As an intern coming into IEAS, I remember thinking that the next six months would be a huge factor in determining my future career. The staff did not waste any time; on the first day they were racking our brains with safety procedures and animal behaviors which was a continuous theme. At the beginning it was tough. No matter if you had previous experience or not, this place was run a specific way for a reason, and it was up to the interns to maintain these expectations. What I truly loved about interning at IEAS was the growth you felt over the weeks and the 'light bulb' moments you had when you figured something out after the frustrating times. By the end of the internship, I was excited to get a job and become a real keeper. I really enjoyed my time there, and it solidified to me a career in zoology. I have the staff and animals in Boyd, Texas to thank.
Frank Buck Zoo, Texas
Completing a 6 month internship at IEAS was by far the best thing I could have ever done to prepare for a career in zookeeping. As many interns before me have said, it was the hardest but most rewarding experience of my life. Going into the experience, I was definitely prepared to work hard as I had poured over the website and read all of the intern testimonials. What I wasn’t prepared for was the amount of mental and emotional strain that working at a sanctuary such as IEAS requires. This internship will not simply teach you animal husbandry as any other internship at a zoo or animal facility will, it is so much more. Not only are the interns and staff of IEAS responsible for every aspect of care for 50+ dangerous carnivores, they are also the groundskeepers, horticulturists, education ambassadors, and maintenance staff. I left the sanctuary with a versatile skill set that I use every day as a zookeeper, especially at a smaller zoo.
Brookfield Zoo, Illinois
I owe my entire career to IEAS. I will never be able to write how important this internship was for me, professionally and personally. The intern program was my first experience with exotic animals. Exotic animals....well I mean the fiercest most incredible kind, the Big Cats!
I would not be the keeper I am today if it wasn't for IEAS. The amount of time devoted to safety helped me develop some of the most important skills for a zookeeper. The time they devoted was not spent drilling commands in your head or handing a book of protocols to you, but instead it was spent giving you hands on skill training to help you comprehend the severity of every detail of your job. This internship is not for the faint of heart. They will work you hard, expect the best from you and help you succeed in whatever your future endeavors may be.
After graduating from Michigan State University in 2006 with a degree in Zoology, I was hired on to the Cheetah Department at Wildlife Safari in Winston, Oregon. I had a chance to ask what set my application apart from the other candidates; they mentioned the previous experience I had with big cats. It was difficult to get large carnivore experience at zoos. They reserve these positions for the most seasoned of keepers. If ever you are thinking about working with big cats or large carnivores in general, this internship holds a special key for your future.
After being in the zoo industry for just over two years now, I understand why the team at IEAS pushes so hard to keep you consciously aware of the actions you make every minute of every day. Becoming complacent with your daily routine is the first step towards disaster. When you stop double/triple checking your work or just assume everything is how you left it, is when the worst possible mistakes happen. IEAS gave me the fear. When I say fear, I mean healthy fear...RESPECT. Respect for the unthinkable, the power that lies behind each one of those whiskered faces.
Frank Buck Zoo, TX
I graduated in May of 2009 from the University of Delaware with a Bachelor's degree in Wildlife Conservation. Upon graduating, I became aware through research of an internship opportunity at the International Exotic Animals Sanctuary. I applied for the internship and was accepted. At the time I had no idea what to expect when I started at the Sanctuary in spring 2010.
The moment we pulled into the parking lot and I saw that I would be living within a few feet of three white Bengal tigers, I knew I was in for an experience like no other. This internship was as rewarding as it was demanding. It was through this opportunity that I learned a great life lesson, which was, the more you put into something the more you get out of it. The work at the Sanctuary is extremely difficult as there is much more to caring for these animals than feeding them. The experience I gained with regard to animal diets, habitat maintenance, equipment upkeep, and grant writing is invaluable.
During my internship, I had the great fortune of working with many talented and dedicated individuals. The staff at the sanctuary spared no detail in the care of these animals. Be it from the smallest thing like how you approach the animals, to the largest of things like the meticulous care that is given to each individual animal's diet. One of the benefits that is derived from an internship at IEAS that is unexpected is the hand's on experience you gain from a staff that not only cares about you but drives and motivates you to be the best you can be. Through my internship, I discovered things about myself with regard to my work ethic and my dedication that I was unaware of.
