Our day began as a study of opposites, not only in the contrast between the heavy labor keeper jobs we had seen and these sanitized white-robed lab jobs, but also in the two main animals being studied. There was Dr. Tom Spady’s presentation on bear research and the panda cubs that are only a minute one-tenth of one percent of their mother’s weight when born. Then there was the flightless and odd kiwi whose egg takes up a whopping twenty percent of the mother. To put that into perspective, human babies only take up five percent of the mother at full term. The goal of the Reproductive Physiology Division, however, is not to debate why such a little bird has such a big egg, but to help increase the populations by helping the animals reproduce. You may wonder, as Dr. Tom Jensen humorously put it, “Why can’t animals figure it out on their own?”

To understand why animals won’t mate you need to understand in what circumstances they will. It all comes down to a combination of environmental factors, including food, climate, and population density of potential mates and potential competitors. The conditions can be so specific like in the case of the New Zealand kakapo parrot that the animal will only breed when a certain plant flowers. Unfortunately for the kakapo, their choice plant only blooms once every four years, which makes their prospects for the future of the population sound pretty bleak considering only 60 remain in the world. Or the example of the now-extinct passenger pigeons, which would only breed if there were more than 100,000 birds in their colony. Even if a flock that size sounds like something out of a Hitchcock movie (and to me like a little too much competition), it was a cue they used to know when it was safe to mate. Then there’s the whole issue of whom the animals will mate with, which in itself can be tricky since much of it is based on compatibility and appearance. In zoos, keepers cannot always create this perfect mix of atmosphere, looks, and charm that animals need to reproduce and that is why intervention from CRES reproductive physiologists is needed.

Finding ways to help animals reproduce can be difficult when studying the endangered animals themselves can be harmful to the population. Therefore, similar model species are used for research and working out kinks in proposed methods or ideas. For kiwis, Dr. Jensen uses quails in an amazing process in which he collects germ stem cells from adult kiwis that have died, and injects these cells into quail embryos at the point in development where the cells will be incorporated into the quail reproductive system. The quail will mature and actually produce kiwi sperm. That way the sperm can be collected from the quail in a non-invasive process called “milking” and potentially used for artificial insemination of kiwi females at other zoos. They have not perfected this process yet, but as you can see, it would be easier to ship a vial of sperm than a whole kiwi around the world for reproduction.

Model species are also used with bears, and Dr. Spady studies the North American black bear. Of the eight species of bears in the world, six are endangered or threatened. Of the remaining two, polar bears and the American black bears, polar bears are excluded because of their aggression, size, range and the fact that they are on the road to being threatened themselves. Dr. Spady is presently working with the American black bear in order to better understand when female bears go into heat. By using the American black bear as a model for all bears, scientists hope to increase the reproductive success of other more threatened or even endangered bears. It is important to get a sense of the cycle because in the case of the critically endangered panda the window to impregnate the bear lasts only one to three days in a year. The Reproductive Physiology Division, along with the Endocrinology Division of CRES have actually had some good success in tracking hormones before mating, but they are now trying to improve their knowledge of what happens after conception and during pregnancy.

Dr. Spady has been using a thermal imaging camera that may be able to detect when a bear is pregnant on black bears and pandas too. Traditional methods of pregnancy testing, like checking hormone levels, do not work on pandas because pandas can exhibit something called pseudo-pregnancy where hormone levels will mimic those of a pregnant bear when the bear is in fact not pregnant. Ultrasound technology, which is successful in “seeing” pregnancy in humans, does not work in pandas because panda cubs do not gestate for very long, which makes them very small and difficult to pick up with ultrasound. The thermal camera can see high concentrations of blood vessels, which bring lots of heat to an area in the panda uterus that holds the fetus.

After absorbing more information than I had all week, I’d have to say that the Beckman Center for Conservation Research is not the place I had expected. Yes, there was equipment straight out of my biology textbook and the slightly mad scientist types, but it was not the stuffy and unapproachable environment I had imagined. More importantly, I was able to directly link their efforts to conservation because they were not solving some obscure scientific mystery that will never have any application, but helping real live animals.

