Animal Care Internship

~ Our career internship program is one of the many ways the Philadelphia Zoo demonstrates a commitment to its mission of conservation, education, science and recreation. ~

Through our internships, we provide practical, high-quality experiences that help you achieve your academic and professional goals. Recent college graduates and career changers are encouraged to apply. Please note that all internships are unpaid and the Zoo does not provide housing. 

If you are a college student majoring in Biology, Zoology, Animal Science, Environmental Education or a related field or recent graduate in any of those fields and you are interested in a career working with animals, the Philadelphia Zoo can provide you with valuable hands-on experience.

Internship Overview  

As an Animal Care Intern you will work side by side with Kid Zoo U keepers providing routine husbandry for animals in the Zoo's exhibit and teaching collections which encompass all taxa of animals including fish.

The collection includes parrots, raptors, hedgehogs, porcupines, coendus, rabbits, chickens, ducks, reptiles, invertebrates and more! Specific responsibilities include preparing and distributing food, maintaining exhibits/enclosures, assisting with animal capture, crating and transfer, animal enrichment and animal training.

This internship will also provide you with the chance to get hands-on experience in informal education. You will participate in the presentation of educational programs intended to enhance Zoo visitor's understanding of the natural world. You will help provide daily educational programs using live domestic and exotic animals and animal artifacts. 

Responsibilities  

Essential Functions: 

• Preparing & distributing food
• Maintaining exhibits/enclosures
• Participating in the presentation of education programs 
• Provide daily educational programs using live domestic animals, exotic animals, & animal artifacts.
• Assisting with animal capture
• Crating and transfer
• Animal enrichment
• Animal training 

Qualifications 

• You must have a grade point average of 2.5 or higher
• Must commit to three days per week in the summer, one day per week in the fall & spring, & winter
• Demonstrated interest in working with animals & basic biological knowledge 

Physical, Medical and Other Requirements 

• Must be able to work around plants and animals. 
• Must be able to lift 50 pounds