Elephant Internship in Zoo Miami - United States

The Zoo Miami Elephant Department currently has openings for 2 interns who would like to gain experience in the zoo keeping field. Ideal candidates should possess the following qualities:

• Candidate must be a high school graduate pursuing a degree at an accredited institution or a career in zoo keeping or a related field.

• Candidate should be in good physical condition, able to lift 50 lbs. without injury. Candidates should be able to work in south Florida weather conditions and be aware that the majority of the work day takes place outside in all types of weather (hot, humid, rain, cold, etc) and involves hauling large amounts of hay and various plants and trees.

• Candidates must present proof of a negative TB reading no more than 6 months prior to their prospective start date. Proof should be presented at the time of the interview, unless otherwise arranged.

• Candidates should be able to dedicate a minimum of 10 weeks to the internship and be available for at least 12 hours Monday through Friday.

• Candidates must submit to and pass a background check and finger printing as required by Miami Dade County.

The requirements and specifications of the Internship are as follows:

• This internship is unpaid and we are unable to provide housing.

• Although the staff is willing to work with the interns to meet any specific requirements necessary to gain course credit at their particular institution, the acceptance of this internship does not guarantee course credit will be earned. Any course-credit opportunity may be set up by the intern with the assistance of the intern coordinators.

• Although this internship will better equip interns for a job in the zookeeping or a related field, this internship does not guarantee employment with Zoo Miami or Miami-Dade County.

• This internship is being offered by Zoo Miami’s Elephant Department. The Elephant Department is responsible for all aspects of husbandry for 1.2 African elephants Loxodonta africana and 1.2 Asian elephants Elephas maximus. The interns will be educated on several aspects of elephant husbandry, however the interns will not be permitted to perform any husbandry that would require direct contact with the elephants nor will the intern actively train the elephants.

• Intern job duties will involve diet preparation and dispersion, exhibit maintenance, record keeping, animal observation, and public interaction. The intern will be educated about elephant husbandry in an AZA accredited facility and have the opportunity to observe many aspects of elephant husbandry. The interns will also gain knowledge on elephant natural history, elephant conservation, and guidance to aid in acquiring a career in the elephant keeping field.

• The intern and keeper staff will work together to create an educational project that the intern will complete throughout the course of their internship. All interns will be required to take a 20 question written exam at the end of their internship.

• Interns will be interacting with the public on a daily basis. For that reason, we ask that interns come to work with a good attitude and a willingness to share the knowledge they have gained about the animals in their care.

• Due to the sometimes unpredictable nature of working with exotic animals, interns will need to be able to carefully follow the directions given to them by their supervising keeper staff.

For those interested in this internship, a resume and cover letter as well as one letter of recommendation should be submitted to tarahb@miamidade.gov or mailed to the following address no later than July 15, 2011.

Tarah Bedrossian

Zoo Miami

12400 SW 152nd ST

Miami, FL 33177

305-251-0400 ext. 84921