Contributed by Mariah - Zoo InternQuest Conservation Team

Apart from the exciting task of picking up elephant poop, keepers spend a large portion of their day feeding, training, and supplying their elephants with ample amounts of enrichment. While on our behind-the-scenes adventure at the African elephant barn, we got a first-hand look at how and why training elephants is important. Tasks that may seem simple, such as showing the sole of their foot or pushing the side of their body closer to the keeper, are practiced daily so that when a keeper needs to examine an elephant the process is quick and easy. One interesting aspect of elephant training was that the keepers’ first job for the elephant is to put its trunk against his hand. This is done in order to make sure the keeper is aware of the location of the trunk at all times so that the elephant does not accidentally do the keeper any harm. Similar to elephants at the Zoo, and most other animals in both parks, the Wild Animal Park elephants receive enrichment. This is done in a number of ways. Keepers can hide food in logs, place alfalfa pellets in hanging toy balls, or situate a sheet of hay high up in a suspended net. These different means of enrichment, along with their daily training and playtime, keep the elephants mentally and physically stimulated.

Playing the part of an elephant keeper, however, is only part of Mr. Andrews’ job. As animal care manager, he spends up to half of his day behind a desk answering e-mails, working on his latest projects, and making important phone calls. The rest of his day is devoted to meeting with the other managers, along with his own keepers, and discussing new research found at other zoos, in the wild, or from their own collected data and finding ways to incorporate it into their work. After meetings, discussions, and office time Mr. Andrews gets to spend time working at the Asian and African elephant barn, working side by side with the keepers and elephants, aiding in the daily tasks, conducting simple checkups, and reviewing data charts.

To get his job at the Wild Animal Park, Mr. Andrews followed the path which many other keepers, educators, and general employees take. After graduating from San Diego State University, majoring in biology, Mr. Andrews knew he wanted to pursue a career in animal behavior. He did not, however, know where he should begin his search. One day, while visiting Sea World, he saw an employee with a nametag that said “animal behavior,” and he at last knew where to start. With some helpful advice he found a job working as a tour guide, which would give him a better chance of being hired in the animal behavior department. Sure enough, six months later, the behavior department hired him. After 16 years of working at Sea World (during which time he went back to school and got a degree in social science and was promoted to the position of assistant curator) Mr. Andrews was offered a job at the Wild Animal Park working with his love, African wildlife.

As recently as one and a half years ago, these seven elephants were wild animals, living in a national park in Swaziland, Africa. They were part of a larger herd that was facing the fate of a cull (the killing of surplus animals). When the Wild Animal Park’s curator staff found out about the deadly fate of these amazing animals, they brought the elephants to the United States (four more elephants went to a zoo in Florida). Mr. Andrews and the elephant keepers play an important role in the lives of the now eight African elephants at the Wild Animal Park (one of the elephants was pregnant during the move, and she gave birth to a calf named Vus’musi – aka Moose - in February 2004). Despite all the heavy lifting, I cannot imagine a more rewarding feeling than to have a job like that of the elephant keepers of Moose and family.

Contributed by Lindsey - Zoo InternQuest Careers Team

Even though I was not too fond of cleaning up after elephants (I could barely lift the shovel, it was so heavy!) it is something that will stick out in my memory for years to come. First-hand experiences, such as this, (though most are not lucky enough to shovel elephant dung) are a primary method the Wild Animal Park uses to promote conservation as Jeff Andrews, animal care manager, explained to the interns. In this way, visitors are able to make a connection with a specific species, therefore being more aware and motivated to take action to save the species. The participants, leaving with a new appreciation for a certain animal, are inspired to make conservation efforts. This method has proven to be very effective on me, as I already have a greater appreciation for various animals at the Zoo and Wild Animal Park because of my interactions with them through the Zoo InternQuest program.

Zoos have not always been focused on conservation efforts. When they were first instituted, hundreds of years ago, their main draw was for entertainment. I was glad to hear that animals are now cared for much more according to their specific needs. Because of improved, more natural conditions, researchers are able to gather more information on various species, thereby increasing people’s awareness and efforts to save some of the world’s most endangered animals.

Some people, no matter how much they like visiting zoos, have the burning question in their minds: how fair is it to keep animals enclosed for, what seems to be, the sole purpose of humans’ enjoyment? Well, there is a lot more to zoos’ efforts than only offering a fun, recreational environment. Along with the joys of seeing exotic animals up close, zoos provide great learning opportunities for both the public and animal researchers, ultimately preserving species in danger of becoming extinct. In zoos, animals’ mental and physical health needs are met daily, allowing them to live longer, healthier lives. In addition, researchers are able to compare and contrast behavior data between wild and zoo animals. Overall, I am happy to report that the benefits of keeping animals in zoos outweigh the negative aspects.

