working at felida
Paid vacancies, volunteering and internships
At FELIDA Big Cat Sanctuary, we work with a permanent, specialised team. In addition, we receive help from a fixed group of committed volunteers and we offer space to trainees (maximum 1 trainee per period).
Interested?
Paid vacancies
There are currently no vacancies open.
Volunteer work
We have a group of committed volunteers who help us in the daily animal care. Our volunteer group is full at the moment. There are no open vacancies to volunteer at our sanctuary.
Students
We offer trainee or internship positions for students (animal related studies). Interested? Send your CV with a motivation letter (including which period and how many hours you are available) to Juno van Zon, Head of Animal & Facility Management at FELIDA, via juno.van.zon@four-paws.org.
Animal caretaker Afien Westra trains a lioness Geena at FELIDA
More information about our traineeship
FELIDA offers students (for example from the education Animal Care, Wildlife Management or Paraveterinary) the opportunity to gain experience during a traineeship with different aspects of the care of big cats in a professional environment and within a nice team of colleagues.
Because FELIDA is difficult to reach by public transport, it is important that volunteers and trainees can come to the sanctuary independently. Employees, volunteers and trainees must be at least 18 years old.
The duties of trainee include:
- Cleaning: this includes removing manure and food residues from the enclosures, keeping the working environment clean and identifying repair work on the enclosures.
- Doing the feeding rounds for the lions and tigers: this also includes preparing meals.
- Caring for the lions and tigers: this includes observing any changes in the behaviour of the animals and/or the hierarchy in the group, recognising external abnormalities of the animal and making and giving enrichment material and checking whether it is used.
As a trainee you spend about 60% of your time cleaning. Physically, this is demanding work. Furthermore, you are expected to be motivated, disciplined and willing to work on weekends and public holidays. Big cats like lions and tigers are dangerous, you have to follow many safety rules.
