Exploring Internship and Career Opportunities at Woodland Park Zoo
Woodland Park Zoo is dedicated to attracting and fostering highly qualified individuals, viewing employment as more than just a job. The zoo emphasizes inclusivity and strives to be a desirable workplace for people of all backgrounds. While job shadowing requests cannot be accommodated due to logistical and safety concerns, the zoo offers various avenues for individuals to explore career pathways and gain experience, including internships and career-connected learning experiences.
Direct Animal Care Roles
Many are fascinated by the roles of zookeepers, animal health care staff, and horticulture staff. These individuals are directly involved in the care of the zoo's animals and plants, and often contribute to conservation projects in the wild.
Zookeepers
Zookeepers play a crucial role in the daily lives of the animals. Some keepers possess specialized knowledge about specific animal groups, such as great apes, elephants, or reptiles. Keepers need to be excellent observers, noting habits and behaviors of the species and individuals they look after. Zookeeping is physically demanding and involves exposure to various weather conditions. Keepers must effectively manage shifting priorities when dealing with a diverse collection of animals, including new, newborn, aged, or unwell individuals.
Veterinary Team
Animal care is the primary focus of the dedicated veterinary team at the zoo. The veterinary team provides exemplary animal care that goes beyond routine examinations and treatment. The zoo collaborates with local veterinarians and human health care providers for specialized cases. The zoo's veterinarians also consult with experts from other zoos, wildlife biologists, and conservationists for insights into medical and nutritional care.
Veterinary Externship at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium (PDZA)
While the original query focused on Woodland Park Zoo, information was provided regarding a veterinary externship at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium (PDZA), which provides valuable insight into externship opportunities in a similar setting.
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PDZA's veterinary team includes a head veterinarian, two associate veterinarians, three veterinary technicians, and a hospital manager. The externship is a competitive position, and not all applicants are accepted. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Eligibility and Requirements
The PDZA externship is designed for fourth-year veterinary students who will be completing their final year of veterinary education at the time of the rotation from an accredited veterinary college. Students must have completed at least one medical or surgical clinical rotation prior to the externship. International applicants are not accepted. A reasonable proficiency with written and spoken English is required for international applicants, both conversationally as well as with veterinary medical terminology.
Responsibilities and Experience
The externship offers a hands-on clinical experience. Students will work with a team of veterinarians and veterinary technicians, gaining exposure to clinical techniques, anesthesia, diagnostic imaging, surgery, quarantine, preventive medicine, nutrition, and laboratory methods for a variety of zoological species. A project is required during the externship.
Students are expected to participate in all aspects of zoo medical practice, including participation in medical procedures, administration of animal treatments, care of quarantined and hospitalized animals, performing postmortem exams, medical record entry, learning and performing laboratory techniques, and preventive medicine. The student will also rotate through animal care areas to gain husbandry experience.
Logistics
The externship duration is 4 weeks. Students must make their own housing arrangements in Tacoma. Students must provide their own transportation. As unpaid volunteers, students are not provided with medical coverage for on-the-job injuries or incidents. Students are responsible for all of their own expenses. All students accepted for this position must provide proof of a negative TB test (administered within the last year) and proof of tetanus vaccination within the previous 5 years. Placement dates may be flexible depending upon the needs of the student and the PDZA Health Care staff. Must fulfill college credit requirements.
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Educational and Career Development Programs at Woodland Park Zoo
Woodland Park Zoo offers a variety of educational programs and career-connected learning experiences for different age groups and interests.
Teen Trips+
Teen Trips+ are career-connected learning experiences that combine a themed program with a field trip to Woodland Park Zoo. These programs immerse students in the various professions that contribute to the zoo's operation. Students explore careers in animal care, horticulture, design, education, and sustainability. Working in teams, they design their own exhibit and present their ideas, gaining insight into how the zoo promotes empathy for wildlife, cares for animals, and supports global conservation.
Advanced Inquiry Program (AIP)
The Advanced Inquiry Program (AIP) offers graduate degree options for individuals seeking to deepen their knowledge and skills in areas such as biodiversity and conservation biology, evolution, community engagement, inquiry-based science education, ecological literacy, science writing and publishing, environmental stewardship, and leadership. Students can enroll in either a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree in the Biological Sciences or a Master of Arts (MA) degree in Biology. The MAT option is designed for certified teachers or those with an education degree and/or teaching experience in a K-12 school. AIP students can tailor their course projects to align with their personal and professional goals. AIP graduates are well-prepared for leadership positions in formal education settings or informal education positions in organizations focused on science education, conservation, environmental stewardship, and sustainability.
General Information
Woodland Park Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA), ensuring high standards of animal welfare, veterinary care, conservation, and education.
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