Of all the experience that I had at the Sanctuary, the one that I found the most rewarding was the bond that comes from the daily care of these animals. From feeding them to sitting with them on a nightly basis, real heartfelt bonds are established. To have a 500 pound Bengal tiger come up to the fence because it recognizes you is beyond description or comparison.
My internship was so rewarding that I ended up staying for three sessions. The lessons I learned during my extended stay have become a vital component in my skill set as a zookeeper. The internship afforded me a glimpse into what I hope will be my lifelong career. I use the things that I learned at the Sanctuary on a daily basis in my current job as a keeper at the Frank Buck Zoo in Gainesville, TX. The lessons learned, the friendships formed and the bonds with the animals have left me forever in debt to this great place and these great people.
Covington Equestrian Center, LA
I think the first thing you have to understand about an internship at the International Exotic Animal Sanctuary is that the people who are there permanently are not interested in hosting a three or six month session for people that want to play with cats or who think they are cute. They are interested in educating individuals who want to make this profession their life. As an intern at IEAS, I was pushed in ways that school never approached, but I came out such a better person for it, and I learned so much more while I was there because of it. At an internship like this, you get to learn how to care for animals that much of the world has forgotten, and you learn how to do it properly. However, the skills that this internship supplies you with go far beyond basic animal care management. For me the most amazing part of it was proving to myself that I could truly master something completely. You have to learn not to question yourself and just have faith that that you do know it and you will do it right. This internship teaches you to trust yourself to the point where you won't hesitate; when the time comes, you will just act, and that's something that you can't learn just anywhere; especially not in school. I would definitely recommend this internship for anyone who is truly interested in pursuing a career in the animal field. It's definitely a unique and wonderful experience.
Nashville Zoo, TN
When looking for internships, I chose to pursue opportunities that would offer educational but challenging experiences. I had heard that the internships at IEAS consisted of a lot of hard work, getting up early and sometimes working in less-than-desirable weather conditions. Since I wanted to challenge myself, and because I love big cats, I figured IEAS would be my best bet for gaining valuable experience. I knew I would learn a lot, but I honestly had no idea what was in store for me.
Sure the work was hard and the Texas weather was sometimes rough, but this is the kind of work you need to get used to if you plan on working with animals. I learned that the sanctuary life is a whole different ball game when compared to zoo life, despite that fact that both deal with animals. The great thing about IEAS is that there is always something to do. There is no maintenance staff sitting around waiting for something to break nor is there a staff of eager groundskeepers ready to weed eat and mow. At IEAS, YOU are the maintenance staff and YOU are the groundskeeper. Although the work is hard and completely tiring, it makes you realize how much work actually goes into keeping the place running. You tend to appreciate the way the front gate looks because you painted it and you are more likely to enjoy watching a tiger swim in a pool because you helped repair that pool. As an IEAS intern, you are a totally integral part of the everyday care of these animals, and that's not something that can be said about most places!
At IEAS, you will learn how to clean habitats and how to prepare diets/medications, but the true test of your fitness for the job is how well you can pay attention to your surroundings. Any keeper will attest that having an eye for detail is essential, and IEAS is a great place to perfect those skills. It takes some serious practice to be able to notice potential threats to an animal's welfare, like a rogue plastic bag that floats into a habitat or a section of electrical wire that becomes exposed due to erosion. It's not something that comes easy, but the staff will be more than willing to help. The staff also stresses the importance of having a safety protocol when working with dangerous animals. Working at IEAS, there are an unlimited number of ways to get hurt or even killed, but the staff will teach you the proper ways to ensure that you and the animals are safe at all times. The way they do things will probably be different than anywhere else you've worked, but their safety record is proof that it works, and that's enough for me!
As a keeper, there is not a day that goes by where I don't think of my time at the Sanctuary-not in some cheesy nostalgic way, but in a way that expresses my sincere gratitude. I do plan on working with large carnivores in the future, and I can honestly say that the things I learned at IEAS will one day save my life.
Memphis Zoo, TN
Working at IEAS was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do in my life. And it was definitely one of the best experiences I will ever have as well. Two things you do not typically hear being said together, but nothing can be more true. IEAS gives their interns more responsibility than you would typically expect to be given in an intern program, and obviously because of that, they push you to do well and reach your full potential.
