VOLUNTEER VETERINARY required

Angkor Centre for Conservation of Biodiversity, Cambodia

 

The Angkor Centre for Conservation of Biodiversity (ACCB) was established in 2003 by Münster Zoo and the Zoological Society for the Conservation of Species and Populations (ZGAP). It is the first nature conservation centre in Cambodia, located on 25 ha of land in the Phnom Kulen National Park, ca. 40 km north of Siem Reap and the temples of Angkor Wat. The goals of the ACCB are the rehabilitation of confiscated, mainly globally threatened wildlife and the conservation breeding of selected species, in combination with environmental education and capacity building of local communities and an expanding in-situ conservation programme.

 

The ACCB is currently looking for a Volunteer Veterinary. This is a challenging and rewarding position in a demanding environment suitable for a highly dedicated and motivated individual interested in making a contribution to conservation and working in wildlife veterinary medicine.

 

Main duties and responsibilities:

- Attend to animal stock at ACCB, including initial health check and monitoring of new arrivals during quarantine, routine checks and health screening of animal stock

- Develop new and refine existing protocols from a specialist veterinary perspective, e.g. regarding initial examination, quarantine, husbandry and maintenance in general as well as specific for certain animals (e.g. pangolin, water snakes) – potentially develop long-term database to be maintained.

- Training of ACCB staff in standard veterinary procedures, e.g. identification and treatment of parasites, capture and restraint, injections, post mortem examination, potentially also chemical immobilisation etc.

- Advise on and assist with improvements of animal facilities, e.g. repairs, furnishing of enclosures, environmental enrichment, building work etc.

- Maintenance and update of surgery room, drugs stock and veterinary equipment.

- Carry out all aspects of animal husbandry and rehabilitation in collaboration with the animal keeping team.

- Assist in building and maintenance work and with administrative tasks as required.

- Assist with the daily operation and further development of ACCB.

- Other tasks as required. Specific projects at ACCB as well as in the field may be undertaken.

 

Requirements:

The veterinarian reports to the project and the collection managers and works in close cooperation with the animal keeping team, in particular the foreign head keeper.

- Good command of English (spoken and written).

- Excellent organisational and communication skills and ability to multi-task.

- Good practical skills and computer literacy.

- Physically fit and able to work in a hot and humid climate.

- Ability to live under simple conditions in a poor, rural and isolated area in a different culture.

Conditions / remuneration:

- Travel expenses at the beginning and the end of the contract

- Free shared accommodation at ACCB and a small salary to cover living expenses

- On-site transport and satellite internet available, also for reasonable personal use

Preference will be given to candidates indicating that they are prepared to stay for longer periods.

 

Starting date: As soon as possible; applications will be reviewed as they are received.

 

Deadline for applications: 31^st January 2009.

 

Please apply via email including covering letter, CV and the contact details of two referees to:

Markus Handschuh, Animal Collection Manager, Angkor Centre for Conservation of Biodiversity (ACCB), Siem Reap, Cambodia. Email: markus.handschuh@accb-cambodia.org

and copy your application to:

Dr. Martina Raffel, Allwetterzoo Münster, Sentruper Straße 315, D-48161 Münster, Germany. Email: raffel@allwetterzoo.de