Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Zookeeper Intern

🎯 Role Definition

A Zookeeper Intern supports daily animal care operations under the guidance of senior animal care staff and veterinarians. This hands-on, entry-level position focuses on animal husbandry, behavioral observation, enrichment design, exhibit maintenance, and public education. The intern learns species-specific care protocols, assists with veterinary procedures and record-keeping, and helps maintain safety and biosecurity standards. Ideal for students or recent graduates in zoology, animal science, wildlife biology, or veterinary technology seeking practical experience in a zoological or wildlife sanctuary setting.

Keywords: Zookeeper Intern, animal care, zoo internship, wildlife conservation intern, animal husbandry, enrichment, veterinary assistance, habitat maintenance, ZIMS, animal behavior.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Volunteer Animal Care Assistant or Wildlife Rehabilitation Volunteer
Seasonal Animal Keeper / Summer Camp Animal Instructor
Student Intern in Biology, Zoology, or Veterinary Programs

Advancement To:

Assistant Zookeeper / Animal Care Technician
Zookeeper / Senior Animal Keeper
Specialized Keeper (Aviary, Herpetology, Large Mammals) or Veterinary Technician

Lateral Moves:

Education and Outreach Coordinator
Conservation Program Assistant
Facilities and Exhibit Maintenance Technician

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Perform daily feeding, preparation of specialized diets, portion control, and diet logging for a variety of species (mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates) following written husbandry protocols and dietary restrictions.
Clean, sanitize, and maintain animal enclosures, dens, nests, pools, and substrate areas using approved disinfectants and biosecurity procedures to prevent disease transmission and ensure animal welfare.
Observe and document animal behavior, appetite, activity levels, and health indicators on daily logs and electronic records (e.g., ZIMS, keeper logs), escalating any abnormalities to supervisors or veterinary staff.
Design, implement, and rotate species-appropriate enrichment programs (cognitive puzzles, feeding enrichment, sensory enrichment) and evaluate enrichment effectiveness to promote physical and mental stimulation.
Assist veterinarians and veterinary technicians with routine health checks, sample collection (fecal, blood, saliva), administering medications under supervision, and restraining animals safely during examinations or treatments.
Participate in animal training using positive reinforcement techniques to facilitate husbandry behaviors such as voluntary injections, scale checks, or shift changes, improving the animals' welfare and reducing stress.
Support exhibit opening and closing procedures, including moving animals between off-exhibit and on-exhibit areas, securing gates and pools, and ensuring visitor safety protocols are followed.
Monitor and maintain life support systems and exhibit infrastructure (filtration, heating/UV, humidity control) and report malfunctions promptly to facilities teams to avoid animal health risks.
Assist in intake and quarantine procedures for new or transferred animals, following strict isolation protocols, quarantine monitoring schedules, and health screening checklists.
Participate in animal transfers and transport preparation, including crate training, crate maintenance, and documentation for internal moves and approved inter-institutional transfers.
Implement and follow institutional safety protocols and emergency response plans (animal escapes, injuries, severe weather), participate in drills, and act calmly and effectively under pressure.
Collect and properly label biological samples for diagnostic testing, maintain chain-of-custody documentation, and coordinate with the veterinary team and diagnostic labs.
Maintain accurate inventory of dietary supplies, enrichment materials, veterinary supplies, medications, and cleaning products; assist with ordering and receiving shipments and rotating stock.
Conduct routine behavioral and medical measurements (weights, body condition scoring), enter data into centralized databases, and assist with long-term monitoring and trend analysis projects.
Assist with public-facing programs such as keeper talks, behind-the-scenes tours, educational demonstrations, and supervised interactions, ensuring accurate messaging and animal safety.
Contribute to species management and conservation projects by following breeding plans, record sharing for studbook programs, and supporting research protocols approved by supervisors.
Provide mentorship and supervision to seasonal volunteers and temporary staff during daily routines, ensuring adherence to protocols and proper animal handling techniques.
Participate in collaborative animal welfare reviews, enrichment committees, and morbidity/mortality evaluations to improve husbandry practices and exhibit design.
Follow and help update standard operating procedures (SOPs), care manuals, and cleaning checklists; recommend practical improvements based on day-to-day observations.
Assist in basic exhibit fabrication and maintenance tasks (constructing enrichment devices, repairing substrates, painting displays) while adhering to safety and permit requirements.
Maintain professional communication with cross-functional teams (curators, veterinary, education, facilities, and conservation staff) to coordinate animal care, enrichment schedules, and special events.
Support data collection for behavioral research projects, conservation initiatives, and species-specific studies by following established protocols and accurately recording observations.
Participate in continuing education: attend staff trainings, workshops, and safety briefings to grow competencies in husbandry, veterinary procedures, and wildlife laws/regulations.