Like many animals, even one of my dogs at home, the lives of the elephants at the Wild Animal Park did not begin as fulfilling as they are now. Only around fourteen years ago did things start to change for these elephants. In Africa, the elephants’ herd was facing a cull, a mass killing of an elephant herd due to species overpopulation in the game preserve, and the impacts of their natural, but destructive nature. In conjunction with a Florida zoo and various other organizations, the Wild Animal Park was able to negotiate an agreement with the Swaziland government to transport the elephants here in exchange for a financial contribution to support the conservation of the wild population in Swaziland. As of about a year and a half ago, the elephants have been living at the Park where a male calf has since been born. Baby elephants in captivity in North America have become more and more rare as it is difficult to house male elephants, and many of the elephants in North America are older females, at the end of their reproductive lives. The new elephants from Swaziland are healthy and thriving in their enclosure, and their presence plays a big role in the sustainability of African elephants in North American zoos.

International conservation is much more complex than I had thought. Shockingly enough, culls of herds of elephants and other big game are still instituted today, obviously spurring a lot of controversy. I would naturally be compelled to say “Save the elephants,” but Mr. Andrews presented to us the problems that arise from trying to keep elephants in game parks, even if the parks are really large. The elephants do not recognize the difference between park land and private land, and can cause serious damage to people’s farms and lives.

Because of the Wild Animal Park’s amazing efforts to save these massive, unique creatures, they now house 14 total elephants, and the space is large enough with sufficient food to go around. And, even for such a large place as the San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park, Mr. Andrews says, “That’s a lot of elephants.”

Contributed by Shelby – Zoo InternQuest Conservation Team

Thomas Spady, Ph.D., shared with us his research with bears. It saddened me to hear that of the eight species of bears, only two were not endangered; one of those species, the polar bear, is close to being endangered. This fact has complicated his research because there really are only two species that he can use for studies. His main goal at the moment is to chart the estrous cycle of the American black bear. The American black bear can serve as a model for endangered bears. To track the cycle, he must be able to measure the levels of estrogen hormones in the bear. The most accurate and reliable way is to take blood, but this would require sedation, which is harmful to the bears. Dr. Spady had to find other ways of measuring estrogen such as urine and fecal samples. It’s easier to collect those samples and harmless for the bear. The bear can be trained to urinate on command for a urine sample. For a fecal sample, Dr. Spady can either follow the bear around until it goes, or get close enough to a male to “scare it out of him.” (I think being within arms reach of a black bear would be pretty scary for the researcher, too.) This whole ordeal serves as a good example of the creativity involved in this career, and all of this is just to get the raw material needed for the study. Dr. Spady still has to analyze the samples by doing an assay to measure the levels of estrogen metabolites. The levels are graphed and can be used to determine when the bear can become pregnant, and even to tell if the animal is pregnant.

Thomas Jensen, Ph.D., showed us the obstacles he faces in facilitating the reproduction of the endangered kiwi bird. Right now he is working on kiwi genetics and analyzing microsatellite DNA. Microsatellite DNA is a repeating sequence at a specific location on a chromosome, and looking at mircrosatellites is a way to identify different individuals. This is important as some of the birds in captivity came directly from the wild where their lineages are unknown. Related birds should not be bred, and by looking at the microsatellites their relationships could be determined and better mate matches could be made if necessary.

In addition to getting an in-depth look at one division of CRES, the interns were also taken on a tour of the new Arnold and Mabel Beckman Center for Conservation Research. The facility is truly state of the art, most likely the most technologically advanced in the United States. It contains the Frozen Zoo® which houses tissue samples in liquid nitrogen, which is more energy efficient and effective than freezers. There are labs for every division of CRES, each with its own specialty room specific to that division. For instance, the reproductive physiology lab housed a room for sperm and a different room for eggs, and another for reproductive tracts secured through necropsy (the equivalent of an animal autopsy). The building also has two Level 3 labs, accessible only by a few people with high-level security cards because of their pathogenic contents (viruses and other disease-causing agents). Another facet of the Center is the library, usable by all Zoo staff, and one of about twelve zoo libraries in the world. Although only Zoo employees can enter the library, some of the library’s books are available through inter-library loans. The building and careers are truly a dream come true for any conservation scientist.

