarta and other coastal cities draw in tourists not only with their luxury rooms and ocean views, but with access to animal adventures. Vallarta Adventures hires animal trainers to work directly with visitors who are looking to swim with dolphins for an unforgettable underwater experience. They seek seasoned professionals who can be courteous and respectful, but who also know how to keep both human and dolphin out of harm’s way.

If you are an animal lover who also craves adventure, you might be considering an animal job abroad. While these are just a sample of the types of jobs that exists, it is also important to remember that just like in your home country, animal jobs abroad can be extremely competitive. Be prepared to send out many resumes and make a lot of contacts to learn more about the opportunities that exist before you get a job offer. But once you do start working with animals overseas, prepare for the adventure of a lifetime. For more general information about animal jobs, please visit the Animal Jobs section of JobMonkey.com.

Working abroad is an exciting prospect, but sometimes the jobs themselves can be a bit, well, boring. Serving tequila shots is great fun when you spend the days topping up your tan, but if you want to do something a bit more stimulating, why not try volunteering?

Providing your services for free opens up a far wider range of vacancies in exotic locations, and best of all, you get to spend your days doing something enjoyable rather than just paying the rent.

Take working with animals. Many people longed to be a vet or a zookeeper when they grew up, but without years of training, you are unlikely to secure this kind of paid work in another country. Swap “paid” with “voluntary” and lo! Hundreds of opportunities arise, as this piece about volunteering with animals abroad shows.

Work with Sea Turtles

Of course, you won’t be trusted will performing surgery or mending broken legs, but you will still play a vital role in ensuring creatures kept in captivity or receiving treatment get the best care.

Tip: Read this piece about working with dolphins on Working Abroad Magazine online and learn about working at the San Diego Zoo and other animal parks on JobMonkey.

There is plenty to consider – not least what sort of work you want to do. If you choose a designated animal sanctuary, such as a crocodile park or panda reserve, obviously you will learn plenty about a few selected species. Larger organisations, such as zoos, have hundreds of animals to care for and you may have to pick up the different demands quickly.

Say you want to help at a zoo. A four-week placement at Zoo Negara or Taiping Zoo in Malaysia, with Real Gap will let you prepare the animals’ food, feed them, clean them out and possibly help. You will probably be drafted into helping keep the zoo tidy for visitors, but that is all part of the job. A four-week placement costs £1,379, and you are expected to work 8am-5pm, five days a week.

If you would rather have a more social project, Vet Adventure has a fantastic programme in Maun, Botswana to sterilise stray cats and dogs. Although aimed at trainee vets, each team of volunteers includes two non-vets as well. At a cost of £2,000 per week, excluding flights, it is not cheap, but offers a real hands-on experience for the small number of people selected.

Anyone with a love of reptiles would find it hard to resist this Indian crocodile conservation project run by WAVA. Volunteers spend between four and 16 weeks at a conservation centre near Chennai, at a cost of £1190-£2490. No formal qualification is needed, although previous experience is always welcome. This project has a more responsible role, as you will be able to supervise visitors holding baby crocodiles, and help with research projects.

None of these suggestions cover the programmes in great depth, and it is important to read all the associated information before flying out. Make sure you know exactly what is provided and what is not, so that you are prepared to buy your own food or accommodation as necessary. Most of the upfront fee charged by volunteer companies is used to cover your in-country costs, but very few include extras such as flights or visas, which vary depending on individual nationalities.

Volunteering with animals is not glamorous work, so anyone adverse to strong smells, dirt or fluids should think carefully about signing up for a long-term placement. This does not mean you will be placed somewhere that fails to maintain standards, but bear in mind that most creatures are not as fastidiously clean as human beings!

Of course, there is a safety element to volunteering with animals, and it is important to have all the necessary vaccinations before you head out. They will vary depending on destination and type of work, but generally you should expect to have tetanus, diphtheria, hepatitis A and possibly B, polio, rabies and typhoid.

People heading to South America or Africa will probably need yellow fever, and travellers in to south-east Asia will be required to have Japanese B Encephalitis shots. The best place to find out what will be required is your GP or the NHS Fit for Travel website. And here’s another useful webpage, which tells you which jabs are available on the NHS and which you must pay extra for.

Finding the best project can be tricky, but there are plenty of websites that collect them together for your perusal. Check out the links included above, and do not forget Working Abroad Magazine either!

So, although volunteering with animals abroad will probably be expensive, hard work and time-consuming, it will also be exhilarating, enjoyable and a real achievement. If you find you love the work, it is a great step towards finding full-time employment in your chosen field; if not, you have the satisfaction of knowing your contribution has made a concrete difference to the project you supported. There’s no real downside!

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What job are you doing?

I worked as a dolphin trainer.

Work with Dolphins in Bermuda

Why did you choose to work there?

I have a friend who works here and she recommended their internship program to me.

How did you find the job (website, paper, etc.)?

Initially through my friend, and then the Dolphin Quest website www.dolphinquest.org.

Can you describe your day to day routine?

Assisting in the training, feeding and veterinary care of the dolphins. Running interactive swim programs with guests. Preparing fish, washing buckets and various other daily duties. Also helping in other areas of the facility including photography and guest services.

What is the salary like?

It’s an unpaid internship but a great way to gain experience in marine mammal care.

Is accommodation included?

Accommodation is not included but there is intern accommodation available at the facility at a cost of $40 per night. (£20 per night)

Would you recommend this type of job?

If you like dolphins and have an interest in working with animals this type of job is definitely for you! There’s lots of hands on experience and the opportunity to learn about these amazing animals.

Do you need to be qualified?

Although not required, it helps to have a degree in biology or psychology and also some previous experience working with animals.

What’s the night life like?

The night life in Bermuda is good but it depends on the time of year. The island is quite reliant on tourism and therefore outside the holiday months it can get pretty quiet.

Are there other things to do like sports/beach/tourist attractions?

Bermuda is a small island, there are many amazing beaches and also some great golf courses. The tourist attractions include an aquarium and zoo and a maritime museum.

Have you made some new Friends?

Of course. The crew at Dolphin Quest Bermuda are all extremely friendly and happy to help teach all the things you need to know. They are a great bunch of people and I will be staying in contact with all of them.

Do you plan to work abroad again?

My intention is to try and get a permanent position as a trainer and this will mean working abroad as dolphin training opportunities are limited in England!!

Do you feel this experience will help you with your career?

Without a doubt, participating in this internship will only help to improve my CV and provide me with the experience I need to find a position in the field of marine mammal care.

Tell us about the best and worst bits!

Working with animals can be hard work. There are lots of buckets to scrub and fish to prepare. But if you don’t mind getting elbows deep in fish guts then you can endure the worst this job has to offer!

Obviously working with the dolphins is amazing, I also worked with 3 baby dolphins which had been born in June, working with them was definitely a great experience. It was really interesting to see the early stages of their development. Working so closely with them really gives you the opportunity to get to know each one individually.

Building a relationship with the animals and learning their personalities is definitely one of the highlights of the job!