Head Veterinarian - Work in the Bolivian Jungle with rescued wildlife

Are you passionate about wildlife conservation? 🐾

Comunidad Inti Wara Yassi (CIWY), a Bolivian organization with more than 30 years of experience protecting wildlife and forests, is looking for a Veterinarian to join our team.

The selected professional will work at one of our wildlife sanctuaries, rehabilitating animals rescued from illegal trafficking, deforestation, and other threats. The position may be assigned to any of our centers depending on current needs:

• Ambue Ari (Santa Cruz): Specializes in felines (jaguars, pumas, ocelots), birds, and small mammals. Hosts between 15 and 50 volunteers.
• Jacj Cuisi (Rurrenabaque): Specializes in primates (spider monkeys, capuchins, squirrel monkeys, albifrons monkeys), coatis, and other small mammals. Hosts between 2 and 15 volunteers.

Introduction

Comunidad Inti Wara Yassi is a Bolivian NGO made up of professionals and volunteers, both Bolivian and international. Founded in 1992, CIWY was a pioneer of the environmental movement in Bolivia and is recognized nationally and internationally for its work in conservation, wildlife rescue, anti-trafficking, animal welfare, community engagement, and wildfire prevention.

Currently, CIWY manages two Wildlife Rescue Sanctuaries: Ambue Ari (Santa Cruz) and Jacj Cuisi (Rurrenabaque, northern La Paz). Each sanctuary provides refuge for wild animals rescued from illegal trafficking, offering them the opportunity for a better quality of life. CIWY does not receive tourists in its sanctuaries, prioritizing animal welfare above all.

Summary

CIWY’s sanctuaries specialize in the rescue, care, and rehabilitation of wildlife, offering safe refuge to animals affected by illegal trafficking, deforestation, and other threats.

As a veterinarian, you will take on diverse and dynamic responsibilities, including preventive and curative medicine, admission and care of injured animals, neonatal care, anesthesia and basic surgeries, diet management, enclosure adaptations, supervision of volunteers, and support for community education and awareness.

This is an active role—far from office routine—that will allow you to be directly involved in wildlife conservation and animal welfare. It is a transformative experience and an opportunity to make a tangible contribution to protecting nature in Bolivia.

General Job Description

The veterinarian is responsible for providing medical assistance in the health, care, and management of the animals at the sanctuary. Daily duties include, among others: medical treatments, wildlife handling, cleaning, support in enclosure conditioning, surgeries/anesthesia, ultrasounds, laboratory analyses, preventive medicine, drug control, emergency care, animal welfare supervision, and addressing behavioral issues.

The veterinarian works under the direct supervision of the Sanctuary Director and the CIWY President, and in coordination with area managers, monitoring and supporting daily tasks related to cleaning and disinfection, handling, nutrition, enrichment, capture, and containment of each species.

This is a unique opportunity to be fully immersed in the field of wildlife medicine and conservation.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Animal Health

• Safeguard the physical, psychological, and physiological health of all sanctuary animals.
• Provide internal medicine, including diagnosis and treatment of diseases, anesthesia/analgesia, and basic surgeries.
• Perform routine ultrasounds and laboratory diagnostics, including fecal, urine, and cytology analyses.
• Coordinate with area managers to ensure proper implementation of management routines and compliance with the health calendar.
• Conduct regular rounds to observe, monitor, and prevent health issues at both individual and group levels.
• Supervise cleaning and disinfection of animal areas, ensuring biosecurity for enclosures and staff.

Animal Management and Welfare

• Oversee the proper handling of all animals, both individually and in groups.
• Ensure that enclosures (night cages and permanent habitats) are safe, functional, and provide adequate enrichment.
• Enforce sanctuary biosecurity protocols across all areas.

Clinical Materials and Equipment

• Maintain and periodically control the inventory of medicines, supplies, surgical materials, and clinical equipment (microscope, inhalation anesthesia machine, ultrasound, etc.).
• Guarantee the constant availability of supplies, coordinating with local providers and distributors.
• Participate in the maintenance and cleaning of all clinic areas and medical materials.

Documentation and Reporting

• Regularly update medical records for all sanctuary animals.
• Maintain accurate animal flow records and inventories.
• Prepare monthly reports and other documents requested by supervisors.
• Generate technical information to contribute to the continuous improvement of animal health management.

Other Duties

• In emergencies, provide assistance to animals outside the sanctuary (e.g., domestic animals from nearby communities).
• Occasionally participate in public talks, training programs, and other educational activities led by CIWY.
• Carry out other functions assigned by supervisors related to animal health, sanctuary management, and conservation.

Requirements

Academic and Professional

• Degree in Veterinary Medicine (required).
• Practical experience with wildlife and/or non-conventional animals (min. 1–2 years).
• Knowledge in preventive medicine, nutrition, anesthesia, and basic surgery (small animals or wildlife clinic).
• Intermediate English (reading and oral communication with volunteers) and Spanish.

Personal

• Good physical condition and willingness to live in remote environments with basic amenities.
• Leadership skills and ability to work in multicultural teams.
• Flexibility, initiative, and adaptability to changing contexts.
• Commitment to ethics in conservation and animal welfare.

Conditions

CIWY sanctuaries are located in remote areas of Bolivia, and living conditions vary by site. Facilities are basic, as most of our resources go directly to animal care.

• Accommodation and services: Shared rooms and bathrooms; bedding provided. Ambue Ari has compost toilets; Jacj Cuisi has flush toilets.
• Electricity and communication: Available in common areas for charging devices. Limited mobile signal; Wi-Fi available in offices for an additional fee.
• Water: Running and filtered water for consumption. Showers without hot water.
• Meals: Three vegetarian meals per day.

Time Commitment and Work Schedule

• 13-month contract: one month as a volunteer (induction) and twelve months as staff.
• One week of vacation every six months.
• Flexible schedule required, including possible night shifts (e.g., neonatal care), weekends, and overtime. Long working days are common depending on workload, and availability is essential in emergencies.
• One day off per week.

Compensation

CIWY does not receive government funding; our financial support comes exclusively from volunteers and donations. Although we cannot yet offer competitive salaries, we provide a stipend of 2,000 Bs per month (approx. $300 USD), along with meals (breakfast and lunch) and accommodation.

Applicants should consider additional personal costs, including visa procedures and travel expenses to the sanctuary.

Accommodation and meals included.

A unique experience with wildlife, directly helping in their recovery and well-being.

Learn and practice veterinary medicine in the field.

Be part of a multicultural and passionate team, working alongside volunteers and professionals from around the world.

Contribute to activities with a REAL impact in Bolivia.

Develop leadership and coordination skills by guiding volunteers and supporting educational projects.

You should speak English and Spanish on communicational level.