National Zoological Park- Lion Tiger Department Internship
Contact: Kathryn Juliano, julianok@si.edu
Number of Positions: 1 unpaid internship
Length of Internship: 15 weeks, 240 hours total, during the fall semester (start and end dates flexible)
Intern Schedule: 2 set days per week, 8 hours per day, between 7 am and 3 pm
Internship Description: The selected student will work under a keeper in the Lion Tiger unit of the
Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington, DC. The intern will learn husbandry and management
techniques for a wide variety of animals including lions, tigers, Andean bears, bobcats, prairie dogs,
porcupines, maras, bat eared foxes, lynx, Pallas’s cats, and additional animals as needed. The intern will
learn husbandry skills, including diet preparation, enclosure cleaning and maintenance, enrichment
preparation, and behavioral observations. The intern will also gain public speaking skills by interpreting
animal behaviors to visitors. By the end of the semester, the intern will complete a poster or a
presentation with a focus on an animal husbandry procedure.
The intern will not have any direct contact with collection animals. The selected intern must be able to
work in all types of weather, lift 50 pounds, follow all safety protocols, complete health screenings, and
complete a background check.
Target Audience: This internship is designed to provide interns to explore careers in the zoo husbandry
field. The internship is an entry-level program, and as such applicants with prior zoo experience may not
find it very beneficial. Applicants interested in other aspects of the zoo field, including laboratory
research or veterinary medicine, may not find this internship applicable. Students, recent graduates, or
individuals in the workforce with little to no experience in a zoo setting are encouraged to apply.
Current students will receive support to earn college credit for their time spent in the program.
The Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute is committed to an environment that
is inclusive and welcoming. Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and others who identify as
nonwhite, people with disabilities, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and those with lived
experience with racism and/or misogynoir are encouraged to apply. We celebrate the diverse qualities,
perspectives, values, and experiences of all people.
To Apply: Send a resume, cover letter, unofficial transcript (if applicable), and a schedule of availability for the fall semester to julianok@si.edu by June 2. Please highlight why you are interested in this specific internship in your cover letter and how it will affect your career. Selected applicants will be contacted for interviews no later than June 13.