Animal Care Internship

Job Description

About Company:

POINT DEFIANCE ZOO & AQUARIUM is the only combined zoo and aquarium in the Pacific Northwest. The 29-acre zoological park was established in 1905 and attracts over 800,000 visitors a year. It is nationally accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA), ensuring rigorously high standards of animal welfare, veterinary care, conservation, education and more. The Zoo sits within 700-acre Point Defiance Park, offering spectacular views of Mount Rainier, the Olympic Mountains, and Puget Sound. Point Defiance Zoo is operated by Parks Tacoma. For more information, visit www.pdza.org.

Job Description:

This is a 12-week Animal Care Internship, taking place from September through the end of November, in the Rocky Shores-Arctic Tundra area of Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium. The internship is designed to provide instruction in the following areas:

• Habitat Maintenance: Learning the best practices for maintaining clean and safe habitats for the animals in the Rocky Shores-Arctic Tundra area.
• Nutrition and Diets: Understanding animal diets, preparing food, and following feeding protocols.
• Environmental Enrichment: Assisting in the creation and implementation of enrichment activities to promote animal well-being and stimulate natural behaviors.
• Public Presentation/Interpretation: Assisting with public presentations and interpretation to educate visitors about the animals and conservation efforts.
• Water Quality and Filtration: Learning about water quality management and filtration systems relevant to aquatic animal habitats (as applicable to the Rocky Shores-Arctic Tundra area).
• Species Natural History: Gaining knowledge about the natural history, behavior, and conservation status of the species in the Rocky Shores-Arctic Tundra area.
• Training: Participating in animal training programs under the guidance of experienced zookeepers.
• Husbandry: Assisting with general animal care and husbandry tasks, such as monitoring animal health and behavior.

This internship offers a unique opportunity to work alongside zookeepers and gain valuable on-the-job training in a dynamic zoo environment.