Alturas Wildlife Husbandry Intern
This summer, I independently found an internship with Alturas Wildlife Sanctuary, a non-profit organization dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of wildlife. For 3 months, my responsibilities include the care and well-being of various Costa Rican wildlife species, engaging in tasks such as habitat cleaning, providing enrichment activities twice per day, training, and supporting the overall operations of the sanctuary. A key project of mine focuses on conducting a behavioural study on Geoffroy’s Spider Monkeys (the animal in this photo). This involves assessing the effectiveness of different enrichment, identifying the most beneficial approaches, and innovating new enrichment activities. The objective is to develop a comprehensive enrichment calendar that increases the mental and physical well-being of Chester and Festus, our resident spider monkeys. This hands-on experience is allowing me to contribute to meaningful conservation efforts while gaining valuable insights into wildlife behaviour, community engagement, and sanctuary management worldwide.