Job Postings

Behavioral Intern – Giraffe

Facility

Safari West

Closing Date
February 29, 2020
Description

The goal of this internship is to integrate students and recent graduates into the current and newly proposed research projects taking place at Safari West. Our objective is to have students understand how research is conducted at a zoological facility by participating in behavioral observations and data entry. This project focuses on the behavior of our giraffe herd. We currently have 12 giraffe in our herd that range in mixed species exhibits. Internships can be done in collaboration with a university and we can offer academic credit as approved by an academic advisor.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Data collection of giraffe behaviors and social interactions using an ethogram
Data organization and entry using excel
Internship Requirements

Availability: Completion of 50 hours of prelimary and recorded observations at Safari West, including a consistent schedule of a minimum of 6 hours per week of observations (preferably a minimum of 2 hours per day, 3 days per week)
Collaborative requirement: Intern must be able to work as part of a team, take direction well and be able to interact with employees and guests in a professional manner
Self-motivated: Interns will be guided but must be internally driven; they will be expected, after some time, to understand their daily responsibilities and be able to start their work without relying directly on orders
Work conditions: Willingness to work in any weather conditions and ability to remain stationary and/or sit for long periods of time outside and at a computer with focused attention

Start date: As soon as possible
Applicants must be 18 years of age. All internships are unpaid. At this time, we are unable to offer housing accommodations, therefore housing and transportation are at the cost and responsibility of the intern. The intern must have reliable means to get to Safari West consistently before committing.

Education and Pre-requisites

Not specified.

Compensation and benefits

N/A

Application instructions

Please send a resume and short cover letter, highlighting relevant experience, to Erika Defer at edefer@safariwest.com. Not all applicants will be offered an internship position due to the high volume of qualified candidates who apply. All applicants will be notified of our decision by email or phone.