There are two internship options – a three month and 12 month placement – both of which involve working with different teams across the zoo on a voluntary basis carrying out research and . As part of their time here, the interns gain a better understanding of the role of a modern zoo, commercial aspects, interview skills, animal enrichment, plus a range of other topics! Many of the interns are studying a degree or masters and carry out the internship during their placement year, to support their degree.
Through supporting future generations to develop their knowledge and inspiring them to want to Act for Wildlife, not only are we supporting them to develop their studies, we’re working towards our mission of preventing extinction.
This week we’re saying ‘bye and good luck’ to our latest team of interns, as well as welcoming the next group. We managed to catch up with some of our research interns to tell us more about what they’ve been working on over the past 12 months and what they’ve taken from it.
Behaviour and Welfare Intern
Lydia is a zoology student who has always had an interest in animal behaviour. When she saw the zoo advertising a Behaviour and Welfare Internship she knew she had to apply. Read more from Lydia Underwood, here >
Bird Intern
Abbie had to do a one year placement as part of her degree and after doing an assignment at university that sparked her interest in birds, she decided to come to Chester Zoo to do her internship. Read more from Abbie Buxton, here >
Visitor Engagement on Islands
Elinor is studying a Biology with Science and Society degree and is very interested in social science, she decided to come to Chester Zoo to do her placement year where she looked at visitor engagement in our Islands area. Read more from Elinor Bridges, here >
Endocrinology Intern
Alice is a Masters student who came to Chester Zoo to do her industrial placement year. During her degree she went on various scientific expeditions doing fieldwork but wanted to try something different and applied for a placement in our endocrinology lab. Read more from Alice Clark, here >
Nutrition Intern
Jasper is studying a degree in Zoology and was determined to learn something new during his placement year. Chester Zoo provided him with the opportunity to work on a topic he didn’t know much about: animal nutrition. Read more from Jasper Hughes, here >
Bird Curatorial Intern
Jill is studying a degree in Wildlife Conservation and heard about Chester Zoo’s internships when she was really young and so was extremely happy to be selected as our Bird Curatorial Intern. Read more from Jill Vevers, here >
Reptile Intern
Jonathan is studying Biology and having done an internship on bushbabies prior to his placement year, he decided to apply for our primate internship. However, his passion for reptiles was noticed and he ended up being selected as our Reptile Intern instead. Read more from Jonathan Holman, here >