This is an unpaid internship offered by Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens (JZBG) to provide students and recent graduates with hands-on educational training. The program is structured for the educational benefit of the intern and does not create an employment relationship. Completion of this internship does not guarantee or imply future paid employment with the Zoo.
Learning Objectives:
- Develop skills in daily animal care tasks such as feeding, watering, cleaning, habitat maintenance, and animal enrichment.
- Understand the importance of adhering to professional standards, regulations, compliance, and inspection readiness (AZA, FWC, USDA, OSHA).
- Learn how to maintain safe, sanitary, and aesthetically pleasing animal habitats alongside staff members.
- Understand how Species Survival Plans (SSP) and Managed Animal Plans (MAP) are utilized.
- Learn about Manatee rescue, rehabilitation, and release alongside our Marine Mammal Response Team and FWC.
Learning Activities and Responsibilities
- You will assist staff with diet preparation and feeding, habitat maintenance such as cleaning or water quality checks, and animal behavior monitoring and reporting under direct supervision.
- Participate in routine welfare checks such as weight measurements alongside staff members
- Assist with safe and efficient animal transportation as needed under direct supervision.
- Shadow our Manatee Care Specialists in small procedures or medicinal administration as needed based on care plans and with approval of staff).
- You will help support Manatee Care Specialists in engaging with guests about conservation efforts, individual animals, and practice responsible messaging.
- Participate in collaborative team settings to execute projects and daily tasks.
What Interns Gain
- Intern will be supervised by Animal Care Specialists with weekly check-ins and guidance, structured training in topics of animal care and other necessary training.
- Internships are eligible for academic credit. Interns interested in credit should coordinate with their academic institution's internship coordinator prior to the program start date. Organization contact for any required paperwork: [email protected]
- Hands-on experience in Manatee care (rescue, rehabilitation, release) at an AZA-accredited facility.
- Mentorship from experienced Animal Care Specialists.
- A letter of recommendation can be requested upon successful completion of internship.
- Networking opportunities.
Qualifications and Eligibility
- Currently enrolled in a higher education program or a recent graduate.
- Comfortable in and around water (Interns will not be swimming/diving but may be in water up to their knees).
- Ability to adhere all biosecurity policies and procedures.
- Ability to adhere to safety policies and protocols and learn new tasks.
- Available for the full program duration and weekly time commitment listed above.
- Ability to remain standing for extended periods.
- Requires fine motor skills for tasks such as typing, grasping, turning, and manipulating objects of varying size and weight.
- Ability to ascend/ descend ladders, steps, and uneven terrain, while maintaining body equilibrium.
- Ability to lift, carry, and move objects up to 50 pounds.
- Ability to walk, bend, kneel, crouch, crawl, climb, and reach.
- Visual acuity for reading, writing, and observing surroundings, and auditory acuity for communication.
- Ability to operate motorized carts, trucks, and power tools.
- Ability to lift, carry, and move objects up to 20-50 pounds.
- Ability to work in various weather conditions, including extreme heat, sunlight, cold, rain, snow, and wind.
- Ability to work with potential exposure to allergens (dust, animal dander, pollen, etc.), bloodborne pathogens, zoonotic diseases, wildlife, waste, loud noises, chemicals, and injuries from animals
- Ability to follow the Zoo’s safety guidelines and code of conduct.
Travel Expectations
Must maintain a valid driver’s license and clear driving record and be over age 18 to operate organizational vehicles.
Requires local travel for field work or delivery of educational programs at off-site community locations.
COMMITMENT TO JACKSONVILLE ZOO & GARDENS
At Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens (JZBG) we are proud to extend our mission and vison of “Connecting communities with wildlife and wild places,” to create “a vibrant community energized by a connection to nature that enriches lives and inspires all to preserve and protect our natural world,” to students who will be the future leaders of this field.
Live JZBG’s values of:
- CULTURE: We strive to develop a collaborative culture where safety is the foundation driving our actions and interactions to create safe spaces and habitats through the cultivation of well-being for all forms of life.
- CONSERVATION: We commit to being proactive, emphasizing the urgency of environmental and sustainability challenges while fostering empathy, support and compassion towards our planet and its inhabitants.
- EDUCATION: We recognize that every interaction is a learning and teaching opportunity that inspires change, enriches one another and our visitors, promotes accessibility, and connects our communities.
- INNOVATION: We embrace the challenge to continuously grow and develop our organization, valuing creativity to support one another and remain relevant within our community.
About JZBG:
We are a Drug-Free site.
JZBG is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities.
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