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Dolphin & Whale Hospital
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Dolphin & Whale Hospital
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Caring for stranded marine creatures is a major effort at both Mote Marine Laboratory's Dolphin and Whale Hospital and Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital, and you can help. At the Dolphin and Whale Hospital, animals are cared for around-the-clock, and volunteers are needed to assist Mote staff in areas such as animal care and facility maintenance. At the Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital, volunteers are needed in similar areas. Volunteers include businessmen, nurses, teachers, engineers, policemen, firefighters, housewives, veterinarians, waitresses and students who share a common interest in marine creatures and a desire to help return stranded animals back to the wild.
At both rehabilitation hospitals, volunteers can assist the veterinarians and research scientists in the following areas:
Beach Rescue of Live Animals
Animal Care During Rehabilitation
Carcass Recovery
Necropsies
Water Quality and Life Support Systems Maintenance
Caring for stranded animals requires specialized training. Potential volunteers at both the Dolphin and Whale Hospital and Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital are required to take an Animal Handlers class specifically designed for volunteers. The class covers such topics as basic animal anatomy and physiology, live stranding response, animal husbandry, medical procedures, release, reintroduction and animal tracking. The class is offered 3-4 times each year, and is taught by Mote scientists, veterinary staff and animal care staff. The cost for the class is $50.00 and includes teaching materials, Animal Care Handbook, and Rehabilitation T-Shirt.
Prospective volunteer candidates must be at least 18 years of age and meet certain health and physical criteria. If you are interested in becoming a Dolphin and Whale Hospital and Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital volunteer, or taking the Volunteer Handler Class, contact Lisa Duffy, Animal Care Volunteer Coordinator.
The Dolphin and Whale Hospital and Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital also offer internships to undergraduate students interested in pursuing a career in veterinary medicine, animal care, biology or associated fields. An internship provides students with the opportunity to participate in dolphin, whale, and sea turtle care and rehabilitation, and to observe veterinarians and scientists conducting groundbreaking research in marine and veterinary science.
For more information on student internships, go to the Mote Intern Information page or contact Andrea Davis, Intern Coordinator.
Volunteer veterinary externships are available for veterinary students that involve dolphin and whale rehabilitation and sea turtle rehabilitation, as well as captive maintenance of manatees and sea turtles. To arrange externships, contact Lynne Byrd, Certified Veterinary Technician.
Mote Marine Laboratories has other openings for volunteers as aquarium guides, cashiers, laboratory technicians, boat mechanics, office personnel, and others. If you are interested in volunteering in these areas, click here, or contact Andrea Davis, Volunteer Coordinator.