As previous interns have stated in the past, and I can attest to, this internship is not for the faint of heart. You will be pushed further than you thought you could go. And for good reason. You will be working with well over 60 beautiful yet deadly animals, and you need to be aware and on your toes the whole time. Not only do you build up your husbandry skills with preparing diets, medicating, and cleaning habitats and houses, but you will also build skills normally not touches upon at other facilities. Two of the most important skills I learned during my six-month stay at the sanctuary were safety techniques and observation. No matter where you work after the sanctuary, safety and observation are critical to your success. And these are the two things the Sanctuary stresses the most.
IEAS even goes beyond these skills and teaches you much more. You learn about enrichment of all kinds, including their unique emotional enrichment program. You will not find this enrichment anywhere else and the interns at the sanctuary are lucky enough to be able to participate in it. From personal experience, I can say nothing is more thrilling than having a lioness form a bond with you to the point where she greets you at the fence when you arrive or having two tigers trust you enough to sleep right next to you and play with each other when you are sitting right there. Along with this, the sanctuary provides classes in grant and proposal writing, animal laws and more. You will also learn basic maintenance skills such as painting, mowing, weedeating, cementing, mortaring, fixing a pump for a pool, pvc pipe repair and the list goes on.
I owe my career to IEAS and I will be eternally grateful. When interviewing for my current position, it was revealed to me that my application stood out because I worked at the Sanctuary. Already, working at my job, I am finding the skills I acquired there pay off. The International Exotic Animal Sanctuary pushed me to be the best keeper I could be, and I will never forget my time there.
Dallas Zoo, Texas
Bleach, blood, and paint stained clothes are not the only things you will take away from your experience at IEAS. Through hard work, dedication and determination, the techniques and training you receive are unparallel. As an Animal Care Intern, you go far beyond preparing diets and cleaning habitats and houses. You become an integral part of what keeps the Sanctuary running. You become a grounds keeper, an educator, and the maintenance staff. You are responsible for weed-eating and mowing the entire sanctuary; when something breaks, you fix it; when people show up for tours, you are the one who give them. However tedious, simple or difficult the task may be, learning how to do all these tasks yourself will put you miles ahead of people competing for the same job as you. Trust me, learning how to do all these tasks are a HUGE reason I was hired on at the Dallas Zoo straight from IEAS.
Another thing you are taught is how to work efficiently and safely. Your eyes are constantly scanning to locate the cats and to check locks. You learn the difference between working fast and working efficiently, and once you're here, you will learn there is a major difference. IEAS teaches you how to be aware of your surroundings which is important when working with any animal, but even more so with animals that could take your life. You will learn a lot about yourself working here. The days are long and draining, not only physically but mentally as well. During the internship, you will be challenged and challenge yourself. All the Staff of IEAS expects the best out of you and will push you to reach your potential. They only push you if they think you can handle it; by establishing yourself capable, you will be able to discover everything that this internship has to offer.
One of the most rewarding experiences available to you will be the Emotional Enrichment. Take advantage of it! Where else would I be able to spend hours sitting with lions, Kuru and Nala, and a Siberian tiger, Taj? These cants are just like people, they don't instantly respect you, you have to earn their respect and trust, and once you have earned it, the experience is like none other and will be one you will never forget. The cats come right up to the fence, not to protect their territory, but to welcome you into it. This experience is indescribably and will never be understood until you are able to experience yourself.
Whether you stay for one session or two, IEAS will teach you everything you need in order to better yourself. The amount of time and physical and metal determination that goes into the Animal Care Internship will definitely help you decide if working exotic felines and bears is for you. If it is, then the information and lessons you learn during your time at IEAS will continue to be carried through to future jobs and will only be built upon, not forgotten. And for that, I say "Thank you" IEAS.
Fossil Rim Wildlife Center, Glen Rose, TX
Through the animal care internship at IEAS, I not only learned about caring for carnivores, but I also broadened my knowledge of animal care. Prior to arriving at IEAS, I had worked with black rhinos, allowing me to come in with a basic understanding of animal care. During my three months at the sanctuary, I learned a great deal about safety, care specific to carnivores, and various skills relating to habitat construction and maintenance. I also learned about the personalities of the various animals and was able to adjust my behavior to reduce the cat's stress.
