Kids Saving the Rainforest (KSTR) is seeking a dedicated, passionate, and experienced Sanctuary Technician / Wildlife Keeper to join our Wildlife Team. Working closely with our Sanctuary Manager, you will play a hands-on role in ensuring the highest standards of physical and psychological welfare for our resident wildlife.

This is an exceptional opportunity for an enthusiastic wildlife professional to work in the heart of Costa Rica’s biodiversity, managing non-releasable animals and contributing to meaningful conservation efforts.

Duties and Responsibilities

General Sanctuary Operations

• Ensure the smooth, safe, and effective daily operation of the sanctuary area, prioritizing animal welfare and safety.
• Monitor and manage sanctuary inventory, equipment, supplies, and weekly food procurement.

Diet Preparation & Animal Feeding

• Prepare specialized diets tailored to individual species needs and coordinate daily feedings in a safe and timely manner.
• Forage daily for natural wild food sources (flowers, fruits, leaves, browse) to incorporate native diets for all sanctuary residents.

Enclosure Maintenance & Safety Inspections

• Maintain animal enclosures, food preparation areas, and the animal kitchen to strict hygienic standards.
• Conduct daily structural inspections of enclosures (walls, roofing, locks, perches, drainage, mesh) to identify maintenance needs before they impact animal safety.

Animal Health Monitoring & Record Keeping

• Perform daily visual health checks and accurate headcounts across all enclosures.
• Collaborate with the veterinary team to monitor animal health, track medical conditions, and administer prescribed treatments or medications in food.
• Assist in maintaining meticulous health logs, behavioral records, and wildlife tracking data (e.g., wild animal visits, local reptile sightings).

Enrichment & Behavioral Welfare

• Implement a dynamic Environmental Enrichment Program based on species natural history, individual needs, and the 5 Freedoms of Animal Welfare.
• Provide rotated, stimulating enrichment while strictly respecting animal privacy and minimizing human imprint/contact.
• Monitor animal behavior, social integrations, and potential signs of distress, reporting shifts immediately to the Wildlife Manager or Vet.
• Assist in safely transferring or introducing non-releasable animals into sanctuary environments under veterinary direction.

Facility Support & Mentorship

• Help maintain live food cultures (mice and mealworm/earthworm farms).
• Assist in training, guiding, and supervising incoming international volunteers and interns on sanctuary routines and safety protocols.

Core Principles: The 5 Freedoms of Animal Welfare

Our animal care philosophy is strictly guided by the 5 Freedoms:

• Freedom from hunger and thirst (access to fresh water and tailored diets)
• Freedom from discomfort (appropriate environmental conditions and shelter)
• Freedom from pain, injury, or disease (prevention and rapid diagnosis/treatment)
• Freedom to express normal behavior (sufficient space, proper facilities, and species-appropriate enrichment)
• Freedom from fear and distress (conditions and care that avoid mental suffering)

Requirements & Qualifications

• Practical experience in animal care, zookeeping, or wildlife rehabilitation (preferably with tropical species/wildlife).
• Strong understanding of animal behavior, enrichment strategies, and safety protocols.
• Ability to handle physically demanding work in a humid, tropical environment (foraging, lifting, climbing, working outdoors).
• Strong communication skills, reliability, and capability to guide volunteers/interns.

Work Hours & Schedule

Schedule: 5 days per week.

Workday: 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM (includes a 30-minute breakfast break and a 1-hour lunch break).

On-Site Amenities & Professional Perks

Campus Facilities: Access to campus amenities, including the on-site swimming pool, restaurant and lounge areas, high-speed Wi-Fi, and surrounding nature reserves.

Professional Development: Direct mentorship and hands-on training from experienced wildlife managers, veterinarians, and conservationists in Costa Rica.