Back to jobs

Animal Care Internship

Nashville, TN

NASHVILLE ZOO PAID INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
ANIMAL CARE INTERNSHIP | FALL 2025

 

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 determined by the zoo.

TIME COMMITMENT: This is a full-time position averaging 30-40 hours per week, for ~12 weeks. There are no opportunities to work overtime hours.

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.

 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES -- Applicants will be assessed according to their knowledge, skills and abilities in the following areas:

  • Passion and interest in exploring zoo or conservation related field.
  • Ability to work with all age groups.
  • Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
  • Guest-service oriented and enthusiastic about providing guests an enriching experience.
  • Ability to communicate effectively, both speaking and writing.

 

APPLICANT REQUIREMENTS

  • Must be at least 18 years of age and current college student or recent graduate.
  • Must have the ability to stand on feet for long periods and lift moderately heavy loads, up to 50 lbs.
  • Interest in working with animals and understanding animal behavior.
  • Submit proof of a negative TB Test.
  • Excellent communication and organizational skills 
  • Willingness to learn about Nashville Zoo amenities, layout, operations, animal collection and conservation efforts.
  • Will be expected to wear the approved uniform and observe the same personal appearance standards required of all Zoo staff
  • Must be able to work a set schedule which will include flexible hours, evenings, holidays, and/or weekends
  • Must be able to work outdoors in all seasons and weather conditions.

 

INTERN REQUIREMENTS

  • Present and on time for all assigned shifts
  • Active engagement in all aspects of assigned duties
  • Attendance at all required training sessions and lectures
  • Attendance at all meetings with assigned Intern Coordinator, Volunteer Manager and other mentors
  • Completion of all assignments including two projects for each 12-week term
  • Maintain a written journal throughout internship term

 

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 captivity
  • 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

 

APPLICATION PROCESS – Interested candidates should complete the application. To supplement your application, it is recommended that you attach the following documents:

  • Resume
  • Cover Letter
  • At least two Letters of Recommendation
  • When submitting your application, upload Letters of Recommendation in the same place you upload your Cover Letter.
  • Additionally, we ask you to complete this anonymous survey.

Pay Range

$12.50 - $12.50 USD

Create a Job Alert

Interested in building your career at Nashville Zoo? Get future opportunities sent straight to your email.

Apply for this job

*

indicates a required field

Resume/CV*

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

Cover Letter*

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

Select...
Select...
There are multiple internship opportunities available. Which internship areas are you most interested in? Please select up to 3 from the list below: *Ambassador Animal teams care for about 75 different species including invertebrates, reptiles, mammals and more. *
Select...

U.S. Standard Demographic Questions

We invite applicants to share their demographic background. If you choose to complete this survey, your responses may be used to identify areas of improvement in our hiring process.
Select...
Select...
Select...
Select...
Select...
Select...

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey. Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiring process or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in a confidential file.

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.

Select...
Select...
Race & Ethnicity Definitions

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 measure the effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categories is 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.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.

Select...

Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability

Form CC-305
Page 1 of 1
OMB Control Number 1250-0005
Expires 04/30/2026

Why are you being asked to complete this form?

We are a federal contractor or subcontractor. The law requires us to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We have a goal of having at least 7% of our workers as people with disabilities. The law says we must measure our progress towards this goal. To do this, we must ask applicants and employees if they have a disability or have ever had one. People can become disabled, so we need to ask this question at least every five years.

Completing this form is voluntary, and we hope that you will choose to do so. Your answer is confidential. No one who makes hiring decisions will see it. Your decision to complete the form and your answer will not harm you in any way. If you want to learn more about the law or this form, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) website at www.dol.gov/ofccp.

How do you know if you have a disability?

A disability is a condition that substantially limits one or more of your “major life activities.” If you have or have ever had such a condition, you are a person with a disability. Disabilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Alcohol or other substance use disorder (not currently using drugs illegally)
  • Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS
  • Blind or low vision
  • Cancer (past or present)
  • Cardiovascular or heart disease
  • Celiac disease
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Deaf or serious difficulty hearing
  • Diabetes
  • Disfigurement, for example, disfigurement caused by burns, wounds, accidents, or congenital disorders
  • Epilepsy or other seizure disorder
  • Gastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn's Disease, irritable bowel syndrome
  • Intellectual or developmental disability
  • Mental health conditions, for example, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD
  • Missing limbs or partially missing limbs
  • Mobility impairment, benefiting from the use of a wheelchair, scooter, walker, leg brace(s) and/or other supports
  • Nervous system condition, for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS)
  • Neurodivergence, for example, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, other learning disabilities
  • Partial or complete paralysis (any cause)
  • Pulmonary or respiratory conditions, for example, tuberculosis, asthma, emphysema
  • Short stature (dwarfism)
  • Traumatic brain injury
Select...

PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENT: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. This survey should take about 5 minutes to complete.