The Vancouver Aquarium's Marine Mammal Rescue (VAMMRC) Internship Program  

Mission Statement of the Vancouver Aquarium: The Vancouver Aquarium is a self-supporting, non-profit association dedicated to the conservation of aquatic life through display and interpretation, education, research, and direct action. 

About the Vancouver Aquarium's Marine Mammal Rescue Centre

One of the Vancouver Aquarium’s direct action programs, the Vancouver Aquarium's Marine Mammal Rescue Centre, works to rescue, rehabilitate and successfully release abandoned, injured, or stranded marine mammals. Located approximately 15 minutes east of the Vancouver Aquarium, patients are brought to the rescue centre’s hospital facility from all over the B.C. coast and cared for until they are well enough to be released into the wild. Since the Aquarium started helping distressed marine mammals in the 1960's, VAMMRC has treated elephant seals, sea otters, steller sea lions, harbour porpoises, common dolphins, and killer whales. Harbour seals are the most common patient admitted to the facility.

VAMMRC Internship Program

The VAMMRC Internship is an unpaid internship. It will provide students with hands-on experience in marine mammal rescue, rehabilitation and the conservation of marine life. Students will engage in laboratory procedures, animal husbandry, rescue techniques and help with the veterinary care of marine mammals.

VAMMRC presents a unique internship opportunity for:

Requirements

Successful candidate will be:

·         Full time students enrolled in, a college or university, in zoology, marine biology, or related animal science, or completed all or part of a course study in veterinary technology (or related field) from a recognized institution

·         Interested in a career as a veterinary technician, veterinarian, or a marine biology

·         Extremely self motivated with a desire for continuing education

·         Experienced in the animal care field either paid work or volunteer

·         Appling for position in a timely manor with resume and letter of interest outlining why you are interested in the program, your availability, educational background and where you heard about the program

·         Able to provide 2 letters of reference

·         Able to secure the necessary funds for relocation, accommodations and living expenses for the entire placement

·         Able to lift 20kg, be in good physical shape and be able to work both inside and outside in various weather conditions

Intern shifts will be approximately 8 hours long, 5 days a week for a total of 40 hours per week. Work schedules will include week-ends, evenings and holidays.

Responsibilities (applicant responsibilities may include, but are not limited to):

• Food preparation and animal feeding
• General cleaning duties and animal habitat maintenance
• Receiving animals when rescued including ability to weigh, assist in physical examinations, and animal record keeping
• Assisting the veterinarian and staff in surgical and medical cases when required
• Assist in researching information to aid in animal care
• Limited laboratory procedures
• May assist with rescues and releases

Accommodation

All candidates are expected to find their own accommodations in Vancouver. 

Placement dates and application procedures: 

Application Deadline March 1, 2010

Placement	Number of interns	Length of placement
June 23 – September 3	2 unpaid	10 weeks
June 23 – August 11	2 unpaid	7 weeks
July 20 – September 3	2 unpaid	7 weeks
July 20 – September 29	2 unpaid	10 weeks

* Dates are subject to change

Applications will be processed by the VAMMRC Coordinator and Manager. Please send resume, letter of intent and two references to rescue@vanaqua.org with "VAMMRC Internship Application" in the subject line OR

mail to the attention of:

VAMMRC Internship Application

Vancouver Aquarium

PO Box 3232

Vancouver, BC

V6B3X8

Good luck to all our applicants.

Thank you for your interest in the Vancouver Aquarium’s Marine Mammal Rescue Internship program.