Enrichment and Animal Well-being Internship
About The Position
Toledo Zoo Animal Behavior and Wellbeing Internship Summer/ Fall 2026 Reports to: Curator of Behavioral Husbandry & Wellbeing Schedule: Tuesday-Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM June – December 2026 4-month or 6-month position Application Deadline: March 8, 2026 Internship Overview: Are you passionate about animals and want a role in how behavior, enrichment, research and welfare all come together in a zoo setting? This internship is a hands-on opportunity for college students or recent graduates who are interested in careers in zookeeping, animal behavior, animal welfare, enrichment, or behavioral research. As an intern, you’ll work closely with the Curator of Behavioral Husbandry and Wellbeing, the Enrichment Program Manager, and animal care staff. You’ll gain real-world experience in: Environmental enrichment – designing and implementing enrichment activities that encourage natural behaviors. Animal behavior and welfare – observing animals, assessing their wellbeing, and learning how behavior relates to health and care. Training techniques – participating in training sessions and workshops to understand positive reinforcement and behavior shaping. Behavioral research – developing and carrying out your own research project, analyzing data, and sharing your findings with animal care teams. Additional responsibilities may include setting up enrichment in animal habitats, brainstorming new enrichment ideas, helping with animal well-being assessments, and possibly assisting with public interpretation of enrichment and training sessions. This is a unique opportunity to deepen your understanding of animal care in a professional zoo environment, build valuable skills, and contribute meaningfully to the animals’ welfare. This is a paid Internship.
Requirements
- Junior or Senior in college or recent graduate
- Major in Biology, Animal Behavior, Psychology, Zoology or other related field
- Strong willingness to learn, positive attitude, team mentality
- Previous hands-on work with animals
- The Toledo Zoo is a drug-free workplace, including marijuana
Nice To Haves
- Proficiency with Microsoft Excel preferred
Responsibilities
- Develop, coordinate and implement daily enrichment for several species in the zoo
- Construct, implement, and evaluate new enrichment devices
- Conduct behavioral observations
- Data entry and analysis
- Assist keepers in setting up exhibits to offer dynamic complex experiences for the animals
- Participate in animal training sessions
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What This Job Offers
Career Level
Intern
