Mammals and Birds Intern

About the role#

This internship provides hands-on experience with the Mammals and Birds team, working directly with trainers to support the daily care of species including Beluga whales, Harbor seals, Asian small-clawed otters, Binturongs, Sea otters, African penguins, and Alcids. Interns are paired with a mentor and participate in training seminars to learn operant conditioning principles and their application in a professional zoo setting.

What you'll do#

• Assist with daily animal diet preparation and commissary clean-up.
• Conduct behavioral observations and perform data recording and entry.
• Support environmental enrichment and habitat maintenance, including water sampling.
• Assist the training team during husbandry sessions, animal handling, and medical procedures.

What you'll need#

• Interest in or current studies in animal science, biology, marine biology, psychology, or a related field.
• High school diploma or GED.
• Ability to perform physical labor, including climbing stairs and ladders.
• Capacity to lift at least 50 lbs.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
• Previous animal care experience is not required.

Location & details#

• Location: Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
• Term: Fall 2026 (12 weeks).
• Commitment: 40 hours per week, including potential weekends and holidays.
• Modality: On-site.
• Compensation: This is a paid internship.