Paid Animal Care Intern — Hands-On Zoo Experience & Training

Nashvillezoo; Nashville (TN); On-site; USD 6,819,000 - 9,712,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

$12.50/hour up to 40 hrs/week

$700 living stipend per 12 weeks

Housing provided if outside 40 miles

Job summary

Nashville Zoo offers a paid Animal Care Internship for Spring 2027. Interns will be placed across Aquatics, Avian, Behavioral Husbandry, Carnivore, and other areas, with final placement by the Zoo. Responsibilities include daily care, health monitoring, and data collection to inform animal well-being.

Training covers orientation and professional development sessions. Time commitment is full-time, about 30–40 hours weekly for roughly 12 weeks, starting 1/18/2027 and ending 4/16/2026.

Qualifications

• Entry-level internship focused on hands-on animal care and humane observation practices.
• Strong communication and organizational skills are essential.
• Willingness to learn Nashville Zoo operations, layouts, and conservation efforts.

Responsibilities

• Assist with daily husbandry tasks including habitat cleaning, diet management, enrichment and training.
• Monitor animal health and behavior; report observations to staff.
• Prepare diets and assist in feeding routines under supervision.
• Maintain accurate records of care and observations.
• Support habitat and facility maintenance to ensure clean, safe environments.
• Engage in hands-on learning, enrichment design, and animal handling as appropriate.
• Answer visitor questions to educate the public on conservation efforts.
• Complete a project highlighting intern's interests and learnings.

Skills

Animal care

Observation

Data collection

Communication

Organization

Job description

Nashville Zoo offers a paid Animal Care Internship for Spring 2027. Interns will be placed across Aquatics, Avian, Behavioral Husbandry, Carnivore, and other areas, with final placement by the Zoo. Responsibilities include daily care, health monitoring, and data collection to inform animal well-being.

Training covers orientation and professional development sessions. Time commitment is full-time, about 30–40 hours weekly for roughly 12 weeks, starting 1/18/2027 and ending 4/16/2026.