An internship is a professional learning opportunity that offers meaningful and practical work experience related to an individual’s field of study or career interest. This opportunity allows individuals, mainly students, to obtain skillsets, develop a profound understanding and knowledge, and provide for career exploration before entering their professional endeavors.
Internships are essential in spreading Turpentine Creek Wildlife Foundation’s (TCWR) mission, but more so, a necessity to carry out the mission daily. TCWR offers one of the most reputable (in the zoological sciences) and inclusive internship opportunities for individuals in the animal field. Interns provide the daily husbandry, develop enrichment for TCWR residents to use their natural instincts, prepare animal diets, help with the construction and daily maintenance of habitat enclosures, and create educational awareness regarding animals in captivity to guests.
TCWR’s mission and internship opportunities spark interest from various potential candidates across the states, and it has even included a few individuals from the Bahamas, Jamaica, Scotland, and London. TCWR’s mission and passion for rescuing wild cats have no bounds and continue to grow and expand to new areas. Many who leave TCWR after completing their internship continue to pursue their career in the zoological sciences or veterinarian care. However, some alumni decide to pursue alternate paths; regardless of their decision, TCWR is honored to provide a stepping stone for their career development.
TCWR offers summer and winter internships, each lasting six months at a time. Recently, TCWR has welcomed a new batch of summer interns to help provide daily care and attention to the animals that call TCWR home. With the most recent undertaking of building Freedom Field, which will provide over 40 homes to cats, the number of interns needed has increased. TCWR looks forward to locking arms with this new group of 16 interns to continue to create change for captive wild cats and wishes the leaving interns the best of luck in their future!