The trip to the reproductive physiology division gave me a better look at what I would like to study in college. I met people that had similar interests to mine and enjoyed their enthusiasm over their study. It was also interesting to be inside their labs, where I got a feel for what state-of-the-art looks like in a research lab. Although I do not see myself being a reproductive physiologist, it is a similar field to what I hope to work on.

Contributed by Erin — Zoo InternQuest Careers Team

Mr. Morgan is a senior keeper at the Reptile Department. He graduated from the University of Saskatchewan with a degree in biology. In fact, most reptile keepers have either a degree in biology or zoology. Over his career, Mr. Morgan has worked at a truly impressive number of zoos, from Toronto to Texas. What’s the real difference between a senior and junior keeper in the Reptile Department? Well, senior keepers get to train with venomous reptiles. In addition to snakes, certain kinds of lizards like the Gila monster are also venomous.

Throughout his career, Mr. Morgan has never been bitten by a venomous animal. Considering the large quantity and varied types of antivenin kept on hand in a refrigerator right in the middle of the department in case of emergencies, I figured that getting bitten was a more frequent occurrence than it actually is. To reduce the risk of getting bitten, keepers handle all animals with extreme caution. Also contrary to what you might feed your pet snake at home, the snakes at the Zoo are not fed live prey. This not only reduces the reptiles’ aggressive behavior, as they get used to the idea that their food does not move, but it also reduces the risk of injury to the snake. When fearing for its life, an ordinary laboratory rat can become quite vicious and injure the snake itself, especially in an enclosed environment. The tools the keepers use to handle the venomous animals are quite unlike any other tools at the Zoo we’ve seen thus far. You know those snake hooks you might be familiar with if you watch a lot of Steve Irwin and Jeff Corwin? Well, they’re actually modified golf clubs. The keepers use them as an extension of their arms to keep the snake at a safe distance.

Snakes are not the only reptiles at the Zoo. In fact, a large part of the reptile population consists of lizards. Currently, the zoo has many Fiji Island iguanas on loan from the Fijian government and is breeding the reptiles in an effort to eventually reintroduce them to an island where they’ve been wiped out. This is actually quite a difficult process seeing as how the lizards have to be carefully managed to maintain genetic diversity.

Frogs are also a big conservation concern at the Zoo. Actually, frogs are very delicate creatures, and they are not reptiles, but amphibians. Because they absorb nutrients through their skin, the introduction of toxins into their habitat will kill them rather quickly. Many amphibians, not just frogs, are disappearing daily from the wild, and frankly, scientists are just not sure why. Some of it is attributed to the destruction of habitat, but a very large part of the cause is unknown. One culprit currently being investigated is a fungus called chytrid. This fungus has been attributed to wiping out entire species of frogs in Central and South America.

The reptiles are such fascinating creatures. Though many people have an almost instinctive fear of them, they actually are responsible for the deaths of far fewer humans than we are for them. Culturally, Americans just don’t really have the respect for reptiles that they deserve. But even at that, why anyone would want to cut off one of their feet and scratch their skin with it is completely beyond me.

Contributed by Tiffany - Zoo InternQuest Photo Team

This fun is important because it brings people to the Zoo, which generates money needed to maintain the Zoo grounds and exhibits, and field conservation projects, too. From the education standpoint the fun is important, because when an audience is excited that is the best time to teach and deliver a message. Most of this message and information comes from the numerous signs, but there are also many messages delivered in the animal shows and on the guided bus tour. There are even fact cards in the gift shop, so when you use your hummingbird teapot, you can spout facts on hummingbirds while pouring Zoo-bought tea.

Visitors that enjoyed themselves will come back to recapture their experience, or learn even more of those little factoids they find interesting. In the end the most important thing is that the Zoo has created an emotional memory for them. It takes that emotional interest and investment for people to become personally engaged in conservation efforts. For some, conservation is pooling together resources to help a species, even crossing cultural and political lines such as the people in the Zoo’s government relations department. For others it is developing breeding programs to ensure that a species can repopulate an area. All of these jobs fall under the umbrella of conservation, but the most pressing issue that needs to be understood is that until human needs are satisfied, people won’t care about conservation.