Secondary Functions

Assist marketing and education teams with content for social media, newsletters, and educational materials by providing accurate animal care insights, photos (where permitted), and narrative descriptions of enrichment or training activities.
Help prepare and organize materials for seasonal events, educational programming, and community outreach, ensuring animals are not stressed and educational messages are animal welfare focused.
Support data entry and basic analytics for keeper logbooks and welfare dashboards to help supervisors track trends in animal health, behavior, and enrichment outcomes.
Participate in grant-supported conservation or research fieldwork when opportunities arise, including data collection, species monitoring, and community outreach under senior guidance.
Contribute to sustainability and green practices in animal care areas by proposing waste-reduction measures, recycling protocols, and resource-efficient enrichment solutions.
Maintain cooperative relationships with external partners (universities, conservation NGOs, other zoological institutions) for exchange programs, research collaborations, and internships.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Animal Husbandry: Practical experience preparing diets, feeding protocols, and environmental needs for a range of taxa (mammals, avians, reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates).
Animal Handling and Restraint: Trained in safe, species-appropriate restraint and movement techniques under supervision; knowledgeable about minimizing stress during handling.
Behavioral Observation & Data Recording: Ability to perform structured behavioral observations, take ethogram-based notes, and enter data into ZIMS or similar databases.
Enrichment Design and Implementation: Skill designing and evaluating cognitive, sensory, and feeding enrichment tailored to species-specific needs and safety constraints.
Basic Veterinary Assistance: Assisting with routine medical procedures, sample collection, administering oral/topical meds under supervision, and recognizing clinical signs requiring escalation.
Quarantine & Biosecurity Procedures: Knowledge of quarantine protocols, PPE use, disinfection procedures, and disease-prevention practices in captive environments.
Exhibit & Life Support Maintenance: Familiarity with basic life support systems (filters, heating, UV systems), leak checks, and routine exhibit maintenance tasks.
Crate/Transport Preparation: Experience or training in crate training, secure transport preparation, and documentation for inter-institutional animal movements.
Recordkeeping Software: Experience or ability to learn ZIMS, Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, or proprietary keeper log systems for accurate record entry and retrieval.
Sample Handling & Chain-of-Custody: Proper techniques for collecting, labeling, storing, and dispatching biological samples in compliance with veterinary protocols.
Tools & Facility Equipment Use: Safe use of cleaning equipment, basic hand tools, and power tools (where permitted) for exhibit repairs and enrichment fabrication.
CPR/First Aid (Desirable): Certification or training in human first aid and, where available, animal-specific emergency response protocols.
Regulatory Awareness: Basic understanding of local, state, and federal regulations that affect wildlife care, transport permits, and endangered species protections.

Soft Skills

Strong observation skills and attention to detail for monitoring animal health and behavior.
Excellent verbal communication for interacting with supervisors, veterinary teams, and the public during educational programs.
Teamwork and collaboration across departments (veterinary, curatorial, education, facilities).
Physical stamina and willingness to work outdoors in all weather conditions; ability to lift and move heavy items.
Adaptability and problem-solving under changing daily schedules and emergent animal needs.
Time management and organizational skills to balance feeding schedules, cleaning, enrichment, and documentation tasks.
Empathy and ethical commitment to animal welfare and conservation values.
Professionalism in public-facing duties and adherence to confidentiality for sensitive animal health records.
Initiative and curiosity to learn species-specific husbandry and pursue continuing education.
Conflict resolution and calmness in emergency situations such as escapes or animal medical events.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or equivalent with demonstrated commitment to animal care (volunteer or coursework).

Preferred Education:

Currently enrolled in or recently completed an associate or bachelor’s degree in Zoology, Animal Science, Wildlife Biology, Ecology, Veterinary Technology, Conservation Biology, or related life science.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Zoology / Animal Biology
Wildlife Conservation and Management
Veterinary Technology / Pre-Veterinary Studies
Animal Science / Animal Behavior
Ecology / Conservation Biology

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

0–2 years (internship/volunteer/seasonal experience is common)

Preferred:

Prior volunteer, seasonal, or internship experience in a zoo, wildlife rehabilitation center, animal sanctuary, veterinary clinic, or similar setting.
Demonstrated hands-on experience with animal handling, enrichment creation, or participation in conservation or research projects.