Animal Care Intern
About The Position
The Living Desert is seeking qualified and enthusiastic candidates to join their Animal Care team as an Animal Care Intern. This is a paid internship position that will take place in Fall 2026 (September-November). The internship pays $16.90/hour and offers flexible hours ranging from 8-24 hours per week, with shifts being 8 hours long. The successful candidate will rotate through four areas of animal care: African Safari & Rhino Savanna, Desert Wilds, Wildlife Connections, and the Nutrition Center. They will also complete a project focused on enriched experiences for a species of their choice. The focus of the internship can be flexible based on the candidate's interests and career goals, with potential areas of focus including animal nutrition, engineering for animal enrichment, behavioral observations and operant conditioning, and animal husbandry and care.
Requirements
- Must be 18 years or older.
- Must have received high school diploma or equivalent and be enrolled in college or a recent graduate (2 years); STEM education preferred.
- Covid vaccination and up-to-date boosters are required.
- Negative tuberculosis test prior to start date is required.
- Background check.
- Valid California driver license.
Nice To Haves
- Experience with animal care and public interactions is a plus.
Responsibilities
- Represent The Living Desert in a professional manner, interact with guests, and share conservation messages, story, and mission.
- Maintain punctuality and reliability.
- Demonstrate general knowledge of zoo animal husbandry, natural history, and observational skills.
- Uphold The Living Desert’s brand, standards, and culture by maintaining a safe, positive, and productive workplace environment for animals, guests, and staff.
- Follow and abide by all rules enforced through The Living Desert Employee Handbook.
- Possess strong organizational and communication skills with the ability to accurately report daily information.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Part-time
Career Level
Intern
Education Level
Associate degree
