Animal Ambassador Trainer Internship

The Downtown Aquarium in Denver is home to a large variety of taxa! Where else can you get hands-on experience with the husbandry and enrichment of North American River Otters, while also hanging out with some three-banded armadillos during a meet and greet? Our program animals include; sloth, porcupine, serval, binturong, North American river otters, three-banded armadillos, and a wide variety of reptiles/an arachnid. It will also include learning training philosophies for the husbandry needs of our exhibit animals. Our exhibit animals include river otters, tigers, and a variety of bird species.

The intern will gain hands-on experience in food preparation, husbandry, enrichment, guest engagement, animal welfare and behavioral observation, and training animals using operant conditioning. This internship will involve animal interpretation with guests and learning the training philosophies for free-contact animal ambassadors.

Interns are required to complete a semester long project, chosen with the assistance of staff. Interns work closely with trainers, alone in animal exhibits and alongside dangerous animals therefore, the applicant will need to show maturity and be able to follow directions.

Based upon performance, interns have the ability to advance through our multi-tiered program where they will be given more responsibility and the opportunity to continue growing beyond the basics of animal husbandry.

Essential Duties

• Daily maintenance of mammal/bird exhibits and quarantine areas
• Preparation of diets
• Assist with environmental enrichment with all animal areas
• Observe and assist in training principals and philosophies
• Educate guests with formal and informal keeper chats

Requested Job Requirements:

• Ability to work 7:30am-4:00pm, minimum 24 hours per week (includes one weekend day and holidays). Days can be flexible
• At least 18 years old

We anticipate this internship to run mid-May to mid-August. This is an unpaid internship and housing will not be provided. Must be able to successfully pass background check. Candidates must be able to attend Orientation.