I think everyone can understand how corporate greed can damage the environment, but Mr. Mason gave the example of bushmeat to personalize the situation. Bushmeat is the unsustainable killing of animals for human consumption, and is the second greatest threat to animals after habitat loss. To a person in America living a comfortable life, it seems unthinkable to kill an endangered animal. When Mr. Mason posed the question of “What would you do if your family was starving, and that animal was the biggest and easiest source of food?” All of us knew that we would eventually end up killing that animal. As sad as that is, it is a reality in some developing nations, whether through need or cultural tradition. Bushmeat hunting is taking place on a more corporate scale in some areas of Africa, however. Hunters are hired to go into an area that is being clear cut by logging corporations and the animals that are taken are just another “commodity” being brought to market. In recent years, monkey meat has been found in markets from New York City to Paris. Through global conservation education to change human behavior - for example by becoming aware of the origin of the wood products you purchase – something can be done, and people worldwide can be part of the solution.

What good are all these efforts though if no one ever hears of them? That is where Mr. Mason feels his job as an educator comes in. He is in a position to spark that initial interest in animals, and thus, conservation. All of which can be done while people are having fun. Sound familiar?

In the end, conservation can seem like daunting task and like something that an individual person cannot do, but it is worth every effort, as Mr. Mason has found, and is certain to share in a fun and action-oriented manner with Zoo guests he encounters.

Contributed by Mariah – Zoo InternQuest Conservation team

Though Mr. Morgan has worked in the Reptile Department at the Zoo for nearly six years as a keeper, he did not start out caring for these scaly creatures. Mr. Morgan started being a mammal keeper at the Toronto Zoo in Canada, after graduating from the University of Saskatchewan with a bachelor’s degree in biology. Then he worked at a zoo in Fort Worth, Texas, then at one in Columbus, Ohio, and finally ended up at the San Diego Zoo. This may seem like a long path to follow in order to end up at the San Diego Zoo, but the more experience an applicant has for a keeper job, the better his or her chances are of being hired.

Mr. Morgan thoroughly enjoys working with reptiles, and while on the backstage tour he gave us, he explained that unlike some keepers at the Zoo he has the opportunity to work with hundreds of animals, big, small, poisonous, harmless, fast, slow, colorful, and plain. Also, with all of these different animals he is able to design an enclosure to fit each specifically and change them as often as he likes.

With our behind-the-scenes tour guide, we moved from room to room seeing what the reptile enclosures really look like. From the outside they seem to be simple tanks with a few animals in each, and it is assumed that this is all there is. However, just on the other side of the wall there is a heated or cooled corridor with other specimens used for display, breeding, and research. Each corridor is kept at a different temperature. The one that houses the Fiji iguanas is kept at 80 degrees Fahrenheit, while the corridor that holds the Brother’s Island tuatara is kept below 70 degrees Fahrenheit. These different temperatures are used in order to emulate the conditions of the reptiles’ natural habitat. This may seem like a simple and unnecessary detail; however, reptiles are unable to regulate their body temperature so they must be kept at specific temperatures or else their body will become too cool or too warm, hindering the animals’ ability to reproduce or affecting their ability to digest food.

Not only does Mr. Morgan clean the enclosures of the animals and feed them their exotic diets, he also plays a role in the conservation efforts. Toward the end of our tour we were introduced to the Zoo’s Komodo dragon, Ruby. After he told us that these animals can grow to be six feet or more in length, and that they can kill and eat water buffalo, Mr. Morgan informed us that he will be traveling to the Indonesian island of Komodo to aid the efforts of a field researcher in evaluating the wild population. Tim Jessop, Millenium postdoctoral fellow with the San Diego Zoo’s Conservation and Research for Endangered Species (CRES) program, has been conducting a census of the Komodo dragons. Click here to learn more about this project.

Mr. Morgan enjoys working with the reptiles, from the color changing chameleons to the Fly river turtles and poisonous and powerful monitor lizards. He advises anyone that hopes to someday work as a keeper at the San Diego Zoo to get a good education and as much experience as possible, volunteering at veterinary hospitals or working at smaller zoos across the country. And to have an adventurous spirit, while being as safe and careful as possible working with animals!

