Oasis Wildlife Fuerteventura and MasterD Make the Island an International Hub with the First Animal Keeper Camp
Oasis Wildlife Fuerteventura will host the first international edition of the Animal Keeper Camp from 20 to 26 October. The innovative training program will bring veterinary and wildlife‑assistant students from Spain, Italy and Portugal to the island. Organized together with the MasterD‑Davante Veterinary School, the camp aims to train future animal caretakers through a hands‑on, immersive experience at one of Europe’s most important conservation centres.
The programme has already sold out all places in the three participating countries and has expanded its capacity in Italy due to high demand. It combines applied training, technical activities and professional guidance, all in direct contact with unique species and ecosystems.
Practical Training in a Reference Environment
During seven days, participants will attend theory‑practice sessions led by specialists from Oasis Wildlife and the Davante educational group. The Majorcan centre, home to more than 3,000 animals of 250 species and one of Europe’s largest botanical gardens, provides an ideal setting for learning about conservation, animal welfare and responsible handling.
Key facilities include the Dromemilk Camel Bio Farm, Europe’s largest camel dairy and a benchmark for camel‑milk research and production. Students will stay in the centre’s on‑site hostel, located within the botanical reserve, enjoying an immersive experience in direct contact with the island’s flora and fauna.
An Intensive Programme with a Professional Focus
From 21 to 24 October, participants will follow an intensive schedule of four daily sessions covering:
- Veterinary clinical practice
- Ethology
- Nutrition
- Facility design
- Safety and environmental enrichment
They will work with species such as elephants, giraffes, Cuvier’s gazelles, primates, reptiles, raptors and camelids, always under protocols that prioritize animal welfare.
“The camp offers a real‑world, transformative experience that adds great professional value,” said Blanca Lahoz, director of the Davante Veterinary School.
The closing day on 25 October will feature a diploma ceremony and a final dinner, with participants departing on Sunday, 26 October.
International Teaching Team and High Specialisation
Oasis Wildlife Fuerteventura’s teaching staff includes:
- Azahara López – Veterinarian
- Bruno Miguel Alves – Raptors specialist
- Paloma Badía – Camel expert
- Rut Peña – Sea‑lion specialist
- Ana Cabrera – Conservationist
- Soraya Cabrera – Director of Conservation
They are supported by additional technicians and biologists. From MasterD‑Davante, Isabel Sánchez, Pilar Izquierdo and Sara Rafaniello contribute expertise in animal welfare and veterinary training.
Comments from the Organising Entities
Blanca Lahoz, director of the Davante Veterinary School in Spain, highlighted that:
“This fifth edition of our camp, and the first international one, marks a key step in the practical and ethical training of our students. It provides a real, transformative experience of great professional value in a unique natural setting.”
Guacimara Cabrera, CEO of Oasis Wildlife Fuerteventura, added:
“Oasis Wildlife is the only zoo in the world that offers a professional camp of this kind, with internal accommodation and hands‑on conservation training. From Fuerteventura we continue to develop talent and connect future animal caretakers across Europe, guided by animal‑welfare and sustainability principles.”
With this initiative, Fuerteventura consolidates its position as an international benchmark for practical conservation education, sustainability and responsible wildlife management, attracting talent and establishing the island as a European hub for applied environmental education.