Saint Louis Zoo Internships: Requirements and Opportunities

The Saint Louis Zoo offers a variety of internships, providing valuable hands-on experience and fostering an understanding of the Zoo's role in research and conservation. Over 100 interns contribute to the Zoo’s mission annually, learning directly from Zoo professionals and making a difference for endangered species and conservation issues. These internships are available in both animal management and non-animal departments.

General Internship Information

The Saint Louis Zoo provides college students, recent graduates, and individuals with prior college coursework an opportunity to learn about the Zoo's zoological operations while obtaining valuable, hands-on work experience and an understanding of the Zoo's role in research and conservation.

Eligibility Requirements

Minimum age requirement is 18.
Applicants need not be currently enrolled in college/university, but prior college coursework is required.
A minimum of 15 hours per week for a minimum of six weeks for unpaid internships.
All successful candidates will be required to submit to a background check.
Submission of a negative TB test result is required for interns in Animal Care (all departments). If you have been tested within the past six months of your acceptance, you do not need to be retested.

Paid Internship Opportunities

In addition to departmental specific duties, interns will meet with their peers for regular learning opportunities such as tours, career panels and professional development, as well as demonstrate their learning at the completion of the internship through a presentation. With support from zookeepers, educators and researcher mentors, interns will learn how a zoo operates while gaining valuable new skills and a better understanding of future career opportunities. The most successful candidates will be curious, motivated and open to learning.

The Saint Louis Zoo is committed to playing a pivotal role in diversifying the future workforce of zoos and conservation organizations. The Saint Louis Zoo paid internship program is designed for emerging zoo professionals from socioeconomic populations who are underrepresented in the animal care and zoo industry. Candidates who have financial need (those who otherwise would not be able to pursue an unpaid internship) and reside in the Greater St. Louis bi-state metropolitan area are encouraged to apply.

For Summer 2026 Paid Internship Opportunities, the earliest start date for summer internships will be May 26, 2026. Interns will complete 300 hours, at a pay rate of $15/hour. Paid internships include Animal Health, Conservation Education, Institute for Conservation Medicine, Hellbender, Herpetarium, River’s Edge, and WildCare Park and Sears Lehmann, Jr.

Unpaid Internship Opportunities

A variety of unpaid internships are available throughout the year. There are over 30 departments to choose from, in areas that include animal management and non-animal related fields. See above for Eligibility Requirements, application materials and deadlines.

There are different applications for paid versus unpaid internships.

Animal Care Internship Opportunities

Bird Department

Interns in the Bird Department will work with a diverse collection of birds while gaining knowledge and experience about their care and conservation. Daily duties include, but are not limited to, diet preparation and feeding (meat, whole prey, insects, and fish), training with operant conditioning, providing enrichment opportunities, observing animal behavior and record keeping, maintaining excellent communication with Zoo staff and guests, and assisting with veterinary procedures, where appropriate. The Bird internship position requires interns to work indoors and outdoors, regardless of season. Interns will be monitored by a full-time keeper and will have opportunities to work directly with the birds. Must have the physical ability to perform required duties as assigned, including standing for long periods of time, lifting, bending and working in all types of weather conditions.

Carnivore Department

The intern for Carnivore will work closely with Carnivore Keepers to learn the basic animal care principles and safety needed to care for different species of felids and bears, along with African painted dogs, anteater and red panda. Daily job shadowing will allow you to follow different species’ routine and can include habitat prep/cleaning, the use/creating of environmental enrichment items, diet preparations, observing animal behavior, assisting communications with Zoo staff/Guests, and other rotational projects. Interns will not be working directly with or conducting training sessions with any species in the Carnivore Unit, but will have opportunities to observe operant conditioning by keepers. Interns must have a negative TB test and a COVID vaccination. A selected Carnivore intern should be prepared to work at least 2 full days (or 16 hours) at minimum per week for a 200-hour internship.

Hellbender Team

Interns with the Hellbender team will work in the Herpetarium to develop an understanding of captive management and conservation of Ozark and Eastern hellbenders. Routines may include food preparation, water quality testing, water changes, record keeping, and projects. Interns will not work with venomous, reptiles, large snakes, or crocodilians. Applicants with a strong interest in Herpetology or wildlife conservation are desired.

Read also: Affording Saint Leo University

Herpetology Unit

Interns in the Herpetology unit will work with Herpetarium staff to develop an understanding of captive management and conservation programs for reptiles, amphibians and fishes. Routines may include food preparation, cleaning on-exhibit and off-exhibit habitats, record keeping, and projects (redecorating, yard work in outdoor exhibits, data collection, etc.). Interns will not work with venomous reptiles, large snakes or crocodilians. Interns must be willing to handle many species of harmless snake and live feeder invertebrates. Interns work in a variety of temperatures and environments including extended periods outdoors. Applicants with a strong interest in Herpetology or wildlife conservation are desired.

