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Summer Internships in Thailand

Wildlife, Conservation, and Veterinary Medicine

Chiang Mai and Elephant Nature Park, Thailand

  • Dates – June 29–July 26, 2025
  • Max Enrollment – 30
  • Prerequisites – No
  • Career Area – Animal and Vet Science

Program Overview

Gain first-hand animal experience in a variety of settings while working with Thai and international veterinarians in a cross-cultural context. As an intern, you will have the opportunity to work with a vet for two weeks at a small animal (dog and cat) clinic, 1 week at an elephant sanctuary, and one week at a zoo. This program includes both veterinary experience and animal experience hours. Take advantage of this amazing opportunity to explore Thai culture while learning hands-on veterinary, conservation, and animal science skills.

Apart from work for the internship, you will also engage in an online course facilitated by a UC Davis faculty. The online coursework provides an opportunity for meaningful reflection during the program. You will spend approximately 35-40 hours per week at your internship and another two hours per week for the online course.

Program provided in partnership with Loop Abroad.

Program Contacts

Program Highlights

  • Learn directly alongside experienced veterinarians.
  • Observe and gain small animal clinical skills.
  • Learn the basics of elephant husbandry, nutrition, and care.
  • Work with local staff at locally-owned and operated conservation projects.
  • Open to students from all majors; no language requirement.

What Students Are Saying

  • “Prepare thoroughly for the program but you also need to expect the unexpected. Learn hard, study hard, but also have fun!”
  • “I had had my first failures in trying to vaccinate or draw blood, but I also had my first successes in doing those as well. This a learning journey, you encountered failures, you learned from it, you may or may not success the next time but the importance thing here is you learn.”

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