Animal Behavior and Wellbeing Intern

Job Title:

Animal Behavior and Wellbeing InternFLSA Status:
Non-exempt

Classification:
Seasonal

Hours:

Up to 24 hours per week for 12 weeks

Pay Rate: $15.26/hour

This is a seasonal position with a maximum duration of six months, based on individual performance and business operations. The exact end date will be determined by the official start date.

SCHEDULE:

Each internship session (spring, summer, and fall) is 12 weeks long. The spring internship session runs January 19, 2027 – April 12, 2027. All interns must be available during this time.

Orientation:
First day of each semester from 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM. All interns must be available to attend orientation in-person.

Weekly

Schedule:

Must be available to work up to 24 hours per week and attend one weekly afternoon professional development session starting the second week of their internship. Must be willing to work weekends and holidays. Schedules will be determined before internships begin by working with the Intern Coordinator and animal area supervisors.

DESCRIPTION:

Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium is seeking an Animal Behavior and Wellbeing (ABW) Intern under the direction of the Manager of Animal Behavior and Wellbeing. Interns will assist the Manager while working along with the keeper staff in all aspects of the day-to-day husbandry, training, enrichment, and welfare requirements for the animals in the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium collection.

Interns may also participate in training and enrichment programs with the Zoo animals as well as potentially give public presentations.

The Animal Behavior and Wellbeing currently works with a wide variety of animals in various taxa. The focus of the department is to promote awareness and stewardship of the animal kingdom through enrichment and operant conditioning. The program consists of collection animals each having specific outlined objectives or teaching points that support the mission of Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium to inspire, educate, and engage people to serve as life-long stewards for animals, their habitats, and their conservation.

This internship is designed to provide an opportunity to form a knowledge base as it pertains to animal behavior and the causes that impact behavior in an AZA accredited facility in the following areas: general knowledge, animal welfare assessments, daily husbandry, nutrition, data collection and record keeping, environmental enrichment, operant conditioning, conservation issues, and guest interactions.

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Develop, work on, and present an internship project aligned with the research needs of conservation science staff in the ABW department.

Attend weekly professional development sessions.

Complete learning goals on internship checklist.

Participate in and complete a mid-point and final evaluation.

Assist in and complete tasks as assigned, including but not limited to:

Creating ethograms and collecting behavioral data Analyzing behavioral data and presenting to animal care teams as needed to improve enrichment, training, and welfare programs

Preparing, offering, logging, approved Enrichment in accordance to the animals' life strategy plan.

Assisting in developing and implementing operant conditioning techniques for the collection animals.

Assisting with and potentially individually providing animal demonstrations and encounters.

Assist the ABW manager and animal area staff in animal welfare assessments as needed

Other duties may be assigned.

Must be at least 18 years old.

Must follow safety guidelines and always demonstrate safe working practices.

Must have effective time management skills for working in a fast-paced and flexible work environment.

Must possess strong communication skills;
Communicate frequently and in a…