Program Reviews

I had lots of fun. I Made so many new friends that I will keep forever. The Staff was great and I already miss them dearly. I Loved the itinerary and how it was already planned out for each day and the setup of the course. I Learned a lot about animals and the Thai culture. I loved getting to know the elephants at the park and learning about the mahoots. I also loved surgery week and am much more confident in the small animal clinic because of this study abroad! Its a great resume booster. I didn’t want to leave and I can’t wait to go back!!

Everything was perfect. Staff at both the zoo and Loop Abroad were so helpful throughout the entire process and trip. We unfortunately got sick while we were over there but everyone was SO helpful and tried their very best to make us comfortable and feel better about the situation. The staff at Lory Park worked extremely hard to make us feel involved during isolation and helped us see our projects finished and did everything to make us feel better about missing a few things due to sickness. 10/10 recommend and will travel with them again!

This experience provided the opportunity to study companion animals and elephants in a supportive learning environment. The hands-on opportunities at Elephant Nature Park are unique and gave me skills that I can apply in the future. This program also allowed me to immerse myself in Thai culture through trying different foods and learning the language and customs. We were also able to explore Chiang Mai and the various temples which were amazing! Highly recommend this experience for college students!

My trip to Ecuador with Loop Abroad was an amazing. Waking up in the Amazon and having wild squirrel monkeys follow you on your walk to Amazoonico every morning is something you won't experience anywhere else. We had the opportunity to work on ethograms and implement enrichments for macaws and spider monkeys, observe physical exams on a squirrel monkey and a coati, and evaluate and microchip tortoises for release. We also performed a necropsy on a capuchin monkey and a venemous equis snake. Working with the staff from Amazoonico was a lot of fun, we learned a lot about how veterinary medicine and wildlife conservation works in a foreign country firsthand. We also went into the local town and put on a two day vet clinic for their pets which was a very rewarding experience. And, we had time to do some tourist activities like sight see in historic Quito and go white water rafting!

During the 2 week program to Australia, I was given the opportunity to learn about prominent Australian wildlife through lectures and hands on experiences. This trip opened my eyes to how amazing Australian animals are from a medical and veterinary standpoint. It was an extremely safe, overwhelmingly fun, and remarkably educational experience! Not only did we spend in depth time learning about Australian animals, but we also had lots of chances to explore and have fun! We spent a day at the Taronga zoo as well as a day exploring Sydney. The animal education was very plentiful and was taught in a very fun and interactive way. I would highly recommend this trip to anyone who is interested in the veterinary, biology, or conservation professions!

Spending 2 weeks in South Africa this summer has been an incredible experience I'll never forget. The staff and veterinarians at Feracare were extremely welcoming and supportive. The passion they have for what they do is so incredible. They all care so much about conservation and the well-being of cheetahs (as well as other animals they have on their property). We also got to spend the weekend at Kruger National Park and the only bad thing I can say about that is that I wish we got to spend more time there. It was so beautiful and absolutely amazing to see these animals in their own habitat. The only complaint that I have is that the food at Feracare wasn't the best but there were circumstances out of their control that changed last minute. Overall, this trip has been so eye-opening and has changed my life. It has solidified the idea that I'd love to be a wildlife veterinarian in the future.

I have never been abroad before in my whole life and I couldn't imagine a more fitting location for me to travel to for my first time than South Africa. I wanted my experience to be in a place that no one I knew has been to so I could have no expectations whatsoever. I was nervous, but South Africa completely blew me away the min I walked into the Zoo where I would be residing. The staff of Lory Park and Loop Abroad were more than welcoming, they treated us like family and it felt like being welcomed into a second home. the sounds of the gibbons, cockatoos, and lions fully immersed me into the South African experience. The Safari Park alone made the entire trip an experience I would never forget. I am so humbled to have had this opportunity.

I may have been a bit nervous before the trip, but that immediately stopped once the trip got going. The experience we shared was so special and unlike any other. Thailand was such a beautiful country that I cannot wait to come back to. Everyone involved with Loop was spectacular and made the trip so much better. The bond our group formed was so supportive and loving. We all become very close and still remain in contact. Every part of the trip was wonderful and my only complaint was that I didn’t want it to end. The food was all delicious and we were able to see so much of the wonderful cities. It was so nice to get a sense of the beautiful culture. Loop created such an immersive experience that was far from any superficial tourist trip. If you want a real adventure that will be educational and enrich your soul, go on this trip.

You will have to trek from the lodging and lecture site at Runa Wasi through the jungle to Amazoonico. It is maybe a 10-15 minute walk but it is totally worth it. Plus splashing through the mud can be pretty fun :) The Amazoonico staff was awesome and I learned so much about rehabilitating and releasing animals. We were even lucky enough to observe a release of many turtles, some of which were endangered. I felt really honored to be apart of their project. On the weekend we spent in Tena, I had the best time white water rafting, caving, and doing unique experiments that only can be done on the equator! We also did a city tour and learned lots of history, visited cool landscapes, and were immersed in Quito culture. This program is definitely for the adventurous!

Diving is no easy feat but the instructors and staff were so helpful and accommodating! I was incredibly comfortable learning to navigate the waters with my group. The tour guides that took us around the island were super knowledgeable and entertaining. Not only do you learn about the abundant marine life you get to participate in snorkel surveys and learn how to conduct research in the water. Plus if you are interested in evolution, this is the best place to go! You learn tons about how animals traveled to the Galapagos and how they have evolved from the mainland. You get to see some of Darwin's finches, blue footed boobies, marine iguanas, and even giant tortoises!! One of the highlights for me was seeing two blue footed boobies partake in their mating dance- so cool! Definitely a one in a life time experience.