Invertebrate Department

Interns will work closely with invertebrate staff to learn hands-on skills such as husbandry techniques for non-venomous invertebrates, exhibit design, and entomology specimen curation. Interns will also work in the Butterfly Wing, the display hall and the outside garden areas.

Jungle of the Apes

Interns in Jungle of the Apes will work closely with great ape zookeepers to learn the basic principles of chimpanzee, gorilla and orangutan husbandry and daily care. Daily shadowing will allow you to follow each species’ routine and will include habitat cleaning, decorating, preparing environmental enrichment items, diet preparations and other varied rotational projects. Interns are integral members of the ape keeper team. Interns will be able to use their creativity to implement new ideas for various projects assigned to each intern group. Some of the past projects have been habitat furniture redecoration, enrichment device building and behavioral observations. There will also be opportunities to observe operant conditioning training sessions and observations of enrichment use. Interns must have a negative TB test.

Life Support Systems

The Life Support Systems intern will help with water quality testing, operating systems, ozone safety, USDA regulations and automated controls. Hand tool usage and some power tool use will be expected. This program is aimed to provide a foundation to becoming a life support systems technician.

Primate Department

Interns in the Primate Department will be introduced to the basic principles of primate husbandry. Duties may include habitat cleaning and decorating, preparing environmental enrichment items, behavioral observations, diet preparation, and other varied rotational projects.

Read also: SLU Hospital Overview

River's Edge

Interns will develop an understanding of animal care for a variety of species in the River’s Edge, including black rhinos, Nile hippos and Asian elephants. Opportunities to work with the carnivores in River's Edge are not included as part of this internship. Duties may include diet preparation, animal habitat cleaning and maintenance, animal welfare research and behavioral observations, environmental enrichment, and special projects as needed.

Sea Lion Sound

The Sea Lion Sound department at the Saint Louis Zoo is responsible for a group of pinnipeds that includes California sea lions and harbor seals. Interns at Sea Lion Sound will be exposed to the care and training of Sea Lion Sound’s animals. Interns will assist with tasks crucial to the daily care Sea Lion Sound staff provides for their animals. Tasks include, but are not limited to the following: diet preparation, cleaning and maintaining behind the scenes and public facing areas, assisting with show, tour, and program preparation, assisting with record keeping, learning and participating in a goal-based enrichment program, and interacting with and educating Saint Louis Zoo guests. Interns will work closely with full-time trainers and will have opportunities to observe training sessions, feedings, shows, and behind-the-scenes tours and programs. Discussions with an assigned mentor and assigned readings throughout the internship provide opportunities for interns to further understand the use of operant conditioning and training as an animal management tool.

WildCare Park and Sears Lehmann, Jr. Wildlife Reserve

WildCare Park interns will work at both of the Zoo’s new campuses, WildCare Park in north St. Louis County and Sears Lehmann, Jr. Wildlife Reserve in Franklin County. At WildCare Park, interns will develop an understanding of the goals of ungulate conservation programs and principles of ungulatecare in large-acreage wildlife parks. Duties may include food preparation, habitat and barn cleaning, pasture maintenance, animal observations, well being assessments, record keeping, and other projects as assigned. At the Wildlife Reserve, interns will assist with the care of our American red wolves which are a part of the national USFWS reintroduction program. They will learn and experience how recovery species are managed using protocols that best prepare them to be reintroduced into the wild. Duties may include food preparation, habitat cleaning, pasture maintenance, video wolf observations, well being assessments, record keeping, fence line maintenance, and other projects as assigned. Interns will develop an understanding of the goals of zoo ungulate conservation programs and principles of ungulate care in zoos. Duties may include food preparation, habitat and barn cleaning, habitat decorating and maintenance, animal observations, record-keeping, making enrichment, leading tours, and other projects as assigned (horticulture work, grounds clean-up, research projects, facility/equipment maintenance, developing new graphics or educational materials, data analysis).

Animal Health Internships

Animal Health Intern

The Animal Health intern position is open to all college students with no prior experience needed. This internship is designed to expose participants to the various careers that are open in the veterinary field. Under the general supervision of the Animal Health team, the successful candidates will observe theduties of the Animal Health team including (but not limited to): radiographs, lab work, patient care, in-house and field procedures, administrative tasks, hospital maintenance, and assisting with surgery and anesthesia. Hours must be completed between Monday - Friday, although hours can be flexible withinthese days. Twenty hours of internship a week is recommended but not required. The successful candidates should be prepared to give a presentation on the veterinary topic of their choice during the last week of their internship.

Veterinary Preceptor Intern

Veterinary preceptor interns must be in the final clinical year of a doctoral program in veterinary medicine and receiving credit from an accredited institution of higher learning. Veterinary preceptors will shadow veterinary staff and receive exposure to all aspects of zoo-based veterinary medicine. Students will learn through a problem-based approach to clinical veterinary medicine, and the experience will be driven by the clinical, active caseload at the time.

