Saving Wildcats veterinary and in-situ volunteer
Who are we?
Saving Wildcats (#SWAforLife) is a European partnership project dedicated to Scottish wildcat conservation and recovery. We aim to prevent the extinction of wildcats in Scotland by breeding and releasing them into the wild. The project is funded by the EU LIFE programme and led by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) alongside partner organisations including NatureScot, Forestry and Land Scotland, Cairngorms National Park Authority, Norden’s Ark and Consejería de Sostenibilidad, Medio Ambiente y Economía Azul de la Junta de Andalucía. Releases are conducted with the support of Cairngorms Connect. For more information, please visit www.savingwildcats.org.uk.
What’s involved?
The role has two main components: working with the veterinary team and supporting the in-situ (field) conservation team.
* Veterinary work: Anaesthetising wild-living wildcats for health monitoring and telemetry collaring; supporting clinical management of captive wildcats at the off-show conservation breeding for release centre at RZSS Highland Wildlife Park; neutering feral domestic cats; and conducting postmortem examinations of wild-living feral domestic cats and wildcat hybrids.
* In-situ conservation work: Post-release monitoring of wildcats via GPS-radio tracking, live-trapping, and camera-trap monitoring; trapping feral domestic cats as part of the TNVR programme; and managing telemetry data and camera trap images.
This role involves working outside normal hours – including overnights and weekends – and requires a full-time commitment of 37.5 hours per week. Fieldwork may take place in adverse winter weather and on challenging terrain.
Where?
The successful candidate will work with the Saving Wildcats team at the Saving Wildcats offices located at the RZSS Highland Wildlife Park in Kincraig.
When?
This full-time position is available for two to three months (depending on candidate availability), ideally starting on Monday 14 October.
Who with?
Veterinary work is supervised by the project’s veterinary lead, Dr Alice Bacon, RZSS Veterinary lead Dr Simon Girling and the RZSS veterinary team. Fieldwork is coordinated by one of the in-situ project officers.
What will the experience provide?
Volunteering with Saving Wildcats offers a unique opportunity to contribute to the conservation of the critically endangered Scottish wildcat. You will gain hands-on experience in:
* Tracking mammals using GPS-radio collars
* Collecting and managing telemetry data and camera trap images
* Live trapping techniques for wildcats and feral domestic cats
* Gaining clinical insights into wildlife conservation
Additional benefits include full training and ongoing support, accommodation in a private room at a shared hostel, weekly expenses up to £50, a discount for on-site meals at Highland Wildlife Park, and vehicle use for field trips (with the requirement to drive a manual vehicle). Applicants must also have their own transport to and from the park and hold a valid driving license, with fuel costs reimbursed.
What we’re looking for:
Essential:
* A qualified Veterinary Surgeon or Veterinary Nurse with experience in companion animal, exotic or wildlife clinical settings, especially in monitoring anaesthesia.
* A strong interest in Scottish wildcat recovery and applied conservation.
* Willingness to work as part of a small team during anti-social hours and under adverse weather conditions.
* Fieldwork experience in remote or challenging environments.
Desirable:
* Experience with post-mortem examinations and disease surveillance.
* An interest in conservation medicine.
* Current RCVS UK practicing registration.
* Confidence in driving 4×4 vehicles in difficult winter conditions.
* Experience with radio tracking, camera traps, manual restraint of wildlife, and field anesthesia.
* Basic ecology knowledge, including identifying native mammals and birds.
Applicants must be at least 18 years old, provide two referees, and consent to a basic disclosure check (which will be reimbursed post-commencement). Please note that RZSS will not provide professional indemnity insurance.
How to apply:
Please send your CV and a cover letter via email to hparsons@rzss.org.uk by Wednesday 25 September. In your cover letter, explain your motivation for the role and detail your availability (cover letter length should not exceed one A4 page). For any questions, contact hparsons@rzss.org.uk.
RZSS is committed to equality and diversity and welcomes applications from volunteers of diverse backgrounds.
#J-18808-Ljbffr