Animal Care Internship Spring 2027

Nashville Zoo; Nashville (TN); On-site; USD 14,000 - 20,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hourly rate $12.50/hour

Housing provided if outside 40 miles

Living stipend $700 per 12-week term

AZA-accredited experience

Professional development series

Hands-on learning

Job summary

Nashville Zoo is offering a Spring 2027 Animal Care Internship. Interns will be placed in Aquatics, Avian, Behavioral Husbandry, Carnivore, or other areas, with final placement by the Zoo. Expect 30–40 hours per week for about 12 weeks, start 1/18/2027, end 4/16/2026.

Responsibilities include daily husbandry, health and behavior monitoring, diet preparation, and keeping accurate records. Training emphasizes enrichment, observation, and hands-on learning alongside staff.

Qualifications

• Must be at least 18 years of age.
• Ability to stand for long periods and lift moderately heavy loads.
• Interest in working with animals and learning animal behavior.
• Entry level position offering hands-on experience.

Responsibilities

• Assist with daily husbandry care, including cleaning habitats, managing diets, and enrichment.
• Monitor animal health and behavior and report observations to staff.
• Prepare diets and assist in feeding routines for select species under supervision.
• Maintain accurate records related to animal care and observations.
• Support staff with habitat and facility maintenance for clean, safe environments.
• Engage in hands-on learning experiences, including enrichment design and training sessions.
• Answer visitors’ questions about animals and the Zoo to educate the public on conservation.
• Complete a project highlighting intern’s interests and takeaways from the experience.

Skills

Endurance (standing)

Lifting 50 lbs

Communication

Organizational skills

Interest in animals

Entry level

Outdoor work

Job description

NASHVILLE ZOO PAID INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

ANIMAL CARE INTERNSHIP | Spring 2027 | 1/18/2027- 4/16/2026

Overview: Animal Care Interns will be placed in one of the following areas Aquatics, Avian, Behavioral Husbandry, Carnivore, Contact Areas, Herpetology, Hoofstock, Lorikeets, or Primates. Applicants may indicate preference of department, but final placement is assigned by the Zoo.

Interns will observe a variety of species across the Zoo, assist with daily care routines, and collect data that will help animal care professionals make evidence-based decisions regarding the animals’ well-being.

TIME COMMITMENT: This is a full-time position, 30-40 hours a week, for ~12 weeks. There are no opportunities to work overtime. Start Date is 1/18/2027. End Date is 4/16/2026

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Assist with daily husbandry care, including cleaning habitats, managing diets, and assisting with enrichment and training.


• Monitor animal health and behavior and report observations to animal care staff.


• Prepare diets and assist in feeding routines for select species under supervision.


• Maintain accurate records related to animal care and observations.


• Support zoo staff with habitat and facility maintenance, ensuring clean and safe environments for the animals.


• Engage in hands-on learning experiences, including enrichment design, training sessions, and animal handling (as appropriate for the species).


• Answer visitors’ questions about animals and the Zoo, helping to educate the public on conservation efforts


• Complete one project highlighting intern’s interest and take aways from the experience and benefitting intern’s department

APPLICANT REQUIREMENTS

• Must be at least 18 years of age


• Must have the ability to stand on feet for long periods and lift moderately heavy loads


• Interest in working with animals and understanding animal behavior


• This is an entry level position for those looking to gain experience in this field


• Excellent communication and organizational skills


• Willingness to learn about Nashville Zoo amenities, layout, operations, animal collection and conservation efforts


• Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds


• Must be able to work outdoors in all seasons and weather conditions.

INTERN TRAINING

All interns will be present for New Hire Orientation, Animal Care Orientation, Education Orientation, and a 4 presentation professional development series throughout the course of their internship.

BENEFITS

• Hourly rate of $12.50 per hour for up to 40 hours per week


• $700 living stipend for each 12-week term


• Housing provided if outside of a 40 mile radius of Nashville Zoo


• Provides opportunities to learn proper management of animals in human care


• Observe and participate in husbandry, training, and additional care for our resident animals


• Receive first‑hand experience in an Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accredited institution


• Professional development series highlighting topics such as guest engagement, resume building, etc.

Pre-Employment Requirements

• Submit to a criminal background check and drug screening.


• Provide proof of a negative TB test.


• Provide proof of a valid driver’s license.

Pay Range

$12.50 - $12.50 USD

As set forth in Nashville Zoo’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service‑connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three‑year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

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