Jungle Intern

Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium • Omaha, NE

1d • Onsite

About The Position

Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium is seeking an intern in the Lied Jungle. The Lied Jungle is America’s largest indoor rainforest, an 80-foot-tall, 1.5-acre immersive exhibit that was named the 2019 winner of USA Today’s 10 Best Zoo Exhibits. It features an elevated canopy walkway and a forest floor trail, taking visitors through three geographic ranges highlighting species of fauna and flora found in Asian, African, and South American rainforests. The animal collection includes new and old-world primates, tapirs, otters, pygmy hippos, birds, bats, rodents, reptiles, amphibians, and fish. This is a seasonal position with a maximum duration of six months, based on individual performance and business operations. The exact end date will be determined by the official start date. Each internship session (spring, summer, and fall) is 12 weeks long. The spring internship session runs January 19, 2027 – April 12, 2027. All interns must be available during this time. Orientation is the first day of each semester from 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM, and all interns must be available to attend orientation in-person. Interns must be available to work up to 24 hours per week and attend one weekly afternoon professional development session starting the second week of their internship. Schedules will be determined before internships begin by working with the Intern Coordinator and animal area supervisors. This position offers very limited direct animal interactions and no participation in animal training. Interns will be provided opportunities to observe Jungle animal care staff demonstrate proper animal handling/restraint techniques and operant conditioning training techniques when applicable. Interns may not be permitted to work within 6 feet of all primates, otters, pygmy hippo, and bats, or while prepping their food, without wearing a KN95 mask in compliance with disease mitigation protocols. Other duties may be assigned.

Requirements

• Must be at least 18 years old.
• Must follow safety guidelines and always demonstrate safe working practices.
• Must have effective time management skills for working in a fast-paced and flexible work environment.
• Must possess strong communication skills; Clearly and effectively communicating with keeper staff about all aspects of the job including daily husbandry, safety questions or concerns, building operation, etc.
• Must work well with others and have the ability to work independently.
• Must be team-oriented and willing to work with other interns, volunteers, and staff members to further not only the goals of the Department but also of the Zoo’s mission statement.
• Must attend shifts on time and as scheduled.
• Must have the ability to follow detailed instructions.
• Offered candidates are required to pass a pre-employment background check and drug screening.
• A negative TB test is also required.
• Interns must be currently enrolled in, or have recently graduated from, a college or university.

Nice To Haves

• Previous experience working with mammals at an AZA institution is preferred, but not required.
• A minimum of one year of coursework in a major field of study to be applied during the internship (e.g. biology, zoology, animal behavior, etc.) is preferred.
• Knowledge of mammal natural history, biology, captive husbandry, and conservation issues preferred.
• Must be motivated to continue expanding knowledge base as it applies to mammals.

Responsibilities

• Develop, work on, and present an internship project aligned with the research needs of animal care staff in the Jungle.
• Attend weekly professional development sessions.
• Complete learning goals on internship checklist.
• Participate in and complete a mid-point and final evaluation.
• Assist in and complete tasks as assigned, including but not limited to: Cleaning and general maintenance of the exhibits and building.
• Daily care of animal collection.
• Recordkeeping.
• Animal enrichment.
• Monitoring behavior and changes in animal health.
• Diet preparation and feeding.
• Help perform building upkeep, cleaning, and maintenance to ensure USDA and AZA Standards are always being met.
• Complete a life history report on an assigned species from the Jungle collection.
• Design an enrichment device and address construction needs, safety concerns, and implementation strategy for the assigned species.
• Interact with the public frequently throughout their internship and are expected to always exhibit professionalism and exceptional customer service.
• Engage in public speaking opportunities, including but not limited to informal educational presentations for the public.

Benefits

• This position offers very limited direct animal interactions and no participation in animal training.
• Interns will be provided opportunities to observe Jungle animal care staff demonstrate proper animal handling/restraint techniques and operant conditioning training techniques when applicable.
• We will do everything possible to accommodate school requirements for those seeking to earn class credit.
• We do our best to accommodate the schedules of interns with full or part-time job requirements.
• Please note this position does not provide any medical coverage.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: Associate degree