When working with carnivores, safety is a major concern. Immediately the interns were taught a bout always locating the cat, using double gates, checking locks and making sure no tools were left in the enclosures. We were taught to work efficiently. This internship greatly improved my observation skills and fine-tuned my senses as I had to visually locate each cat, listen for gates or doors opening and closing and constantly be a ware of my surroundings.
Through the IEAS internship, I also learned a great deal about habitat construction and maintenance. We were taught to mix cement and mortar, and we used this skill quite frequently to build water troughs, pools and various other habitat components. We also were taught some basic plumbing while replacing hose bibs and installing water trough piping. The interns gained a lot of practice mowing, weed-eating, raking and using a power washer as we sought to keep the sanctuary looking its best. Although I already was a hard worker when I arrived at IEAS, this internship really challenged me to work hard for eight or nine hours a day.
After gaining carnivore experience at IEAS, I was chosen for an internship at a wildlife center working with wolves. I was able to use my understanding of carnivores and safety procedures to quickly learn the routine at my new internship. The IEAS internship increased my knowledge of animal care and better prepared me to continue in this line of work.
Detroit Zoo, Detroit, MI
My internship at IEAS was a very valuable part of my education and in my career. At IEAS, I gained practical knowledge and experience that one could not get in any classroom setting, while also applying the subjects I have learned in my college courses. Prior to my internship, I had no experience working with exotic animals, thus I had a great deal to learn.
As an intern at IEAS, I learned about each aspect of animal care. Through our daily work at the sanctuary, I learned about diets, nutritional needs and supplements of exotic cats. We prepared diets, cut meat and administered medication to the cats in need of it. I also had an opportunity to learn about the feeding and weaning of young tiger cubs. I learned about the importance of enrichment items such as pools, boomer balls, and tires, as well as the concept of emotional enrichment.
IEAS also put together a number of classes. We learned about AZA and USDA regulations which taught us about the regulations and standards for keeping exotic animals. There was also a course about grants and grant writing, as well as guns and gun safety in the application of zoo's gun team. Interns also led public tours of the facility, educating people about the cats, sharing stories of their lives and personalities, as well as their backgrounds. Many of the cats have unfortunate pasts and the tours allow for the public to be educated about the need for conservation and respect for these wild animals.
Being an intern at IEAS is hard work but most definitely a rewarding experience. The knowledge I gained during my internship is more than anything I could have learned in a classroom, yet it incorporated all that I had learned in college and applied it. Being able to work with the cats at IEAS, spend my days and nights with them and get to know them was an incredible experience I am glad that I had.
Not only was my internship a great learning opportunity and experience, it was an invaluable part of my career. IEAS taught me and prepared me for my career in the animal care industry. After finishing my degree in 2006, I got a job as a primate keeper at the Detroit Zoo. I would highly recommend this internship to anyone interested in working in the animal care field who would like to learn, gain experience, work hard and be part of the lives of these amazing animals.
Grizzly & Wold Discovery Center, West Yellowstone, MT
Interning at the International Exotic Animal Sanctuary, Inc. was intense, educational and very exciting. I started my residency at IEAS with previous experience, which this internship built upon. The shear amount of carnivores helped broaden my knowledge of animal care while heightening my sense of safety. The depth of this internship incorporated not only care for the animals, but other aspects needed to be successful in the zoological field, including: habitat construction and maintenance, grant writing and educational tours.
Every day started out with preparing diets and medication for distribution to the sanctuary residents. While each animal was being fed, their habitats were cleaned. This occurred only after safety checks were made, including knowledge of where the animals were, proper double gate procedures and keeping track of all the tools. Although this seemed daunting at first, becoming more efficient was the key in order to clean and feed every animal in a timely fashion. This was a trait that was highly stressed and is extremely useful to know. Proper care was not just feeding and cleaning, but included monitoring behavior and understanding each animal. IEAS emphasized learning each animal's traits in order to increase the quality of care.
Building and maintaining habitats was a great asset to learn and something many interns did not know. I had a basic knowledge coming in of how to do construction, but that has since grown. I now know how to build and maintain pools, water troughs, perches and other elements that go into a quality habitat. Everything was hands on and very dirty which is one aspect that I loved. It was easier for me to learn and made things much more fun. The educational tours were a great way to reach the public in order to let them know the plight of the animals while properly educating them. This is a great mission that will hopefully spread the truth of why exotic animals should never be "pets."
