Wildlife Rehabilitator Course
Professional Training in Wildlife Rehabilitation + Rewilding
Train to Become a Wildlife Rehabilitator in the Amazon
A three-month intensive course in wildlife care, rehabilitation, and ethical rewilding.
Overview
The Hoja Nueva Wildlife Rehabilitator Course is a three-month intensive training program for individuals pursuing a future in wildlife rehabilitation, rewilding, veterinary care, animal welfare, or conservation.
Participants engage in full-time, hands-on work at our rescue and rewilding center while completing a structured curriculum of more than 18 modules, weekly assessments, practical training, and a final evaluation. This is a professional training pathway, not a general volunteer experience.
The course is designed to move participants progressively through different aspects of wildlife care. Students begin with the fundamentals of husbandry, diet preparation, animal welfare, safety, and working near non-releasable animals. Over time, they advance into more complex topics such as species-specific care, enrichment, clinical observation, pre-release conditioning, post-release monitoring, and rewilding strategy.
Program Structure
The course is structured in three progressive phases.
During the first phase, participants focus on foundations. This includes basic husbandry, animal care, safety protocols, nutrition, diet preparation, sanitation, and working with non-releasable sanctuary animals. This stage allows participants to develop discipline, consistency, and an understanding of daily rescue center operations.
The second phase introduces more intermediate rehabilitation concepts. Participants begin learning species-specific care, behavioral monitoring, enrichment design, welfare assessment, and how to apply classroom learning to real animals and real rehabilitation contexts.
The third phase focuses on advanced rehabilitation and rewilding. Participants learn about pre-release conditioning, habitat preparation, release decision-making, post-release monitoring, and advanced care for key species, including carnivores. Hoja Nueva is especially known for its carnivore and felid rewilding work, and students gain insight into the ethical and practical considerations involved in preparing wild animals for successful release.
Curriculum
The course includes more than 18 modules covering topics such as rewilding principles, enrichment design, neotropical species care, felid rehabilitation, advanced nutrition, clinical management, animal welfare, and species-specific rehabilitation strategies.
Each week includes two presentations or lectures and one quiz or assessment. Participants also complete ongoing practical training and a final evaluation. The goal is not only to expose students to wildlife care, but to ensure they are actively learning, applying information, and developing professional habits.
Daily Experience
Participants work six days per week in the rescue center. Daily responsibilities may include feeding, diet preparation, cleaning, enrichment construction, enclosure maintenance, behavioral observation, and supporting rehabilitation processes under supervision.
This work is physical, repetitive, and deeply important. Successful rehabilitators must be just as committed to cleaning, food preparation, and observation as they are to the more exciting moments of animal care. The course is designed to teach the full reality of wildlife rehabilitation, including the discipline and consistency required to do it ethically.
A Typical Day
A typical day may begin early with animal care, feeding, cleaning, and diet preparation. Later in the morning, participants may work on enrichment, enclosure improvements, behavioral observations, or practical assignments. Afternoons may include lectures, module discussions, quizzes, clinical or nutrition training, or applied exercises. Evenings may involve monitoring, review, study time, or rest.
The schedule is demanding but intentionally structured to combine hands-on repetition with formal learning.
What You'll LearN
By the end of the course, participants will understand the full rehabilitation process from intake to release, including the importance of minimizing human imprinting, supporting natural behaviors, assessing welfare, designing enrichment, preparing diets, and thinking critically about release readiness.
Students will gain practical skills in nutrition, husbandry, enrichment, behavioral observation, welfare assessment, ethical rewilding, and the daily operations of a wildlife rescue and rehabilitation center.
Life At HojA Nueva
Course participants live on-site at Hoja Nueva’s rainforest field station. Housing is shared and simple, with separate sleeping areas, beds with mosquito nets, communal spaces, solar-powered electricity, composting toilets, showers, hand-wash laundry, and Starlink Wi-Fi available during parts of the day.
All meals are provided. Life at Hoja Nueva is remote, humid, physically active, and deeply immersive. Participants should be prepared for insects, mud, rain, heat, limited connectivity, and the realities of living and working in the Amazon rainforest.
Who This is For
This course is designed for future wildlife rehabilitators, veterinary students, biology students, conservation students, animal care professionals, and highly motivated individuals pursuing careers in wildlife welfare, rehabilitation, or rewilding.
Applicants should be serious about animal care, comfortable with physical work, and prepared for a structured, full-time commitment.
Certification
Participants who successfully complete the course receive a Certificate of Completion. Recommendation letters may be available for strong participants, and graduates are eligible for discounted future placements with Hoja Nueva.
Participants also receive Hoja Nueva field gear,
Expectations
This is a physically demanding, full-time course. Participants work six days per week and are expected to take responsibility seriously. The work requires discipline, humility, consistency, and respect for strict ethical standards. This is not a wildlife tourism experience, and animal welfare always comes first.
Duration and Pricing
The Wildlife Rehabilitator Course runs for three months and is offered in two cohorts per year.
Cohort 1: April – June
Cohort 2: August – October
Cohorts are limited to approximately participants to ensure a strong learning environment and meaningful hands-on experience.
3-Month Wildlife Rehabilitator Course: $3,500 (all-inclusive)
What's Included
The course fee includes full access to the structured curriculum, daily hands-on training in the rescue center, two lectures per week, one weekly assessment, one monthly assessment, a final exam, accommodation, all meals, course materials, instruction, transport to/ from Puerto Maldonado, Hoja Nueva field gear, and a certificate upon successful completion.
Early application is strongly recommended due to limited cohort sizes. A deposit is required to secure your placement, with the remaining balance due prior to arrival.
Ready to Join Us?
The Wildlife Rehabilitator Course is a chance to train in real-world wildlife care and rewilding, gaining the skills and experience needed to pursue a career in animal welfare and conservation.
If you’re ready to commit to an intensive, hands-on program in the Amazon, we’d love to hear from you.