The Intern Dispatches: A Sanctuary for Wildlife and Reflection in Greece

Carina Caviezel (C’28) is part of the inaugural class of the BS in Environment & Sustainability , a degree offered by the Earth Commons Institute and the College of Arts & Sciences. Carina spent her summer interning with ANIMA, the Hellenic Wildlife Care Association in Athens. She cared for birds, tortoises, and hedgehogs while learning about the challenges Greece’s wildlife face, from wildfires to human pressures, and was inspired by ANIMA’s commitment to protecting all species.

An unexpected email last December set my summer in motion: the opportunity to intern in Greece for an environmental organization. Over the next few months, with the help of Katerina Downward, Managing Director of the Earth Commons in Greece, I was placed in an internship with ANIMA – Hellenic Wildlife Care Association. Before I knew it, June 2 had arrived and I was walking to the bus stop closest to my apartment to head to their Athens office for my first day of work. 

A short bus ride later, I walked into the office greeted by Anna Manta, my internship coordinator. She took me on a tour of the facilities and introduced me to everyone I would be working with. Greeted by their smiles and warm welcomes, any worries I had faded and were replaced with excitement as I saw all the animals I would be working with over the next eight weeks.

ANIMA is a wildlife sanctuary that protects nearly all of Greece’s terrestrial species, including birds, mammals, and reptiles. They accept animals from all over the country, providing medical care, food, and shelter until they can be released back into the wild. As an intern, I worked mainly with birds, tortoises, and hedgehogs, cleaning their cages and feeding them. While the work environment was often loud and chaotic, it was also very social. There was always someone to talk to with staff from Greece and interns from France and Sweden, introducing me to new cultures and perspectives.

My favorite part of my internship was observing how different species behave up close. Watching how a hedgehog curls into a ball and uses its quills for defense when it feels threatened or how a vulture eats, quickly snatching its prey, was fascinating. In learning to care for these animals, I also learned about the challenges they face from wildfires to heat to cats. The commitment from ANIMA to protect all species despite limited resources and space was extremely inspiring. 

After work, I never passed up an opportunity to explore Athens. The city is very walkable, so I often found myself strolling through Plaka, surrounded by eager tourists looking at the Acropolis looming over us, or Monastiraki, where vendors from the local flea market try to grab your attention with souvenirs, clothing, and fresh fruit. On warm evenings, I’d hike up one of the city’s hills to watch the sun set over the city, the Acropolis, and in the distance, the shimmering Aegean Sea. 

On weekends, I traveled the Greek islands with the other students taking part in the Earth Commons International Fellowship, Zoe Gutherman, Phoebe Opler, Nitya Gupta, and Megan Lu. We saw Paros, Aegina, and Agistri, exploring towns, hiking mountainous trails, and swimming in the clear blue Aegean Sea, each island offering something different. We lived on Greek time, never in a rush to get anywhere, flowing with the slower pace of life. Letting go of urgency, I was able to truly be present and savor each moment. 

As I wrap up my summer, I know I will always look back on my time in Greece with gratitude and joy. I would like to thank Katerina Downward for organizing the experience and helping me find ANIMA. I am grateful to Dr. Jesse Meiller from Georgetown University and Dr. Dionysis Raitsos from the University of Athens for their work co-teaching the course Sensing Marine Ecosystem Health & Climate Impacts from Space and all of their invaluable guidance. Lastly, I would like to thank everyone at ANIMA for welcoming me to the team this summer and allowing me to participate in the incredible work they do.