The Vacancy

Ape Action Africa has an exciting opportunity for a volunteer veterinarian to work with the resident Cameroon veterinary assistant. All our volunteers live and work at our forest site, Mefou, which is home to 120 chimps, 20 gorillas and a whole variety of monkeys, taking the number of animals in our care to over 350. The accommodation is very basic, it is very hot and humid so it’s not easy! However, the rewards are fantastic and our volunteers have a once in a lifetime experience with the amazing animals in our care.

The role

The role of the vet team includes overall observation and management of primate health following established procedures. Responsibilities include dispensing of medication, immobilising as necessary for treatment, implementation of disease prevention measures (including parasite checks and treatments) and attending to any medical emergencies. Health checks and close monitoring of newly rescued chimps may also be needed. A key requirement is the maintenance of daily data records.

The Volunteer

We are looking for an enthusiastic team player who possesses a recognised university degree in veterinary medicine.

Ideally, you will:

• have a minimum of 3 years of experience as a qualified veterinary practitioner;
• have previous experience working with primates;
• have travelled/lived overseas;
• be willing to live in basic conditions;
• enjoy working with others to develop their knowledge and skills;
• have a good working knowledge of English;
• be able to speak basic French.

The timescale

Three-month blocks, extendable to 6-months

The Reward

An amazing experience working with gorillas and chimpanzees and living in a beautiful, developing country.

The Costs

Food and accommodation cost of €300 Euros per month. This includes 3 meals a day, accommodation in the forest and transport from the forest to the town and the airport. Flights, visas and vaccinations are additional costs.