Esperanza Verde - Long term vet volunteer needed to join their dedicated team

Esperanza Verde is a wildlife rescue centre and conservation project based in the Amazon Jungle. In Peru many animal species fall victim to illegal hunting, either for meat or to be sold into the pet trade. Esperanza Verde rescue and rehabilitate animals that have been confiscated from the illegal wildlife trade. Where possible they release animals back into the wild, however sadly this is not possible in all cases. As a result they also provide permanent homes to animals deemed unfit for release.

Esperanza Verde was started by Olivia Conrads and Douwe Bakker in 2010. A few years later they became officially recognised as a Peruvian wildlife rescue centre. They are now home to around 200 animals, some resident, some awaiting release and others living in semi-captivity. These animals include woolly monkeys, spider monkeys, squirrel monkeys, tamarin monkeys, night monkeys, capuchins, sloths, kinkajous, and peccaries, as well as an array of birds and reptiles. In past year they have released over 400 animals back into the wild!

Responsibilities

• Veterinary Responsibility for all the animals under the care of Esperanza Verde
  • Administering regular medication
  • Performing emergency procedures
  • Performing surgical procedures
  • Managing animals that have any abnormal symptoms
  • Monitoring the health and behaviour of all animals and administering treatment when necessary
• Managing the Veterinary Clinic
  • Overseeing the organisation of the clinic
  • Coordinating the volunteers working at the clinic
  • Keeping files up-to-date: registering all new animals and updating the records of the existing animals
  • Keeping the inventory up-to-date and alerting the wider team when materials or medications are low
• Quarantine Responsibility
  • Completing full health checks and implementing care plans for all new arrivals
• Prophylactic Monitoring
  • Planning and implementing routine prophylactic procedures (such as deworming, deparasitation etc.)
• Assisting with the outreach program
  • Neutering domesticated animals in the local villages when required

Learning Opportunities:

Experience handling and treating exotic wildlife, both in captivity and in their natural environment

Requirements

• 12 Month minimum commitment
• Must have at least 2 years clinical experience
• Must speak English fluently (basic Spanish would also be desirable)
• Must be in good physical and mental health
• Must be able to live in a remote and isolated place (previous experience of living in a rainforest region desirable)

Esperanza Verde will provide

• Accommodation
• All meals (breakfast, lunch, dinners and snacks)

Not included

• Return Flights
• Other transport
• Insurance
• Other personal expenses

Working Hours:

The core working hours are 5 days a week 07:30 – 16:30

However there will be responsibilities that fall outside of the core hours, so any candidate would be expected to have a flexible work approach

The country this project is based in is listed as a high risk of Zika virus on the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) website. Please follow the advice on their website when considering participating in this project.