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Internship Zookeeper Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Houston Zoo

Zookeeper III, Elephants

Houston, TX · On-site

Serves as a positive role model for interns, volunteers, and other keepers and staff. * Demonstrates a clear understanding of the roles AZA zoos play in conservation and saving animals in the wild.

City of Bloomington Illinois

Zookeeper

Bloomington, IL · On-site

$50K/yr

Train and mentor Seasonal Zookeepers, Laborers, interns, and volunteers. Function as an AZA IR as directed. Support and/or participate in in situ and ex situ conservation programs. Serve as a member ...

City of Bloomington, IL

Zookeeper

Bloomington, IL · On-site

$50K/yr

Train and mentor Seasonal Zookeepers, Laborers, interns, and volunteers. * Function as an AZA IR as directed. Support and/or participate in in situ and ex situ conservation programs. * Serve as a ...

houstonzoo

Zookeeper III, Elephants

Houston, TX · On-site

Serves as a positive role model for interns, volunteers, and other keepers and staff. * Demonstrates a clear understanding of the roles AZA zoos play in conservation and saving animals in the wild.

houstonzoo

Zookeeper III, Elephants

Houston, TX · On-site

Serves as a positive role model for interns, volunteers, and other keepers and staff. * Demonstrates a clear understanding of the roles AZA zoos play in conservation and saving animals in the wild.

Great Plains Zoo

Zookeeper (Ungulate)

Sioux Falls, SD · On-site

$18/hr

Supervisory Responsibilities This position helps to oversee and train Junior Zookeepers, interns, volunteers and seasonal employees; however, this position does not have any direct reports. Work ...

Great Plains Zoo

Zookeeper - Primates

Sioux Falls, SD · On-site

$18/hr

Join our Sioux Falls Zoo and Aquarium zookeeper team! Zookeepers are responsible for the ... Supervisory Responsibilities This position helps to oversee and train interns, volunteers, and ...

Houston Zoo

Zookeeper III, Hoofstock

Houston, TX · On-site

Serves as a positive role model for interns, volunteers, and other keepers and staff. * Demonstrates a clear understanding of the roles AZA zoos play in conservation and saving animals in the wild.

houstonzoo

Zookeeper III, Hoofstock

Houston, TX · On-site

Serves as a positive role model for interns, volunteers, and other keepers and staff. * Demonstrates a clear understanding of the roles AZA zoos play in conservation and saving animals in the wild.

houstonzoo

Zookeeper III, Hoofstock

Houston, TX · On-site

Serves as a positive role model for interns, volunteers, and other keepers and staff. * Demonstrates a clear understanding of the roles AZA zoos play in conservation and saving animals in the wild.

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Internship Zookeeper information

What is an internship zookeeper?

An Internship Zookeeper job is a temporary position designed to provide hands-on experience in animal care and zoo operations. Interns typically assist with feeding, habitat maintenance, enrichment activities, and observing animal behavior under the supervision of experienced zookeepers. This role is ideal for students or recent graduates pursuing careers in zoology, wildlife conservation, or animal sciences. Interns may also engage in public education and conservation programs. It is a valuable opportunity to gain practical skills and industry knowledge while contributing to animal welfare.

What does an internship zookeeper do?

As an Internship Zookeeper, your daily responsibilities typically include preparing food, cleaning enclosures, monitoring animal behavior, and assisting with enrichment activities to support animal welfare. You may also help with educational programs, interact with zoo visitors under supervision, and assist professional zookeepers during veterinary procedures or habitat maintenance. This hands-on experience provides valuable insight into the daily operations of a zoo and offers opportunities to develop practical animal care skills. The variety of tasks exposes you to multiple species and aspects of animal husbandry, helping you explore potential career paths within zoology.

What skills and qualifications are needed to thrive as an internship zookeeper?

To thrive as an Internship Zookeeper, you generally need a passion for animal care, a basic understanding of biology or zoology, and some formal education or enrollment in a relevant program. Familiarity with animal feeding protocols, safety equipment, and record-keeping systems is often required, and a first aid or animal handling certification can be beneficial. Strong communication, teamwork, attention to detail, and a willingness to learn new skills help candidates stand out. These abilities ensure the intern can support daily animal care routines safely, work effectively with staff, and contribute to the zoo's mission.

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Internship Zookeeper jobs near you
Infographic showing various Internship Zookeeper job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 12% Internship, 58% Full Time, 27% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 85% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 13% Remote job distribution.

