Aquarium of the Pacific
Sea Otter Surrogacy Program Internship

Host: The mission of the Aquarium of the Pacific (AOP) is to instill a sense of wonder, respect, and stewardship for the Pacific Ocean, its inhabitants, and ecosystems. Our vision is to create an aquarium dedicated to conserving and building Natural Capital (Nature and Nature’s services) by building Social Capital (the interactions between and among peoples). Home to more than 12,000 animals, the Aquarium includes exhibits like Shark Lagoon, the June Keyes Penguin Habitat, and an updated Southern California gallery to reopen in Summer 2023. The Aquarium maintains a large portfolio of education programs for schools, teachers, families, members, and guests of all ages. The Aquarium also actively participates in conservation efforts focused on supporting local endangered species populations, such as mountain yellow-legged frogs and white abalone.

Location: Long Beach, CA (map)
Format: In-person
Internship Dates: June 3 - August 16, 2024
Stipend: $8,000

Time Commitment: The internship is a full time, 11-week commitment. Shifts may include long days (10+ hours), occasional shifts ending after midnight, and weekend days. Over the 11 weeks, the intern may take up to five days off for personal reasons, vacation, or illness. If participation is less than 100%, the stipend will be prorated.  

NOTE: No AOP staff member (paid or unpaid) is allowed to work with the sea otters if they’ve tested positive for COVID within the previous 40 days (10-day quarantine period + 30 days after clearance to return to work). Violating this policy could jeopardize animal health and safety, as well as potentially preclude them from the surrogacy program. Anyone having COVID symptoms cannot work with the otters until their symptoms subside and they have a negative PCR test. 

Position Description and Responsibilities: In partnership with the Monterey Bay Aquarium, the AOP supports efforts to pair stranded sea otter pups with adult females that serve as surrogates. The goal of the program is to ultimately release those pups back into the wild. One (1) internship is available working with the Aquarium of the Pacific’s Mammal and Bird team within the Husbandry Department to directly participate in the Sea Otter Surrogacy Program. The intern will aid in monitoring health metrics, careful observation of animals, proper exhibit maintenance, food preparation, and transportation of individual sea otters in the surrogacy program under the care of the AOP. To support the Aquarium of the Pacifics efforts to communicate with the public on the surrogacy program, the intern will also complete education volunteer training, and actively engage with Aquarium guests. The intern will work with a team of education volunteers to staff interpretation stations around the Aquarium such as touch tanks with small sharks, tidepool invertebrates, and moon jellies (about 10% of internship).

Duties will include: 

• Cleaning animal exhibits, food preparation stations and transport materials;
• Monitoring animal behavior and creating ethograms (a record of behaviors for an individual animal); 
• Assisting animal care staff responsible for sea otters onsite; 
• Assisting with transport details & logistics;
• Communicating with the public; 
• Providing support to AOP staff for the ongoing permitting process involved in the care of sea otters.

Additionally, interns will be encouraged to identify a side project suited to their skills, interests, and experience that aligns with the Aquarium's conservation efforts. At the end of the internship, the intern will be asked to present their experience to an audience of Aquarium staff, supporters, or the public. 

Preferred Experience and Capabilities: This internship requires flexibility, time management and organizational skills, willingness to engage with Aquarium guests, and interest in ongoing conservation efforts. Interns must be able to document activities via email and various record keeping systems. Previous experience working with animals is not required. 

Skills Gained: The interns will learn about the natural history of sea otters and their population dynamics; details of animal care; permitting requirements related to sea otter care and logistical components of Aquarium’s involvement with the larger surrogacy efforts; and engagement strategies for communicating with the public. The interns will gain hands-on experience working with a team of animal care professionals on food preparation, exhibit cleaning, animal care, and public engagement strategies.   

Eligibility/Requirements: The intern must be able to work independently, interact in a professional manner with the public, act as part of a team of animal care professionals, and keep excellent notes. The intern must be able to get to the Aquarium in Long Beach daily. They must be able to occasionally work long days (10+ hours), and weekend shifts with advance notice. Due to the unpredictable nature of working with live animals, shift times and duration may vary based on the needs of the animals. Shift times may be as early as 6:00am, and end as late as 2:00am. They must be able to occasionally work long days (10+ hours) and weekend shifts with advance notice.

The intern is not required to drive but may be required to travel in cars and/or vans with AOP staff. Applicants are also subject to general eligibility requirements.

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by the individual to successfully perform the essential functions of this position:  

• Ability to sit, stand, and walk for long periods of time;
• Ability to balance, bend, squat, climb, kneel, twist and reach. Full functional range of motion in all major body joints, fine and gross motor skills;
• Ability to lift and carry up to 75 lbs;
• Ability to pull and push up to 100 lbs;.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Work Environment: The work environment described here is representative of what an individual may encounter while performing the essential functions of this position.

• Unpredictable marine mammals;
• Potential for injury from animals;
• Fish and shellfish used in food preparation;
• Variable environmental conditions (temperature, humidity, or wetness);
• Wet, dirty, uneven surfaces and walkways;
• Elevated platforms;
• Use of special auditory, visual, and personal protective equipment;
• Exposure to biohazards;
• Use of hand tools, machinery, and company vehicles;
• Aquarium habitats and open ocean environments.

Return to Announcement for Application and Additional Requirements