IEAS' stress on safety and care, along with their classes on grant writing, gave me a great foundation which I was able to build upon at my current job, at a not-for-profit zoological facility. This Internship allows each individual the chance to challenge themselves while learning vast amounts of information about caring for carnivores. It was a unique opportunity that I will never forget.
Bronx Zoo, New York
My internship at IEAS gave me greater knowledge of animal husbandry, animal behavior and teamwork while increasing awareness of my surroundings to maximize safety. I had previous experience with cats and various other animals in a free contact sanctuary setting and although I don't regret it, I have learned a lot more about the behavior of these cats and what it takes to care for them properly at IEAS. At the sanctuary, safety was always the number one concern, and I felt and feel confident now that I am prepared to handle potentially dangerous and stressful situations.
I learned all the basics about big cat husbandry including diet preparation, cleanliness, health and behavior. The needs of these cats goes beyond just food and shelter, they need to be stimulated environmentally through the use of naturalistic habitats and sometimes they just need company or an enrichment item to keep them content. On top of that, I learned other very useful skills that are not taught at any school. I have the skills for basic habitat construction and repair, grant writing, landscaping and public speaking. These skills can be applied to any type of employment in this field, and I have surely used them at my current job.
I would recommend this internship to anyone who is serious about working with animals as a career. It was difficult physically and mentally at some points, but when you finish, you walk away with animal care and team building skills that can be applied to jobs involving any species. Not even a week after I returned home from my internship I was hired as a full time wild animal keeper at the Bronx Zoo and have been there ever since. I still use many of the skills that I learned at IEAS and have applied them to the animals and situations that I currently deal with.
Fort Worth Zoo, Texas
My time at IEAS began as an intern which eventually led to a full time keeper position. During my three years, I learned practically everything about running a sanctuary. My experience included learning minor exhibit maintenance, veterinary procedures, grant writing, emergency response procedures, exhibit design as well as feline behavior. Now that I am working at a larger institution, I am able to problem solve in my own areas and get things done without having to call someone to fix things for me.
A few years ago, I was one of 25 keepers invited to attend a class presented by AZA on big cat husbandry. The instructors of the course, many of which were curators, were impressed that I had worked with 15 species of cats. Many of them did not have this much experience! Two other keepers that were in attendance also got their start at IEAS. I had the opportunity to meet people from all over the U.S. that had worked with someone associated with IEAS and had nothing but good things to say about the quality of keepers turned out from this internship program.
I can honestly say that I learned more about care and welfare of the animals, as well as how to manage exhibits rather than the typical profit and guest relations that is emphasized at most large zoos. The freedom of not having the public around on a daily basis really lets you get to know the cats in residence and form a lasting bond with them. I still enjoy going to visit my friends that I made at IEAS, both feline and human.
Dallas Zoo, Texas
I began my zookeeping career as an intern at IEAS and continued as a full time keeper for two years. I have now been a keeper for almost six years and have worked at three different institutions with a variety of mammals an birds. The fundamental training, knowledge and experience that I received at IEAS was invaluable and helped me to be successful in the zoo community. In fact, I believe the strong IEAS education on safety, animal welfare, emotional enrichment, and facility operations exceeds the training offered at most large zoos.
My experience as an intern and keeper allowed me to learn virtually all aspects of running a sanctuary and therefore a great deal about zoological institutions in general. I learned about animal husbandry, safety, feline behavior, behavioral and emotional enrichment habitat design, construction and maintenance, emergency response procedures, grant writing/fundraising, educational tours/public interaction and USDA/AZA regulations. I am very grateful that I entered the animal care field at a facility that put their animal first, teaching respect above all things-I carry that with me wherever I go. I believe that my experience working with the cats at the sanctuary created a solid foundation of keeper skills that has trickled down into the care I have given all other animals: rather than having to work up to that level of care, I was able to start out at the top of animal care. I learned the value of working hard and getting tasks done independently. And of course, I was able to spend time with some of the most wonderful animals I have had the privilege of working with.
