Mixed Mammals Internship Fall 2024

Naples Zoo’s mission is to inspire people of all ages to respect, value, and help conserve wildlife and our natural world.  Through our internship program, individuals learn through a variety of disciplines and have the chance to obtain a unique and meaningful career experience in a beautiful setting with amazing animals!

Our internships are designed to provide individuals who are currently enrolled in or recently graduated from college the opportunity to have an in-depth, hands-on experience learning and working in the zoo profession.

Interns will rotate through all areas within our Mixed Mammals Department, learning from our animal care team and assisting with daily husbandry, enrichment and exhibit maintenance. This department may include the following species: giraffe, zebra, bongo antelope, slender horned gazelle, yellow backed duiker, black crowned cranes, leopard tortoise, sulcata tortoise, red rumped agouti, tapir, capybara and giant anteater. Interns will gain exposure to operant conditioning, record keeping, guest interaction and interpretation, conservation organizations, veterinary procedures, browse identification, animal anatomy and terminology and behavioral observation and data collection. This area is also responsible for acquiring browse off zoo grounds for the animals and it is typical for interns to join in that activity.

This internship is a physically demanding experience and will require intermediate levels of strength and flexibility as well as the ability to work outdoors in all types of weather conditions typical of the South Florida climate. Uniform shirts will be provided to all interns upon the start of the internship.

Responsibilities

• Interns may work with giraffes, zebra, gazelle, bongo, and other animals based on additions to our collection during the internship term.
• Animal Care: daily husbandry, exhibit maintenance, animal observations, data collection, diet/enrichment preparation and presentation.
• Guest Interactions/ Interpretation
• Project: All interns are required to complete a behavioral observation research project.
• Research: Interns will become familiar with zoo programs such as Species Survival Plans (SSP), natural history and current research and conservation studies related to species in the area of the internship.
• Other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Must be at least 18 years of age and completing the internship for school credit or have recently graduated with a degree related to the internship.
• Must have a minimum of one year of college with a 2.5/4.0 cumulative GPA
• Must have a sincere interest in the field for the desired placement.
• Ability to interact with a diverse team of animal programs staff, interns, volunteers and guests.
• Ability to follow directions of paid staff for personal safety and the safety/care of all animals.
• Ability to work a minimum of three days per week for 12 weeks. All shifts begin at 7:30 am and end at 4:30 pm.
• Must be able to work irregular schedules including weekends and holidays, if applicable during placement.
• Ability to lift 50 pounds, be flexible, and work outdoors in all types of weather conditions.
• Applicant must provide proof of a negative TB test (within the last year).
• Interns are expected to remain drug-free throughout the term of the internship. Random drug screenings are conducted on an unannounced basis.