| Location | Norfolk, VA |
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Virginia Zoo
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Virginia Zoo
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Animal Ambassador Internship at the Virginia Zoo
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The current application period is for an internship running from September 3, 2026, to December 21, 2026. Interns working at the zoo must commit to wearing designated PPE (personal protective equipment) as assigned, such as masks and gloves.
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Are you interested in gaining valuable, hands-on experience in the zoological field and first-hand knowledge and mentoring from experienced animal care professionals? Come join the Animal Ambassador team at the Virginia Zoo! We are currently accepting applications for interns in the Animal Care department from motivated individuals interested in pursuing a rewarding career as a zookeeper. Interns will learn all aspects of animal care and management in an AZA-accredited zoological organization.
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Zookeeper interns at the Virginia Zoo work directly alongside zookeepers, animal managers and veterinary staff as we strive to continuously provide the best possible care for the animals here. Under the guidance of experienced zoo staff, interns have the opportunity to gain experience in many aspects of zoo keeping, including but not limited to: daily animal husbandry, care and nutrition; regular cleaning and maintenance of animal areas and exhibits, as well as an understanding of exhibit set-up and design; direct involvement in our animal enrichment and positive reinforcement training programs; an understanding of animal behavior and experience in behavioral observations and animal welfare/wellness assessments; record keeping; and guest interactions.
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Qualified applicants must be able to work in a team environment and work outdoors in a variety of weather conditions and temperatures. While performing the duties of this position, the intern is frequently required to walk and stand for long periods; reach with hands and arms: stoop, kneel or crouch; lift up to 50lbs and talk or hear.
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The Animal Ambassador team works with a wide variety of mammals, birds, and herps including opossums, porcupines, sloths, armadillos, toucan, parrots, kookaburra, and birds of prey. The team provides educational experiences to the public through various programming including camps, stage presentations, pop-up encounters, school programs and special events.
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Experience Required
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Applicants should either be college graduates, currently in college, or have some college semester credits completed. Applicants need to be able to commit to the four-month program, with a weekly work schedule of 40 hr./week. The internship does not provide an hourly salary but can qualify as paid zoological experience through a small monthly stipend for living costs.
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Salary
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Monthly stipend
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How to Apply
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Applicants should submit a resume, 3 references (include phone numbers and email addresses of references given) and a cover letter to Zookeeperinterns@norfolk.gov . Please indicate that you are applying for the zookeeper internship-Animal Ambassador team by typing: "Zookeeper Internship Animal Ambassador" in the subject line of the email. No phone calls or in-person inquiries at the zoo please. Due to the volume of applicants, only those selected for an interview can be contacted. Applications will close on August 3, 2026, or when positions are filled.
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Virginia Zoo
Norfolk, VA 23504
Phone: 7573779610
Fax: Virginia Zoo
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