Laeeqa Khan

Key Performance Area 1: Animal Husbandry

• Assist aquarist's in their day-to-day duties, which include essential cleaning (siphoning, cleaning of windows), exhibit decoration (Algae changes), and feeding tasks.
• Entrusted with full responsibility for the welfare of the resident octopus and South African butterfly fish, I diligently maintained their health and sustenance through feeding, enrichment, and observations.
• Given complete responsibility for target training, ribbon-tail rays, and eagle rays.
• Assist in the kitchen with food preparation for multiple resident species.
• Experienced penguin keeper proficient in feeding, medication preparation, food preparation, bird handling, and exhibit maintenance.
• As an assistant to the jellyfish aquarist, I am responsible for cleaning the moon jellyfish and upside-down jellyfish tanks in the Jellyfish Gallery, conducting water changes for both jellyfish species, and undertaking any other tasks that are required on the day.
• Conducted water quality tests for multiple exhibits.
• Assisted vets with autopsies and health checkups.

Key Performance Area 2: Turtle Rehabilitation and Wildlife Management

• Participated in hatchling tank maintenance on the turtle roof, involving siphoning, cleaning, and sterilization.
• Hand-feed hatchlings in quarantine and record tank information.
• Assisted with morphometric measurements for various turtle age groups.
• Proficient in handling various turtle age groups.
• Assist with the preparation of turtle food as well as medication.
• Progressed from supervised training to independent tasks.
• Assisted with target training for various turtle age groups.
• I participate in the team's morning walks at the V&A Waterfront, actively searching for seal entanglements, otter spotting, and injured wildlife.
• Assisted in addressing wounds on injured turtles.

Key Performance Area 3: Research

• Engaged in an octopus enrichment project, assessing its impact on octopus welfare.
• Conducting observational research to establish baseline breathing rates, speed, and behavioral patterns in a captive-bred short-tail stingray and a honeycomb stingray.
• Completed over 180 surveys and will participate in the subsequent report writing.
• Conducted a microplastic validation study based on prior student research.
• I have authored numerous literature reviews

• Assisted the education department, providing valuable support to educators in lesson preparation.
• Offered hands-on guidance to students during dissections of squid and pilchard specimens.
• Played a pivotal role in numerous courses hosted at the Two Oceans Aquarium.
• Engaged as a key contributor at the Young Biologist Camp, actively participating in activity planning and presentation.
• Facilitated a quiz presentation for camp attendees.
• Assisted students in the collection of microplastic data and contributed to the organization and presentation of their research findings.

• I collaborated with a master's student in fieldwork operations.
• Collected sediment samples from depths of 5 meters, 10 meters, and 40 meters in False Bay waters.
• Proficiently identified species present within the collected sediment samples.
• Assisted in laboratory tasks.

• I assisted marine biologist Greg Hofmeyr to conduct comprehensive research on the behavior, movements, and acoustic emissions of a crabeater seal.
• Participated in the daily operations of a turtle rehabilitation center, actively contributing to the care of turtles through duties such as feeding and systematic observations.

• Assisted Professor Alastair Potts in the Spekboom Restoration project.
• Conducted precise planting of spekboom cuttings.
• Systematically measured and documented the size of root systems.
• Monitored and recorded significant changes in each spekboom cutting.
• Implemented weekly randomization of spekboom trays.
• Captured photographic records of noteworthy growth spurts.
• Reviewed documents and data to identify trends and patterns.

• Used strong interpersonal communication skills to convey information to others.
• Assisted with the cleaning of the lion cages and the feeding of the lions.
• Assisted with the preparation of meals for multiple animals.
• I occasionally worked as a team leader on group projects, delegated tasks, and provided feedback.
• I worked flexible hours across night, weekend, and holiday shifts.

• Assisted with special events and programs.
• I represented the organization positively and professionally while providing the community with much-needed services.
• I contributed to the successful execution of food service and delivery, ensuring the satisfaction of event attendees.