Animal Care Placements
Three-month Internship
Internships with our animal care team run for three months at a time from either October – December or January – March. This period is usually our busiest as it is the grey seal pupping season meaning this is when the majority of our rescue and rehabilitation work is taking place.
Our intern would be expected to work with us five days a week from approximately 8am – 5pm during their internship. They will work with the animal care team to assist in our daily routine which involves feeding and caring for our resident animals, preparing diets, cleaning of enclosures and work spaces, as well as environmental enrichment for our residents.
As it will be pupping season, you will also assist in the rehabilitation of rescue seals which may include clinical care, feeding, vet visits, rescues and releases. This is a great opportunity for someone to learn how rehabilitation is done first-hand with our rescue seals, as well as getting an insight into what goes in to caring for our resident animals full-time including long term treatments, training and enrichment!
There will also be opportunity to learn from our animal care team about positive reinforcement training as well as being able to create new enrichment devices for our residents. We would also encourage our intern to take a lead with our regular and work placement volunteers; showing them the basic duties etc when they first start with us.
To apply you must:
- Be over 18 years old
- Be able to commit to three months (September-December or January-March)
- Arrange own transport and accommodation (please note Gweek is fairly isolated and public transport is limited)
- Have an up-to-date Tetanus vaccination and have had an influenza vaccine in the past 12months
- Complete the application form, write a cover letter, provide proof of right to work and your CV
- Be physically fit and able (be able to lift up to 20kg)
- Be able to swim 25m
- Be able to work as part of a team
- Have a positive attitude!
- Have a full clean driving licence (not essential but preferred)
Work Experience
Work experience placements with our animal care team run throughout the year and provide you with valuable practical experience in the animal care field. Placements are a minimum of two weeks and a maximum of six weeks, working roughly 40 hours per week (8am – 5pm), with two days off a week.
You will work with the animal care team to assist in our daily routine which involves feeding and caring for our resident animals, preparing diets and medication, cleaning of enclosures and workspaces, as well as environmental enrichment for our residents. During the grey seal pupping season (September to March) you will assist in the rehabilitation of rescue seals which may include clinical care, feeding, vet visits, rescues, and releases.
To apply you must:
- Be over 18 years old.
- Arrange own transport and accommodation (be aware that Gweek is fairly isolated and public transport is limited).
- Have an up-to-date Tetanus vaccination.
- Be able to complete the application form and provide proof of right to work.
- Be physically fit and able (be able to lift up to 20kg).
- Be able to swim 25m (we work around pools of water).
- Have a positive attitude!
Vet Students: Whilst we offer year-round volunteering placements to provide hand on experience, we do not have a vet team on site and so cannot provide clinical placements.