Veterinary Technician Intern

The veterinary technician intern position is open to credentialed veterinary technicians or students of AVMA accredited veterinary technology programs. This internship is intended to help participants gain the skills necessary to work as a technician in the field of exotic animal medicine. Under the general supervision of the Animal Health team, applicants will perform the duties of a veterinary technician including (but not limited to): radiographs, lab work, patient care, in house and field procedures, administrative tasks, hospital maintenance, and assist with surgery and anesthesia. Hours are flexible; however, internss are expected to work 20-30 hours per week, Monday - Friday. Applicants must adhere to the policies and procedures of the Saint Louis Zoo and the expectations of the university/college agreement and professional curricula.

Research Internship Opportunities

Institute for Conservation Medicine (ICM)

The Saint Louis Zoo Institute for Conservation Medicine (ICM) takes a holistic approach to research on wildlife, public health and sustainable ecosystems. Research in the ICM focuses on those diseases known to affect threatened wildlife, with an emphasis on health challenges at the wildlife, domestic animal and human interface. This internship will provide students exposure to scientific research through a mix of local field veterinary work, laboratory diagnostics and database management. There is also opportunity for outreach with local communities. Hours are flexible; however, interns are expected to work 20-30 hours per week, Monday - Friday, with preference given to those that can work mornings as field work is most often done in the mornings.

Department of Reproductive and Behavioral Sciences

The Department of Reproductive and Behavioral Sciences offers internships and independent study opportunities in three research areas, including reproductive science, endocrinology, and behavior and animal welfare, to college students, recent university graduates, and graduate and veterinary students. Specific projects and tasks vary and it is important to note that most have no direct animal contact. You may apply to intern in more than one research area.

Endocrinology Lab

Interns in the Endocrinology lab will be provided with training in techniques for noninvasive hormone monitoring, including processing serum, urine and fecal samples, fecal hormone extraction, EIA and RIA assay methodology, and preparation of reagents. Interns may participate in discussions of scientific literature and may be asked to perform literature searches, record keeping, and other duties as assigned. Applicants must have good attention to detail and be able to perform repetitive tasks in a laboratory setting. They must also be able to follow directions, work independently, and handle confidential information. Completion of undergraduate coursework in related field of study, including at least two laboratory-based courses, is required, along with a familiarity with Microsoft Office, especially Excel. Interns will have the opportunity to assist with several ongoing research projects.

Behavior and Animal Welfare

The primary role of interns in Behavior and Animal Welfare is to collect behavioral data on a variety of species, either by performing live observations on Zoo grounds or by reviewing video footage. Behavior and Animal Welfare interns work on applied behavioral science research and contribute to studies of animal wellbeing, which includes measures of behavior alongside physiology and endocrinology, affective state, and health. In addition to collecting behavior data, interns will contribute to research efforts in Behavior and Animal Welfare through data summary and analysis, data mining, literature searches and reviews, and other tasks as needed. Interns will also participate in journal clubs to further broaden their exposure to how behavior and welfare are studied in zoo settings. Studies of behavior are observational and do not include animal contact. Coursework in animal behavior is recommended but not required. All interns must have excellent attention to detail and Excel skills are strongly recommended. Interns primarily work during regular business hours on weekdays and must be able to commit to at least 20 hours per week during summer or 10 hours per week during other terms.

Reproductive Sciences

Interns in Reproductive Sciences will work with the Zoo’s Manager of Reproductive Sciences to collect, organize and analyze data from on-going projects focused on reproductive biology. Projects vary but may include post-thaw evaluations of semen using both standard microscopy and computer-assisted motion analysis (CASA), recording follicle measurements from ultrasound images, and analysis of reproductive behavior. All internships will include computer-based work, so knowledge of Excel and attention to detail is as important as lab or technical skills. Participation in reproductive success evaluations, which involve working with zoo staff to address challenges that may limit our ability to achieve population sustainability goals will be required; the intern will work on these independently and is expected to present at the end of the internship experience. Other expectations include participation in discussions of scientific literature, conducting literature searches, record keeping, giving educational tours, and other duties as assigned. Necessary training to work safely with lab chemicals and in animal areas will be provided. This internship is largely focused on working with scientific data and lab-based experiences aimed at providing practical experience in reproductive sciences. Opportunities to assist with, or observe, animal procedures are possible, but not guaranteed to be part of this internship. Interns must be able to follow directions, work both independently and as part of a team, and handle confidential information. Completion of coursework in related field of study, and some prior experience in collaborative research projects, whether in class or independently in association with their college/university is required. Those applicants with prior experience specific to reproductive physiology (lab or related animal experience) will be prioritized.

