Small Animals Area Coordinator - Work with rescued wildlife in the jungle

Are you passionate about wildlife? Would you like to work in the Bolivian jungle with coatis? This is your chance to use your skills to support animals rescued from illegal trafficking! Comunidad Inti Wara Yassi (CIWY) is looking for a small animals coordinator to join our team as soon as possible.

Introduction

Comunidad Inti Wara Yassi (CIWY) is a Bolivian NGO, made up of a team of committed professionals and volunteers from Bolivia and around the world. Founded in 1992, CIWY was the pioneer of the environmental movement in Bolivia and is recognised nationally and internationally. CIWY currently manages three wildlife sanctuaries: Machia (Cochabamba), Ambue Ari (Santa Cruz) and Jacj Cuisi (Rurrenabaque). Each sanctuary offers refuge to wild animals rescued from trafficking, offering them a better quality of life.

Overview

The small animal area in Ambue Ari is home to up to 5 coatis and 2 raccons, around 10 birds and oter animals. At Ambue Ari animals in this area vary as this is a temporary holding zone. However, common animals include kinkajous, night monkeys, titi monkeys, tapirs, exotic birds (such as toucans, macaws, parrots, and rheas), peccaries, squirrel monkeys, tortoises and coatis. The work here includes feeding the animals, cleaning the enclosures, providing enrichment for them and the general maintenance of the area. Some animals are able to spend their days outside their cages, and you will need to watch over them to make sure that they are safe. You will also be in charge of the volunteers in your area.

Description

The role requires autonomy and organization in carrying out the daily routine, which involves cleaning, preparing food, checking the animals and overseeing the volunteers’ work. The coordinator must have a strong level of teamwork, responsibility and initiative. The main goal is that the animals receive the best possible care and attention in the most efficient way possible. 

Responsibilities:

• The small animals' area coordinator will be in charge of the area and of the care taking of the animals.

• Training new volunteers and teaching them the management techniques that have been put in place there as well as introducing them to the animals.

• Take measures to ensure the safety of yourself, the volunteers, staff and visitors to the park.

• Working with the biologist to update the animal files and liaise with the administrator to make sure that all information is up to date on the computers.

• Record observations, deaths, births, and illnesses and learn the behaviours of our animals.

• Manage the daily routines and change them according to the conditions of that day.

• Assure the safety of the volunteers and help them with any problems they might have.

• Organize the calendar of activities, such as bleach days and treatment days and provision and cover for days off.

• Understand the foods that they can and cannot eat and change the daily diet and meal times depending on what is available here in the park.

• Listen to the volunteers, as they might be able to see things that you do not see.

• Oversee the cleanliness of the area and the health of the animals.

• Administer medicine and treatments if necessary and communicate regularly with park vets to ensure that health issues are communicated clearly and are being managed appropriately.

• Carry out, when required, general repairs to your area.

• Ensure that volunteers comply with park rules and report any breaches to the Administrator immediately.

• Ensure the proper usage, safekeeping and return of all park equipment by all area volunteers.

• Ensure that only volunteers assigned to your area are allowed to enter and report to the volunteer coordinator if any individual attempts to enter a prohibited area.

• Attend Sanctuary meetings as directed by the Administrator or the Organization President and maintain a good level of communication with them.

• Monitor the conduct and performance of all volunteers in the area and report to the Administrator or Volunteer • Coordinator for any cause for concern or performance related issues.

• Have a full understanding of the emergency procedures in the case of animal attacks, escapes or accidents.

• Maintain a proactive involvement in the management of the group’s diet, including volume of food given and variety.

Conditions

CIWY’s three Centres are each located in remote areas of Bolivia, and the comforts of each vary. At Machía there is electricity, internet and water available most of the time. Ambue Ari has limited electricity to power the office, fridges and electronics charging stations only. A well/borehole provides drinking water and the water for the showers is not heated. At Jacj Cuisi there is no electricity and volunteers currently sleep in one large dorm with bunk beds. The toilets are ecological and do not use plumbing. At both Ambue Ari and Jacj Cuisi there is limited mobile phone signal at specific points in the sanctuary, however only with the provider Entel and there is no Wi-Fi. At all three centres there are straw mattresses. You will be living with staff and volunteers, both Bolivian and international, who work hard day-to-day to keep the project running. You should be patient, adaptable and above all, be prepared for physically hard work in difficult conditions

Work hours

The role of coordinator comes with the responsibility of overseeing a management area. Usually our coordinators are the first to arrive and last to leave the areas to ensure proper functioning.

Coordinators can expect a work schedule that usually begins at 7 a.m. and ends at 6 p.m. The work includes to a large extent: cleaning of cages and the area; feeding, diet and enrichment administration; repairs and general maintenance of the area; in addition to training and coordinating volunteers.

Each coordinator works 6 days, and has one day off, per week. Coordinators have a week of holiday after every 6 months worked.

Financial agreement

This position has a minimum time commitment of 6 months and does not have a salary. CIWY will take care of your breakfast, lunch and lodging.

When applying for this position you must take into account out-of-pocket expenses such as visa procedures and transport costs to the Center. CIWY only supports you with the required paperwork.

Experience/Skills required

Candidate should have a strong interest in animals, in their behaviour and their well-being. Candidate should also have at least an intermediate level English or Spanish speaking, reading and writing abilities and the willingness to learn both languages.