Gibbon Conservation Center Primate Keeper

  United States

Saugus (Santa Clarita) California

Dates: ongoing, all year

Description: 1. Primate Keeper prepares gibbon food, feeds captive gibbons, changes water, cleans kitchen and bathroom, cleans enclosures. For resident volunteers, this requires a full day of work (from about 7 am to 5 pm), 7 days per week. May also (depending on skills, needs of the Center, number of volunteers, and personal preference) do behavioral observations, medicate gibbons, do library research, word processing on Macintosh computer, filing, fund raising and maintenance of grounds and enclosures. This position is physically strenuous and requires good physical condition. (If you aren't in good shape when you come here, you will be when you leave!)

Highlights: No smoking is allowed at GCC. Please bring unscented toiletry articles and do not use perfumes, or scented deodorant or aftershave. You will need to be cautious when wearing hats, hair accessories, jewelry, glasses, or very loose clothing when near gibbon enclosures, because the gibbons might grab them. Long hair should be tied back to prevent it from getting pulled. If you wear glasses or contacts, you must bring an extra pair. Face jewelry/piercings, earrings, and necklaces must be removed before working near the gibbons. (This rule is essential to prevent the gibbons from ingesting jewelry, and to prevent a painful injury to the volunteer. If you feel you must wear face jewelry here, we need advance notice with a description of it before you arrive, and you will need to bring your own non-disposable face shield and wear it while feeding the gibbons.)

No one who has a compromised immune system can assist with food prep or feeding the gibbons. They could jeopardize the gibbons' health or their own.

No one is permitted to touch the gibbons, or to allow them to grab you. Because two of our many goals are breeding and study, we want the gibbons to be bonded with their gibbon cagemate, not with people.

Qualifications: Special Skills or Requirements for Volunteers: Volunteers must be self-motivated and have a love for animals. You must be able to work alone, since the Director may work at least 4 days a week elsewhere, and there may be no other volunteers for periods of several days. Word processing ability (Macintosh Microsoft Word), library research skills, maintenance skills, and the ability to get along with a variety of people, are preferred volunteer attributes.

All volunteers must be at least 18 years old and resident volunteers must be at least 20 years old. Our weather conditions can be extreme--reaching 105 degrees F. in summer, and in winter, down to 35 degrees F at night with chance of rain.

1. Primate Keepers must have all of the following medical tests and vaccinations completed before entering the facility:

- Ova and parasite stool test
- Stool culture: Salmonella, Shigella, Vibrio, Yersinia, Aeromonas, Staphylococcus aureus and Campylobacter
- 18 (approx.) panel blood chemistry hematology (CBC)
- Tetanus vaccine (within the last 5 years)
- Tuberculosis test within the last year (or physician's certification that you had a chest x-ray negative for tuberculosis)
- Rubeola ("regular") measles vaccination (or physician's certification that you had measles)
- Hepatitis B test
- Hepatitis B vaccine series if the hepatitis B test shows you have no antibodies (because Hepatitis B vaccine is a 3-injection series which takes 6 months, time constraints may prevent a volunteer from completing the series before arrival at the Center. The volunteer must have had at least the first and second injections before beginning work here and then continue with the third injection on schedule. The price for a hepatitis B injection here in the Los Angeles area is about $100 per shot.)
- You should be sure your health insurance is valid in the Los Angeles vicinity of California.
We request that you read the following before your arrival, which should be available at a college library:

- Ellefson, J. O. 1974. A Natural History of the White-handed Gibbon in the Malaya Peninsula. In, Natural History, Social Behavior, Reproduction, Vocalizations, Prehension. Gibbon and Siamang, vol. 3. D. M. Rumbaugh, ed., 1-136.

- Baldwin, L., & Teleki, G. 1976. Patterns of Gibbon Behavior on Hall's Island, Bermuda, In, Suspensory Behavior, Locomotion, and Other Behaviors of Captive Gibbons. Gibbon and Siamang, vol. 4. D. M. Rumbaugh, ed., 1-105.

2. Center Assistants must have the following: tetanus vaccine (within the last 5 years), tuberculosis test within the last year (or physician's certification that you had a chest x-ray negative for tuberculosis), Rubeola ("regular") measles vaccination (or physician's certification that you had measles).

3. Clerical Assistants must have had a tetanus vaccine within the last 5 years.

Minimum Education: High School

Cost in US$: no fee charged

Resident volunteers-- we strongly prefer that you use a telephone calling card, and send us a copy. If you'll not be using one, a $200 deposit in advance is required for telephone usage. The unused amount will be returned to you at your request within 2 months following your departure. International volunteers must send a copy of a calling card that they will use PLUS $200 deposit. For your peace of mind, please black out the numbers on the calling card copy before sending it to us. Cell phones may be used in only a few areas of our facility, due to poor reception.

Copies of the volunteer's driver's license or other photo ID and proof of health insurance that will be valid in Los Angeles County, California, are required.         

Housing is provided at no charge for resident volunteers--a semi-private room (part of the office used by the staff) in the director's home at GCC and 2 trailers (possibly shared with another volunteer) 10 yards from the house. Trailers do not have restrooms. Laundry facilities, bedding, dishes and towels, and access to the kitchen and bathroom are provided.

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: Our volunteers are usually college age primatology or anthropology students, but we have had volunteers from all walks of life and up to 70 years old.

Age Range: minimum age 20 years

This Program is open to American, Australian, Canadian, European and Kiwi Participants. This Program is also open to Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to United States Independently

Typically Participants Work Independently

Application Process Involves:

• Letters of Reference
• Physical Exam/Health Records
• Resume
• Written Application

Gibbon Conservation Center's Mission Statement: The mission of the Gibbon Conservation Center is to prevent the extinction of this small SE Asian ape, and to advance its study, propagation and conservation by establishing secure captive gene pools in case attempts to preserve species or subspecies in the wild fail. We provide a safe haven for all gibbon species as a complement to protecting them in the wild. We educate the public, assist zoos and rescue centers in better captive management, encourage noninvasive behavioral studies, and support ongoing field conservation projects.

Year Founded: 1976