Zookeeper III, Elephants

Houston, TX • On-site

Houston Zoo
Museums and Historical Sites • 501 - 1,000 employees

7.3

Company rating: 7.3 out of 10

Based on 8 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

17th of 37 rated wildlife parks and zoos

People enjoy working here

Good employer

Respectful managers

Learn more about Houston Zooexternal

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement

Re-posted 15 days ago

Job description

Under the direction of a Zoo Supervisor, the Zookeeper is responsible for supporting the day-to-day operations associated with the husbandry of the animals and the maintenance of animal enclosures within a specified Houston Zoo animal program. This position will coordinate all program objectives in addition to day-to-day husbandry and enclosure maintenance. Members of the Aquarium and Sea Lion/Penguin team will need to be active members on the dive team to do routine maintenance and cleaning of the aquatic environments, following all dive protocols.
Our Mission: Houston Zoo connects communities with animals, inspiring action to save wildlife.
Our Vision: Houston Zoo will be a leader in the global movement to save wildlife.
Job Duties and Responsibilities
  • Carries out all aspects of the daily care of assigned animals including cleaning, feeding, exhibit maintenance, general upkeep of support facilities.
  • Maintains clean and organized exhibits, holding areas, service areas and equipment.
  • Prepares and feeds appropriate diets as per established feeding practices and diet sheets.
  • Administers prescribed medications, supplements, or treatments under the guidance of the veterinary and supervisory staff.
  • Records and reports any abnormal animal health or behavioral issues to the Zoo Supervisor.
  • Maintains daily reports, logs, training and enrichment records, research, or veterinary records, as appropriate and according to established guidelines; requires basic skills with TRACKS and Microsoft Office software applications.
  • Understands and applies a practical understanding of operant conditioning as it relates to the daily management of species under his/her care.
  • Understands and applies the basic principles of animal enrichment as part of the daily management of species under his/her care.
  • Maintains clean and organized exhibits, equipment, and keeper areas.
  • As appropriate, maintains water quality through filtration, balance of chemical elements, and sanitation methods for aquatic or semi-aquatic animal species.
  • As appropriate, maintains live exhibit plantings to enhance exhibit aesthetics; eliminates weeds and toxic plants from animal enclosures.
  • In conjunction with the Zoo's pest control officer, may assist in pest control using exclusion or traps.
  • Identifies potential maintenance or safety issues and reports them to the Zoo Supervisor.
  • Participates in keeper chats, tours, animal presentations or demonstrations, and/or other public interactions as requested by the Zoo Supervisor.
  • May assist with departmental research projects, conservation, AZA, or other industry activities as directed/approve by the Zoo Supervisor or Curator; provides support for the Zoo projects.
  • Exhibits good teamwork and communication skills both within the home team and when working with other teams or departments.
  • May be required to safely operate a motor vehicle.
  • Demonstrates proficiency in all duties and all assigned work areas within a specified timeframe.
  • Serves as a point of contact for area staff, veterinarians, Facilities staff, and/or other departments in the absence of a Zoo Supervisor.
  • Assists with training, mentoring, and may oversee and direct activities of interns, volunteers, and other area Keepers.
  • Assists Zoo Supervisors in the oversight of team projects.
  • Assists in the development and implementation of area standard operating guidelines.
  • Assumes select supervisory duties in the absence of Zoo Supervisors.
  • Serves as a positive role model for interns, volunteers, and other keepers and staff.
  • Demonstrates a clear understanding of the roles AZA zoos play in conservation and saving animals in the wild.
  • Actively pursues feedback and other resources to improve leadership skills and helps to improve such skills in other team members.
  • Contributes to saving animals in the wild through: reduction of waste, water and energy use and inspiring guests and staff to take wildlife protecting actions
  • Performs other duties as assigned.

Education and Experience
  • Bachelor's degree (BA or BS) from four-year college or university in zoology, biology, animal husbandry or a related field.
  • Experience and education may be considered equivalent at the rate of six months of experience per 15 hours of college level credit, up to 60 hours.
  • A certificate of completion from an acceptable animal care program may be substituted for a Bachelor's degree.
  • Six years of experience in animal care at an AZA or equivalent facility, gained through employment or internships.
  • Experience with basic carpentry and mechanical skills.
  • Must have or be able to obtain a valid Texas driver's license.

ABOUT HOUSTON ZOO
The Houston Zoo is made up of many moving parts with over 6,000 permanent residents (our animals) for whom we provide housing, meals, medical care and, yes, even education! There are over 2 million guests each year who come to experience our incredible variety of animals and ecosystems, as well as attend special private and public events and entertainment. Our dedicated staff works around the clock to ensure that the Zoo is always running smoothly for the safety and well-being of our residents and guests. We strive to ensure the protection of all the counterparts of the animals we have at the Zoo and in the wild. Houston Zoo is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Disclaimer
The above job description is meant to describe the general nature and level of work being performed; it is not intended to be construed as a complete inventory of all responsibilities, duties and skills required for the position. This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform other job-related duties requested by their supervisor. Requirements are representative of minimum levels of knowledge, skills and/or abilities. To perform this job successfully, the employee must possess the abilities or aptitudes to perform each duty proficiently. Continued employment remains on an at-will basis.
Benefits
Full-time, regular positions are offered the following benefits.
  • Medical and Prescription Drug
  • Vision
  • Dental
  • Basic Life AD&D (100% Employer Paid)
  • Short Term Disability (100% Employer Paid)
  • Long Term Disability (100% Employer Paid)
  • Supplemental Life
  • Flexible Spending Account / Health Savings Account
  • 401k, with employer match

Full-time and Part-Time, regular positions are offered the following additional benefits.
  • Free Zoo Membership
  • Free Guest Passes
  • Discounts on Food, Merchandise, Attractions, Admission and Programs
  • Free parking

Houston Zoo is an Equal Opportunity Employer
We thank all applicants in advance for their interest in this position, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

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