After working at the sanctuary and finishing my degree, I went on to care for a variety of birds and mammals at two other institutions, including raptors, ramphastids, cats, otters, primates and tree kangaroos. I worked with the AZA Felid Tag to create the first ever Felid Husbandry Course, which is now being offered to all keepers and management staff in zoological institutions and has become a huge success. Of the three people that volunteered to spearhead the course project, two of us were former interns at IEAS!! I also worked for a month as a carnivore research assistant studying the five felid species of Belize, including jaguars and ocelots. Now, I am a successful keeper at the Dallas Zoo. I highly recommend an internship at IEAS as a great way to start a zookeeping career! I know my IEAS internship almost six years ago propelled me to where I am today.
Nashville Zoo, TN
My internship at the International Exotic Animal Sanctuary was a great opportunity. I was involved with the diets of a variety of exotic cats. Part of our daily routine was to prepare the diets every morning and then distribute them to the cats. I also got to have the opportunity of getting some hands on experience with caring for and raising tiger cubs. That was an amazing experience. It was great to see them grow and learn all that goes into making sure they had the right diet and care.
During this internship, I learned the dedication it takes to be a zookeeper and that it will always be a rewarding experience no matter what I choose to do. With the experience I gained during my internship, I was able to continue my career in the zoo field. I got a carnivore position based on my experiences. I took a lot of great memories and information away from the internship. By doing an internship at the Sanctuary, I was able to see that there are people that care about the livelihood of animals that may not have been in the best situations before and see how the cats lives' turned around once they were in a better place.
Dallas Zoo, TX
I am one of the lucky people who was able to work at IEAS as an intern. Doing the internship at IEAS not only helped me achieve my goal to become a zoo keeper, but it also helped me to really appreciate these magnificent animals and to respect them.
The kind of work done at IEAS is very hard! Especially when you have to work in extreme heat during the summer and cold days during the winter. The internship is physically demanding and it feels like you never stop working, but that is what it is like working with animals. You really have to like the job or you probably will not last very long in the animal world. In other words, this internship definitely helps you to know if you are suited for zoo keeper jobs. If you enjoy working at IEAS, then you are more than likely going to have an easy time working at a zoo since the physical labor in zoos are generally much easier than working at a sanctuary.
IEAS also has a program called "Emotional Enrichment." I have learned how to truly respect animals through this program. Each day you go out and spend time with the cats who welcome your company. The more time I spent around these cats, they started acting differently compared to the day I first met them. I could tell that they were getting more and more comfortable with my presence. Some cats I came to have such great relationships with. Some days, cats were happy to see me, while some days they were not in the mood for company. It is like some days you don't want to talk to anybody. These animals are the same way. You start to understand their personalities and it is absolutely amazing to be able to have such relationships with them. IEAS mainly focuses on respecting animals, and I feel this was one of the greatest things I learned from them. The work at IEAS was all about the animals, which is hard to see in zoos since they have to also focus on the visitor experiences.
I ended up staying for a total of nine months at IEAS because I just loved being a part of their program. Waking up everyday hearing lions roaring, working with professional people, and having a friendship with the cats...everything was amazing. This internship was one of the most memorable experiences in my life! I cannot thank them enough for what they taught me during my internship. Hopefully, people who are considering interning at IEAS will also have a great experience like I did.
The Wilds, Ohio
The fall of 2 006 I headed to Texas to start a three month internship at the International Exotic Animal Sanctuary. I had worked seasonally as a naturalist for a conservation facility call The Wilds but had no exotic animal experience under my belt. I had just graduated that year from Ohio University with my bachelor in Wildlife Biology. I knew I needed to gain experience working around animals that I could not learn out of a book, and I was headed to IEAS to gain that hands on experience.
During those three months, I learned many valuable lessons. From the very beginning, I learned that working with exotic animals is one of the most unglamorous jobs any girl could find. You work rain or shine, heat or snow. But when you see the results of your hard work, you begin to not care about those things. Another one of the big lessons I learned was safety. I learned to take my time and always be thinking about the job on hand. When you compromise safety, anyone can get hurt...animal or person. Another great lesson I learned was teamwork. When working as a team, you complete your work in a safer and timelier manner. It takes the work of many people to provide proper care for these animals. I developed great relationships with my fellow interns while at IEAS. And now, I can even turn to those relationships on a professional basis. My fellow interns now work as keepers at both the Bronx Zoo and Jackson Zoo.
