Animal Care Internship: Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium - Asian Forest Sanctuary
About The Position
The Animal Care Internship at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium takes place in the Asian Forest Sanctuary and provides instruction and on-the-job training alongside zookeepers and experienced Staff Biologists. The program covers habitat maintenance, nutrition and diets, environmental enrichment, public presentation and interpretation, species natural history, animal training, and husbandry. The internship runs 40 hours per week for 12 weeks, January through March 2027. Interns are expected to design, budget, and implement a small project and to consistently demonstrate safe work practices while working in a rotational area with dangerous animals. Internships are limited-term programs supported by stipend payments from The Zoo Society. Stipends are taxable income, and interns are not classified as employees of Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, The Zoo Society, or Parks Tacoma.
Requirements
- Must be 18 years or older.
- Must have a high school diploma, GED, or equivalent certification.
- Must demonstrate an interest in pursuing a career in the care and protection of wildlife.
- Must have paid or volunteer experience working with animals, such as at a zoological institution, wildlife rehabilitation center, veterinary clinic, laboratory, or related facility.
- Must be able to commit to 40 hours per week for a minimum of 12 weeks.
- Must be capable of lifting and carrying objects or animals weighing up to 50 pounds.
- Must be able to push, climb, walk, kneel, and crouch while working with and feeding animals.
- Must have sufficient hand and finger dexterity to operate specialized equipment and tools.
Responsibilities
- Clean and perform general maintenance of animal exhibits and holding areas.
- Observe animals and maintain records.
- Prepare diets and provide appropriate vitamin supplementation.
- Implement and analyze environmental enrichment.
- Learn and practice animal-training principles, including reinforcement and operant conditioning.
- Share stories and natural history of the animals with zoo guests.
- Design, budget, and implement a small project.
- Learn and consistently demonstrate safe work practices, including situational awareness around dangerous animals.
Benefits
- Stipend payments are provided by The Zoo Society.
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What This Job Offers
Career Level
Intern
Education Level
High school or GED
