Vacancy for Giant Panda Keeper

Vacancy for Giant Panda Keeper

Would you love nothing more than spending the next 365 days in the company of 200 pound furry black and white animals whose favorite food is bamboo?

If so, you may be in luck.

China’s Giant Panda Protection and Research Center in Ya’an, Sichuan province just announced a competition for a one-year job as a “Panda Caretaker.”

The lucky winner will spend a year learning how to prepare panda food like the legendary “panda bread,” help researchers take care of old and disabled pandas and participate in ongoing scientific research on giant pandas, including those still in the wild.

Other perks of the top job? A salary of $32,000, free room and board, and an SUV at your disposal. Eight runners-up will win a three-day trip to panda-watch at the reserve.

"Many people at our center do the same job, but the salary was never that high," Heng Yi, a publicity official at the panda center told China’s state newspaper, China Daily.

The ideal candidate should be at least 22 years old, in good physical condition and willing to do rigorous activity, according to the rules on China’s popular web portal, Sohu, which is sponsoring the competition,

Naturally, a deep love and some general knowledge of giant pandas is a must.

“We want to let more and more people know about the giant panda and how its conservation and research work on a day-to-day basis,” Yang Hua, a competition director from Sohu told NBC News. “We also wanted more everyday people participating directly in the conservation and research process.”

Besides looking after pandas, the winner would be asked to help write articles about his or her experience at the reserve and snap photos of their cuddly charges.

Sohu compared the panda keeper job to the “Best Job in the World” campaign in Australia –calling it the "Chinese version of a caretaker of an island on the Great Barrier Reef.

This is not the first time that China has recruited “Pambassadors” to help raise awareness about endangered creatures -- In 2010 American Ashley Roberton flew to Chengdu and won a similar competition that allowed her to work closely with giant pandas.

The competition will run from May 8th through July 15th.

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/china/chinese-panda-sanctuary-search-panda-caretaker-n106181

Vacancies - Adelaide Zoo

VACANCIES

Want to actively make a difference in your career rather than just a dollar?

Zoos South Australia is investing in its future with new infrastructure projects currently under construction including new facilities for Giant Panda and Red Panda at Adelaide Zoo. To meet these challenges, we are expanding our Zoo Keeper team.

KEEPERS (x2)

Candidates must possess a wide range of Zoo Keeper skills including the highest possible standards of welfare, husbandry, species management, conservation research and enrichment for the animals in our care. Additionally candidates must have proven animal training skills, knowledge and practical experience of animal training methods. Experience with carnivores is desirable.

The post holder must have excellent organisational and communications skills, along with the confidence to meet the challenges of the media interest that will be generated and also be able to develop and deliver exciting and informative public presentations.

SENIOR KEEPER

Candidates must possess a wide range of Zoo Keeper skills as outlined above. In addition the Senior Keeper takes on a team leader role and is expected to provide basic day to day management and direction within their team. As such previous relevant experience in managing a small team is required and proven leadership skills are essential.

Experience with carnivores is essential and experience with Giant Pandas would be highly regarded.


Zoos SA regularly require administrative, customer service, and keeping staff. If you wish to register your interest for future please request an application form.

How to Apply

Copies of the position description and application requirements can be obtained from information@zoossa.com.au

CLOSING DATE: 12 Noon, Monday 3rd August 2009
INTERVIEWS: Week commencing 10th August 2009



Zoos South Australia (ZSA) is a non-profit conservation charity. We provide conservation education, as well as supporting and conducting many conservation, breeding and research programmes. As part of our conservation efforts we run Adelaide and Monarto Zoos. We work within the WAZA guidelines for the ethical treatment of animals.
ZSA is involved in a variety of conservation activities, including direct co-ordination and management of threatened species programs to field support and captive breeding for release to the wild, as well as conservation education programs. To encompass its increasing range of conservation activities, the RZSSA has developed Conservation Ark, its integrated science and conservation arm.

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