Non-Animal Internship Opportunities

Animal Management Services (AMS)

The Animal Management Services (AMS) intern assists the Curator and Zoological Manager/Registrar with ongoing animal records management projects. Most, if not all, projects are focused on quality control, animal records digitization priorities, automation, integrations, compliance and training for one or all of the Saint Louis Zoo facilities. The above-referenced internship provides a bird’s-eye view of the Animal Management Services function.

Conservation Audience Research and Evaluation (CARE) Department

The Conservation Audience Research and Evaluation (CARE) Department supports the Saint Louis Zoo in making data-driven decisions involving a wide spectrum of audiences including guests, employees, communities within the St. Louis area, and global conservation partners. Using a variety of methodologies to answer a diverse range of evaluation and research questions about the human dimension of the Saint Louis Zoo’s work, CARE frequently collaborates with nearly every department within the Zoo, especially Education, Marketing, Human Resources, and Exhibit Design teams. The CARE intern will conduct at least one complete evaluation/research study, which may include interviewing Zoo visitors, data entry, data analysis and report generation.

Education Department

Early Childhood Education

The Early Childhood Education intern will assist in the research and design of activities and materials for our early childhood unit. They will also assist in the preparation of our early childhood classes and be trained as a facilitator in our Discovery Room. Interns will interact with children and caregivers in the classroom and assist in the Zoo’s early childhood camp program. Some college coursework in education and science is required. Early childhood experience preferred. Good communication and customer service skills are a must.

Biofact Intern

The Saint Louis Zoo possesses an extensive collection of biological artifacts (biofacts), which are preserved animal remains such as bones, skulls, skins, feathers and other such objects. Biofacts are used for Zoo education activities. The biofact intern assists the biofact curator and biofact committee in completing ongoing projects to better organize and maintain the collection. Duties include, but are not limited to, the following: biofact identification/inventory, database management, general biofact repair and processing and a study of skull measurements. The biofact intern is also given the opportunity to shadow educational programs in other areas of the Education Department so that he or she can acquire a full understanding of the department. Interns are also given their own projects to complete based on their interests. Interns must have some biology/ taxonomy experience and an interest in skeletal anatomy.

Camp KangaZoo Intern

Camp KangaZoo interns will be immersed in the excitement of summer camp while helping the Zoo meet the needs of the campers and provide them an enriching educational experience. Interns will give extra attention to children who need it; assist with setting up, taking down and leading activities with campers; model conservation behaviors; and help with other projects as assigned. Minimum of one year of college and a strong interest in animals preferred. Experience working with children and good communication and customer service skills required.

Camp KangaZoo Inclusion Intern

Camp KangaZoo Inclusion interns will help to provide extra assistance to campers with special needs. Interns may assist in many ways, depending on the child’s needs. Examples include: playing a quiet game with a camper who needs a break away from the group, helping a camper to understand instructions or helping with a craft, walking with campers on tours around the Zoo, helping with transitions, and helping campers to interact and make friends with others. Minimum of one year of college and experience working with children required. Experience with children with special needs preferred.

Specialty Camp Intern

The Specialty Camp intern will assist the educators in preparing for and delivering 4-day long camp programs for our summer campers. Interns will …

Application Process and Deadlines

Application materials are collected by Volunteer Services. Volunteer Services does not release submitted applications to hiring managers until the application deadline. After that date, applications are accessible to the hiring managers of the preferred areas indicated on your application. Qualified applicants will be interviewed and selected by hiring managers. Processing time can take up to 8 weeks from the application deadline.

Deadlines:

Winter/Spring Semester: Application deadline November 1. Applicants notified by mid-December.
Summer: Application deadline March 1. Applicants notified by mid-April
Fall Semester: Application deadline July 1.

Additional Information

Wages and Benefits

The Zoo offers competitive hourly wages, free employee parking and an ideal working environment. Positions start at $15 per hour. Many weekday positions start at $16 per hour, based on availability, experience or the ability to serve alcohol.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The Saint Louis Zoo is an equal opportunity employer. In order to provide equal employment and advancement opportunities to all individuals, employment decisions at the Zoo will be based on merit, qualifications, and abilities. The Zoo does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by law. The Zoo will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities unless doing so would result in an undue hardship.

Transportation

Ride MetroLink to Forest Park/DeBaliviere station, then take MetroBus route #90 Hampton south (or Forest Park Trolley). The bus and Trolley both stop within a short walking distance of the Zoo's North Entrance on Government Drive. On Fridays, Saturdays, & Sundays from 9am to 5pm, the #90 Hampton will reroute around Forest Park. Service in Forest Park will be provided by the #3 Forest Park Trolley only. For detailed Metro transit schedules, pricing and to purchase tickets, visit the Metro web site.

tags: #saint #louis #zoo #internships #requirements