After my internship at IEAS, I was accepted as an intern in the animal management department at The Wilds. The Wilds is a 10,000 acre AZA conservation facility in Ohio where the animals roam in natural, expansive habitats. The Wilds mission is to advance conservation through science, education and personal experience. After my internship was completed, I was hired full time as an animal management support staff. After about two years, I was promoted to an animal management specialist. I work daily with our many hoof stock herds, our rhinoceros herds and even our endangered American burying beetles. I have also been very involved with our newly opened 60 acre carnivore facility.
I still use many of the lessons learned from IEAS. Even when I am working with a rhino, I can take those lessons of safety and teamwork and apply them. One of the things I have learned through my few short years in this business is that all these AZA facilities are working together to help many of these animals that are in need. Programs such as the IEAS Intern Program are an important part of training new people that will continue to strive for conservation on this planet and continue providing the best life possible for these animals.
Woodland Park Zoo, WA
Working at IEAS was one of the most difficult and rewarding experiences of my life. It was quite literally a dream come true for me, as my ultimate goal is to be a keeper for large exotic felines. My experience up to this point had been with hoof stock of the farmyard variety, insects, Australian parrots, some tropical birds and bats. Large carnivores were an entirely different group of animals for me to learn about, and I was very eager to absorb all I could.
I have worked at a zoo before, but sanctuary life is something else entirely! I learned about every aspect of animal care there is, from preparing diets and cleaning enclosures, to habitat modification, to grounds maintenance. I was also taught valuable lessons on safety and observation. I definitely appreciate the strict, no nonsense approach the keepers have to every day care of these animals because even the smallest oversight could end in serious injury for either the human or animal. I also now fully appreciate the term "inclement weather." Being from Seattle, I have never dealt with weather extremes, and having experienced them first hand, I now truly understand the difficulties in working both in 90 degree heat (with a heat index of 100 due to the humidity) as well as temperatures well below freezing. This place definitely tests your mettle and lets you know if zoo keeping is the right career path for you. Every day at IEAS was exhausting but seeing the animals being well cared for and happy made it all worth it. And if there is anything I learned about big cats, its that no matter how well you think you know them, they will always do something you don't expect!
My internship has been a unique experience, not only for me but for the sanctuary as well. I was offered the education internship after my first three months as an animal care intern were over, and I gladly accepted. Although it was not my original plan to do this, I am very glad I did. I had the opportunity to learn the other side of running a sanctuary, which included endless, year-round writing of grant proposals, giving many conservation education tours to the public, soliciting to local business to acquire their help and visiting schools to give them conservation education lectures. These were all great skills for me to learn, but I also feel I was able to give something back to the sanctuary with my unprecedented internship situation. With three months of animal care under my belt, I truly appreciated the work being done here, and I feel I was better able to convey this to the public as an education intern than if I had not done the animal care internship.
I was rehired at the Woodland Park Zoo for another summer as an exhibit attendant upon completion of my internship, and I plan to take the knowledge and experience that I gained here and put it to use in furthering my dream of becoming an exotic feline keeper. This may be years in the making, but this experience has been invaluable for my career.
Toledo Zoo, OH
While interning at IEAS, I gained a great amount of usable experiences. IEAS offers the opportunity to be up close and hands on. During my internship, I learned time management, animal shifting, lock responsibility, habitat maintenance, emotional enrichment and grounds maintenance. For me, I knew that animal care was what I wanted to do, so this internship was not an experimental process. For that reason, I feel I may have gotten more out of it than other interns may have. The biggest difference from IEAS and my other animal experiences was the responsibility. If you prove yourself trustworthy, the keepers will treat you as such. So my advice for future inters at IEAS would be don't take the experience for granted. Keep your eyes and ears open so you can learn as much as from the staff because they are more than willing to go the extra mile if you are.
California Parks and Wildlife, CA
After graduating college in 2008, I had the opportunity to do field work and study the threatened Island Fox. After spending a year working with foxes, I came to IEAS to broaden my experiences and learn about caring for larger carnivores. Not only did I learn about how to care for exotic animals, but I also learned what it really means to work at a sanctuary and have animals depend on you on a daily basis.
