Unpaid Animal Care Internship - Big Cats, Hippos, Primates and Crocodiles (Fall 2026)

Unpaid Animal Care Internship - Big Cats, Hippos, and Crocodiles

The Memphis Zoo has an exciting internship opportunity with our Cat Country/Zambezi River Hippo Team. Interns will work with keepers to gain firsthand experience on all aspects of animal husbandry as it relates to the animal's physiological and psychological well-being, and for the general maintenance of enclosures and habitats. The ideal candidate for this position should be seeking a career in the animal care field and enjoy working in a team environment.

Species: The Cat Country / Zambezi River Hippo Camp team cares for all Felid species from fishing cats to tigers as well as hippos, Nile crocodiles, flamingos, African hoofstock, and other species.

Key Dates:

Unpaid internship programs span 10-12 weeks.

• Spring Internships: January - May (application deadline November).
• Summer Internships: May - August (application deadline March).
• Fall Internships: August - December (application deadline July).

Applications may be accepted until positions are filled. Start and end dates are flexible. Housing is not provided for this internship.

Intern duties will vary upon season and departmental needs, but could include:

• Assisting Zookeepers and Team leads with the daily husbandry of assigned animals. (No direct contact with class one animals).
• Actively observing animal's behavior.
• Facilitating formal and informal public presentations to engage guests and provide a positive guest experience.
• Preparing daily diets and maintains accurate records of assigned animals.
• Appropriately cleaning and disinfecting assigned animal enclosures/habitats according to written protocols.
• Maintaining animal areas, work areas, and all resources in a clean, organized manner
• Completing a special project covering observations, research, enrichment or another area of interest.

Qualifications:

• Students or graduates pursuing a degree/career in zoology, biology, veterinary science, or related science.
• GPA of 3.0 or greater.
• Availability of 24-40 hours per week for 10-12 weeks.
• Demonstrated enthusiasm and good judgement while working with children and zoo guests.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to follow directions.

Beneficial Skills:

• Proficiency in Office 365, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.

Work Environment: While performing the duties of the job, the intern will frequently work in outdoor settings (Zoo grounds). When outdoors this position is required to work in various weather conditions including rain, humidity, and extreme heat or cold.

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

This position requires frequent sitting/standing/walking/bending/kneeling and may occasionally move or lift objects up to 50 pounds.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Other Requirements:

• 18 years or older.
• Clear background check.
• Clear TB screening.

EEOC and Inclusion Statement: 

The Memphis Zoo believes that human diversity is as important as the biodiversity we seek to conserve. World-class zoos are comprised of world-class team members representing a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We value a diverse workplace and strongly encourage people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, members of ethnic minorities, and veterans to apply. 

The Memphis Zoo is an equal-opportunity employer. Applicants will not be discriminated against because of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, citizenship status, disability, ancestry, marital status, veteran status, medical condition, or any protected category prohibited by local, state or federal laws. If you need to request any accommodations for the interview or hiring process, please let the Human Resources team (HR) know. HR can be contacted at hrteam@memphiszoo.org. 

The Memphis Zoo participates in E-Verify and is an EEO/ADA/Veteran employer.

All offers of internship are contingent upon the successful completion of pre-internship screening. Memphis Zoo is a drug-free workplace.

How to Apply:

Applications should be submitted via the Memphis Zoo Internships page. Please note that any other application submissions will not be considered.