Great opportunity to
gain experience in conservation
THE MAURITIAN
WILDLIFE FOUNDATION
Offers
Internship
opportunities
to work on the
TORTOISE PROJECT
Location: Ile aux
Aigrettes and Round Island, Mauritius
Project overview
Giant tortoises were
once common in Mauritius and became extinct in the mid-1800s. The tortoises fulfilled an important role in
the native ecosystem as browsers, grazers and seed dispersers. Many native and
endemic plants have evolved with, and appear to be adapted to their presence
and tortoises are thought to be an integral factor in sustaining habitat
diversity.
Since 2004 the MWF
has been using Aldabra giant tortoises as an ecological replacement for the
extinct Mauritian species. The aim is to restore lost plant-tortoise
interactions and help re-create a self-sustainable ecosystem. The project
manages tortoises on two islands, namely Ile aux Aigrettes and Round Island.
Hatchlings are collected from the breeding herd on Ile aux Aigrettes, reared in
secure enclosures and then transferred to Round Island where they are initially
held in quarantine and then released. All of the released tortoises are
individually marked and are closely monitored on both islands, with data
collected upon their distribution, movement, health and impact upon the
vegetation. The use of tortoises as ecosystem engineers for re-wilding
Mauritian islands has gained a lot of interest and the project works closely
with MWF’s academic partners.
The tortoise project
intern will be working closely with and reporting to the tortoise project staff
in charge.
The main duties will
include:
• The
handling, measurement and weighing of juvenile and adult tortoises (in
nurseries and in the field) to determine body condition
• To
assist with PIT-tagging and notching for individual recognition
• To
collect/prepare food on a daily basis for enclosed juvenile tortoises and to
ensure that they remain healthy
• To
conduct searches and quadrat surveys
• To
carry out accurate data collection and data entry
• To
assist in taking blood samples for disease screening, collect and analyse
faecal samples for parasite detection and provide treatment and care when
required
• To
support the management of facilities on Ile aux Aigrettes and Round Island for
the care, housing and containment of tortoises
• Assist,
if requested by senior Islands Restoration staff, with research projects taking
place
Requirements
Applicants will need
to:
• Have
at least a BSc in Biological Sciences
• Have
a minimum of one year’s experience in conservation and handling of animals
• Be
physically fit and able to stay focused on repetitive work carrying heavy loads
on steep terrain in a hot and humid environment
• Be
able to stay on remote islands with limited facilities within small diverse
teams
• Be
comfortable travelling by small boat in rough seas
• Be
ready to adapt to unforeseen circumstances with initiative and due care
• Have
good written and spoken English
• Have
a sound knowledge of spreadsheet applications and data management
• Proficiency
in the use of GPS devices, GIS software and program R preferred
• Ideally
have first aid certification, be able to swim and having a full clean driving
license
We need the intern
to commit for a six month period from April 2017. They would be required to pay
for their own return airfare and must have comprehensive insurance cover
(including repatriation) for the duration of their stay. Accommodation and
transport between MWF sites will be provided and the intern will need
approximately £150 to £200 per month to cover their own costs for food,
socialising and personal items. Personal equipment needs are basic (eg work
clothes, good boots, sun protection, reliable watch, LED head torch, thin
sleeping bag and/or bed sheet, mosquito net, mobile phone).
To apply: please
send a CV (resume) and a covering letter (with the word ‘Tortoise’ followed by
your surname and initials at the start of each file name), by email to:
recruitment@mauritian-wildlife.org
Closing date for
applications: 24th of February 2017
Peter Dickinson
Independent International Zoo Consultant        |
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