Position Available: New World Primate Caregiver/Documentarian Internship at Pacific Primate Sanctuary, Maui, Hawaii

[Erin Enriques]

Resident Primate Caregiver/Documentarian Internship at Pacific Primate Sanctuary, Maui, Hawaii

Pacific Primate Sanctuary has immediate openings for our Resident Internship, including our new 6 and 9 month options!

Position Description:
Pacific Primate Sanctuary (PPS) is a 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization, providing rehabilitation and permanent care for threatened, endangered, and distressed primates. Since 1984, the Sanctuary has maintained a federally authorized facility for New World monkeys, many of whom have been rescued from research laboratories, the exotic pet trade, and tourist attractions. 

The Primate Caregiver/Documentarian Internship is a unique immersion program facilitating learning about New World primates and animal sanctuary operations on an intimate, in depth, all-encompassing level. Training is tailored for each Intern and progress is evaluated at each stage of instruction. The Intern is awarded Primary Animal Caregiver Certification by senior personnel, after successfully acquiring a high level of competence, skill, and expertise in primate care, record keeping, and facility management. 

Interns are trained by experienced members of our staff in all aspects of New World primate care (Callithrix, Cebus, and Ateles). This is more than a full-time position and includes on-call duties as needed.

In the early stages, Interns learn how to provide daily care, enrichment, and nurturing to 25+/- monkeys, preparing food, cleaning enclosures, and maintaining the Sanctuary facility. Interns then receive Emergency Care training, becoming proficient in capture, transfer, restraint and handling, and specialized individual care. They then begin to acquire skills in Colony Management. 

Next, Interns get specialized medical training: calculating medication dosages and administering medication, checking vital signs (temperature, respiratory, and pulse rate), providing subcutaneous fluid therapy and intensive care (heat, fluids, special diet, wound care, etc.). They play an intimate part in veterinary consults, treatment plans, and follow up.

Interns also participate in Sanctuary Management: training new volunteers, keeping detailed records and reporting on the AM and PM status of the primates (in SOAP format), making updates and revisions to PPS Manuals and creating new protocol and procedure documents (Mac: Excel, Word). They read and review relevant texts and articles and present short summaries along with current primate status reports for our monthly staff meetings.

Please begin making application for the Internship by submitting the following, via e-mail: your Letter of Intent in making application, your Resume/CV, and three Letters of Reference (from instructors, employers etc.) For additional information and application documents, please contact: p...@pacificprimate.org

Qualifications/Experience:
The PPS Resident Internship Selection Committee invites qualified applicants with a background and interest in animal husbandry, welfare and conservation, exotic veterinary medicine, biology, and related fields to apply for this residency. 

This is an entry level position in primate care. Candidates should have received, or be working towards, a university degree in biology, zoology, primatology, ecology, etc. or have experience working with domestic or exotic animals in a professional setting. A one-year commitment and the practice of selfless service to the animals is required.  PPS does not offer any summer, or other short term Internships.

The committee would welcome a mature team player with respect for others, an articulate communicator (written and spoken English) and coordinator, who seeks mutual growth for all and is able to make a commitment to the primates and the staff. The position requires a self-starter and hard worker, someone who is humble, compassionate, self-reliant, organized, professional, computer literate, open to learning, capable of problem solving and completing a task. An applicant must be able to function independently as well as in a group. The Resident Intern should be physically fit, with no criminal record or communicable diseases (a current negative tuberculosis screening is required). Resident Interns must acquire and provide proof of health insurance for the duration of the residency. This position is suitable for someone who would enjoy a rural lifestyle with simple amenities. Citizens of foreign countries will need to secure their own visas and permits independently.

Salary/funding:
As no medical research is conducted at the Sanctuary, our organization is not eligible for funding from any governmental agencies, nor do we receive funds from admission, as public zoos do. Therefore, we must rely solely upon donations from compassionate individuals and organizations. Our operating budget is extremely small. Financial independence for personal expenses (i.e. travel and medical needs) is required of Sanctuary Interns.

Support provided for PPS Internship positions:
Pacific Primate Sanctuary provides fully furnished and equipped Yurts, traditional round structures designed specifically for tropical living, with wireless internet service. The Yurts and bathroom accommodations are adjacent to the facility. Utilities, paper goods, and cleaning supplies are also supplied. Resident Interns and local PPS Volunteers maintain an on-site organic garden and fruit orchard, supporting the Sanctuary’s sustainability goals. The verdant 4-acre site is landscaped with tropical ornamentals, flowers, and trees. This position is ideal for someone who would enjoy a rural lifestyle with simple amenities, in a subtropical climate.

Term of Appointment:
One Year preferred.  Applications for 6 or 9 month Internships are currently being accepted.  Shorter term Internships will have modified training programs. 

This position is ongoing with new positions available throughout the year

Comments:
Everyone involved with Pacific Primate Sanctuary is unsalaried and the organization operates with a volunteer staff, funded solely by money donated by compassionate individuals and organizations. Our small community is made up of 5-10 local Volunteer Caregivers (who volunteer one or more shifts each week), 1-3 Animal Caregiver/Documentarian Interns, 2-3 Administrators, and an off-site support system of veterinary and other professionals.  

At PPS, the needs of the primates are first and foremost. Each primate receives the best care possible for his or her physical, psychological and social well-being. The monkeys are treated with respect, compassion and empathy. They are provided the housing, social grouping, nutrition and care that best benefit their age and physical condition, and facilitate their innate, natural behavior. Since the well-being of the monkeys is our primary focus, they are not on exhibit and the facility is not open to the public. The Sanctuary is a beautiful place for people with a deep appreciation of the natural world and the Beings we share it with.  

Please visit the PPS website: http://www.pacificprimate.org 
and Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/PacificPrimateSanctuary