Manager/Veterinary Nurse

The Endangered Asian species Trust (UK charity No 1115350) is currently seeking a Manager/Veterinary Nurse to work in South Vietnam at the Dao Tien Endangered Primate Species Centre, on a two year placement (with extension possibilities).

Salary £15,000 - £20,000 per annum dependant on experience + benefits (free accommodation, meals, and one free return ticket per year included).

· Centre background

The Dao Tien Endangered Primate Species Centre was founded by Monkey World Ape-Rescue (UK), Pingtung Rescue Centre (TW), and Cat Tien National Park (CTNP) with Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Approval. A new 5-year continuation was agreed in 2021 for the centre with a specific focus on endangered primate rescue, rehabilitation and release as well as piloting new education and community engagement programme.

Dao Tien is a SPECIALIST centre and cares for four genus of endangered primates naturally from South & Central Vietnam - crested gibbons (Nomascus gabriellae, annamensis & siki), douc langur (Pygathrix nigripes & cinerea), slow loris (Nycticebus pygmaeus & bengalensis) and silvered langur (Trachypithecus margarita). The centre supports the Vietnamese Government with rescue, rehabilitation and developing reintroduction techniques for healthy individuals.

The centre is run by the Endangered Asian species Trust (EAST). It is an in situ collaborative project, located on a 56 ha island on the edge of CTNP. The project has been established for 13 years. The Project promotes high standards of animal welfare, scientific research, and conservation to protect endangered primates in Southern Vietnam. The project employs 11 Vietnamese staff (primate care staff, maintenance, education and field monitoring team) with the support of two Vietnamese local vets with distance consultation with the International Zoo Vet Group (IZVG) in the UK & Pingtung Rescue Centre Veterinary team (TW). The International onsite team will include a manager/vet nurse, a full-time education officer and an animal care/education officer. The Project premises consist of a small veterinary room including a steel operating table, gaseous anaesthesia, dispensary, microscope, and cold storage and autoclave facilities. Local human hospitals are used for radiography or orthopaedic procedures.

Dao Tien island is separate to the mainland and national park by a short river crossing. There is limited Wi-Fi and applicants must be comfortable with this isolated and challenging fieldwork and lifestyle.

Job Information

We are recruiting for an onsite manager/ veterinary nurse, based on the island of Dao Tien in Vietnam. This post offers a fantastic opportunity to work with in-situ conservation on the front-line.

Veterinary Responsibilities

· Providing veterinary care for rescued primates, working alongside Vietnamese vet and in consultation with international vet specialists.

· In addition to following standardised protocols, the applicant must work alongside our highly knowledgeable Vietnamese primate care staff with guidance from our Director based in the UK to develop new critical care, rehabilitation and release protocols for highly specialised primates such as black-shanked douc and slow loris..

· Observe the centres primates for signs of illness, injury or assessment of rehabilitation

· Able to undertake basic veterinary nurse skills (under guidance)

· Monitoring diets and protocols (food quality, variety and hygiene)

· Maintain a veterinary/animal management data base