Winter Seal Care Volunteer
About the organisation
Zeehondencentrum Pieterburen, is a specialized hospital in the north of the Netherlands, dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and release of injured, orphaned and sick seals. Every year we rehabilitate on average 200 native seals, Harbor (Phoca vitulina) /Grey (Halichoerus grypus) seals, and return them back to the wild.
About the role
Currently we are seeking to add to our team, with some dedicated and hardworking volunteers/interns for our Seal Care department for the upcoming Winter period, starting November 2023 till the end of March 2024. During this period we could expect, trauma patients (wounds, eye problems, broken bones…) of the grey seal pups and weakened parasitic patients with addition wound of virus issues of the harbor seal as the main cause of stranding in the Wadden Sea.
We are looking for those persons, of an age of 18 years and over, with a desire to assist our experienced nurses with the day to day care of the seal patients. As a member of our Seal Care team, tasks you could expect to take part in can include but are not limited to: assisting the nurses with tube feedings, medical procedures (weighing, transportation, and assisting wound care), preparing individual and special diets, sanitation of enclosures following our strict protocols, etc.
Requirements
No previous experience with wild animals is required as there will be full training and reference material given, the preferable candidates will be able to dedicate a length of stay of 12 weeks, we will consider the minimum length of stay being 8 weeks. The working week is a set 5 days, with an average of 40 hours per week.
Salary and benefits
This is an unpaid position, but an ideal learning opportunity.
We have accommodation on site, and for a small fee per week you can eat all your daily meals and stay in an internationally diverse environment. Due to this, the common speaking language is strictly English, so we expect candidates with a moderate level of speaking, reading and writing of English.
Because we are a rescue centre, and a hospital, you could expect that there could be some heavy times, both emotionally and physically. But, we hope that with the right attitude, flexibility and professionalism it would be a rewarding and satisfying experience to help those seal patients in need.
Start date
To be confirmed.
How to apply
For further application information please contact the Head of the Volunteers, Vicky Stoneman via email on Victoria.Stoneman@zeehondencentrum.nl, or by phoning the centre’s main information number on 0031, 595, 526 526.
For general information on our activities please check out our website www.zeehondencentrum.nl
