Marine Mammal Rescue Husbandry Internship About the Marine Mammal Rescue Centre (MMR) One of the Vancouver Aquarium’s direct action programs, the Marine Mammal Rescue Centre works to rescue, rehabilitate and successfully release abandoned, injured, or stranded marine mammals. Approximately 15 minutes east of the Vancouver Aquarium, patients are brought to the Marine Mammal Rescue Centre’s (MMR) 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 injured marine mammals in the 1960s, the centre has treated elephant seals, sea otters, sea lions, harbour porpoises and even sea turtles. Harbour seals are the most common patient at the facility, which can care for over 120 animals at a time. The MMR Husbandry Internship is an unpaid internship. It provides students with hands-on experience in marine mammal rescue, rehabilitation and the conservation of marine life. Students will engage in laboratory procedures, rescue techniques and help with the veterinary and husbandry care of stranded marine mammals. MMR presents a unique internship opportunity for, but not limited to: □ Pre-veterinary students taking biology, science or similar university program □ Veterinary technician students □ Veterinary students Requirements: Successful candidates will be: □ Full-time students enrolled in a college or university in a zoology, marine biology, related animal science; or completed all or part of course study in veterinary technology, marine biology or related field, from a recognized institution □ Interested in a career as a veterinary technician, veterinarian, marine biologist or wildlife rehabilitator □ Extremely self motivated with a desire for continuing education □ In good academic standing □ Experienced in the animal care field either paid work or volunteer □ Able to submit a letter of interest and resume outlining why you are interested in the program, your availability, educational background and where you heard about the program □ Able to provide two (2) letters of reference □ Able to secure the necessary funds for relocation, accommodations and living expenses for the entire placement □ Able to lift 25kg with ease, be in good physical shape and be able to work both inside and outside in various weather conditions International Applicants Applicants must be legally eligible to work in Canada □ Unpaid internships do fall under the category of work, and therefore require a work permit □ It is the responsibility of the applicant to obtain a work permit prior to entering Canada; for more information, please contact Citizen and Immigration Canada http://www.cic.gc.ca/ 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 □ Monitoring/observing marine mammals □ Assisting the veterinary and rehabilitation staff in surgical and medical cases when required □ Assist in researching information to aid in animal care □ Laboratory procedures □ Assisting with rescues and releases □ Shifts will be a minimum of eight (8) hour long, five (5) days a week for a total of 40 hours per week □ Work schedules will include weekends, evenings and holidays Research Project Interns are responsible for researching and presenting a project on a topic based on their experience at MMR. Topics may be relevant to marine mammal conservation, veterinary medicine or approved other topic. Interns will present a short oral presentation, paper or poster to MMR staff and volunteers before the end of their internship. Topics may include: □ Marine mammal husbandry □ Infectious diseases □ Nutrition □ Zoonotic diseases □ Marine mammal anatomy or physiology □ Marine mammal conservation □ Anatomy and physiology Accommodation All candidates are expected to find their own accommodations in Vancouver. For more information on accommodation and maps, please request the “General Information on VanAqua and Living in Vancouver” from rescue@vanaqua.org. Placement dates and application procedures: There are seven (7) internship positions over the summer. See below for start and end date options. All internship placement applications are due by February 1st, 2013. Telephone/personal interviews* will be held after that date, with notification dates following interview process. * Please note, only successful applicants will be contacted Placements: June 17th – August 31st Three (3) unpaid 11 weeks June 17th – Sept 30th Four (4) unpaid 15 weeks *Start/finish dates subject to change Applications will be processed by the MMR Manager and staff. Please send resume, letter of intent and two references either by email: rescue@vanaqua.org with Marine Mammal Rescue Husbandry Internship application in the subject line OR by mail: Marine Mammal Rescue Husbandry Internship Application Vancouver Aquarium PO Box 3232 Vancouver, BC V6B 3X8 * Please note, only successful applicants will be contacted ** Incomplete applications will not be processed Thank you for your interest in the Vancouver Aquarium’s Marine Mammal Rescue Centre’s Internship program Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Centre MMR: 604-258-SEAL (7325) Aquarium: 604-659-3478 Fax: 604-659-3515 E-Mail: Rescue@vanaqua.org The Vancouver Aquarium is a non-profit society dedicated to the conservation of aquatic life. www.vanaqua.org CONFIDENTIALITY WARNING - THIS MESSAGE IS INTENDED ONLY FOR THE ADDRESSEE, IT MAY CONTAIN PRIVILEGED OR CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION. ANY UNAUTHORIZED DISCLOSURE IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED. 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