Our mornings were spent preparing diets and medications, feeding the animals, and cleaning their habitats and houses. I was taught to work efficiently and safely, constantly checking locks and locating cats. Being aware of your surroundings is crucial when working with animals, especially dangerous animals. Our afternoons were used to work on special projects and maintenance. Unlike zoos that have their own maintenance staff, the keepers and inters at IEAS do all the grounds keeping and maintenance projects. While the hours could be long and tiring, I've gained skills in everything from landscaping to installing water pumps and PVC piping, to cementing and mortaring the animals' pools and water troughs. The work was challenging, but nothing was more rewarding than seeing the grizzly bears swimming and playing in their pool after having personally laid the cement and mortar to fix their pool.
I was also able to participate in the Sanctuary's Emotional Enrichment Program, spending time with the cats and forming emotional bonds. In addition to our daily duties, IEAS offered a number of classes. Interns were taught about USDA/AZA regulations and standards for keeping exotic animals, how to write grants and proposals, and how to handle and use firearms safely. Interns also led public tours, educating guests about the animals and their lives here at the Sanctuary. Many of the animals have been abused and abandoned in the past and the tours give us an opportunity to educate the public about the need for conservation and respect for these wild animals.
My internship at IEAS was a valuable part of my education and my career. Not only did I leave IEAS with extensive knowledge of exotic animals, I gained valuable skills and principles that will help me in any field of work that I find myself working in. I plan on working with large carnivores in the future, and I know that the experience and knowledge I gained at IEAS will be a huge asset.
Dallas Zoo
Success. That was my first feeling upon completing my internship with IEAS. Success in that I had put my mind and all of my energy towards one goal, and was finally provided the tools to make that goal a reality. Yes, there was hard work, and yes, they pushed me to be my very best; but what is more important is that I gained the confidence to move forward - a confidence derived from the thorough and rigorous training I obtained at IEAS.
Being an intern is not about someone giving you the tools to be a better worker or a better person; its about earning the opportunity to learn something great. The staff of IEAS provided everything they promised: a unique opportunity to learn how to be the best keeper possible and support to make that dream a reality - once you have learned the essentials of the job. There are going to be some things to like and dislike, but the distinct perspective and instilled habits of being an IEAS intern will help you, like it or not! Many people in this field may have experience working with large cats and bears, but the small details in safety, attentiveness, and efficiency set the Sanctuary apart.
IEAS gave me the opportunity to improve myself and bolster my skills, which ultimately led to me gaining a zookeeper position with a major zoo. Not a day goes by that I do not use the skills I learned at the Sanctuary, and I would not be here today were it not for IEAS. The internship was everything I thought that it would be, with the added benefit of the best farmer's tan of my life! Thank you.
My time as an Education Intern at IEAS was one of the most challenging, most exhausting and most rewarding experiences of my career. This internship is not for the faint of heart, but is an experience you will not regret. I had the opportunity to do some great education work with local schools and the many visitors to the Sanctuary as well as the chance to get hands-on experience in animal care. My time at IEAS is by far the most interesting and most asked about experience on my resume and something that I cannot stop talking about to my family and friends.
If you are looking for an experience that gives you true, firsthand knowledge in animal care and education and you are not afraid of working as hard as you can and getting your hands dirty then IEAS is absolutely the place to be. Each day was a new adventure and I never knew exactly what might happen. From giving tours and visiting schools to cleaning habitats and building waterfalls (where else can you learn to build a waterfall?) I got to experience all sorts of new things and gain new skills that will benefit me for years to come. You will get out of this experience what you put into it, and all of the people there will do their best to help you along the way if you are putting your best effort into your work.
The people at IEAS are some of the best people in the animal care field, and they will make sure that you learn how to work hard and really take care of the animals that live there. IEAS is first and foremost the home of the resident animals, and it was of paramount importance to respect the animals and make their comfort my number one priority. IEAS is unlike any other place I have worked at, and I have an enormous appreciation and respect for all of the hard work they do there. This is a top-notch place to be, whether as an intern or an animal!
The pictures below represent some of our success stories in rehabilitating cats that came to the Sanctuary 
either resentful of humans or aggressive towards humans. They did not trust humans and therefore considered humans as adversaries. With our unique behavioral enrichment program based on affection, love, and respect, you can see how their attitudes have changed.
Our Animal Behaviorist, Louis Dorfman, uses no discipline, treating the cats as respected sentient beings, and their response is very rewardin...