Contributed by Lindsey – Zoo InternQuest Careers Team

At first, I was unsure if I fully agreed with Mr. Mason’s motivational quote from Baba Dioum. Through our explorations, however, I began to see the truth in the statement. People really do take more of an interest in issues that involve them. If people have a personal connection with something, they are more likely to promote it because they can relate to it. As an informal science teacher, Mr. Mason is able to take steps to connect others with issues surrounding conservation. After our short session with him, I felt compelled to take action and do what I can to promote conservation in the world.

Rather than being a normal classroom teacher, Mr. Mason’s job is a lot more engaging. I was surprised when for his favorite teaching method, we were taken to the giraffe enclosure. The hands-on method, however, really seemed to prove his point of connecting to wildlife and conservation. His methods worked, since I still remember facts I learned in addition to the sensation of feeding a giraffe. One of the most interesting things I found out is that giraffes have black tongues to prevent them from getting sunburned. This especially stands out to me because of the closeness I encountered with the giraffes’ tongues. One of them even licked me.

Although the giraffes were very fun and engaging, I also enjoyed learning about one of the most famous cuddly mammals, pandas. Due to long lines at the exhibit, I had never been into the panda viewing area. To see the mom and young panda playing together when we visited was certainly a highlight. There is so much more that the Zoo contributes to panda breeding efforts than is seen by most visitors to the Zoo. I was surprised to hear that, with two births, the San Diego Zoo is the only zoo in the United States to have a successful breeding program. I had also been unaware that good government relations plays a large part in the preservation of species. With pandas, for example, the Zoo has a close working relationship with the Wolong Giant Panda Center, which is run by the government in China. This way, both places benefit from new findings and conclusions drawn from their panda programs.

Better cub nutrition is a prime example of a benefit received through international government relations. The San Diego Zoo nutritionist traveled to China to learn about a cub’s nutritional needs. Using a sample of Bai Yun’s milk (the female panda in San Diego), he was then able to develop the first ever panda infant formula. This information was then shared with keepers and veterinarians in China where they have been able to raise panda cubs on this formula, if the mother was unable to care for the infant herself (as is the case with twin births in pandas).

Spreading a conservation message is something that seems like it would always be heavy and serious. However, Mr. Mason himself has created a set of conservation songs and a fun character – Wild Wes – to take the message of conservation to kids. I was impressed with his ability to write and perform songs about conservation to such a young audience! It is easy for me to see how bringing animals to elementary schools and singing to the students would get them excited about and interested in conservation. It all relates to Mr. Mason’s notion that people learn better when they are having fun and feel connected to the topic. I am sure that when I was younger, if an animal had been brought to my class, I would have thought it was the greatest thing. Teaching conservation to children raises their awareness of the world’s problems, creates a deeper understanding, and hopefully a desire to get involved.

Contributed by Shelby - Zoo InternQuest Conservation team

Along with the enrichment, Mr. Davis is responsible for seeing that the animals in his keep get enough of the proper food. Each animal has a specific diet laid out by a nutritionist. A red-ruffed lemur, for example, eats a pre-mixed leaf eater food, red apple, greens, a variety of steamed roots, a variety of raw vegetables, fruit, and a tamarind pod every day. The food preparation areas Mr. Davis showed us seemed more like a well-stocked kitchen than the silos of hay and grain I was expecting. Of course there were containers full of different feed pellets with varying protein and fiber quantities, and buckets of alfalfa along with the very surprising bags of Iams cat food. I say surprising because much of the food there was the very same stuff I could go and buy at the grocery store. Never again will I doubt the quality of my own cat’s store-bought food.

To ensure that the animals are getting enough food and are in good overall health, they are weighed often and sometimes have blood samples taken. To allow a keeper to take blood or even trim their feet, a camel may need a sedative, an elephant - extensive training, which given the size and nature of those animals is understandable. I was shocked and amused to learn that a Baird’s Tapir sometimes doesn’t need more than a good scratch on the belly to relax it enough to allow for a checkup or pedicure.

The Zoo also tries to ensure both the temporary and long-term health of their animals. After all, how effective can any conservation effort be if the animals aren’t alive and kicking? This is accomplished in one way by quarantining and observing new animals that come to the Zoo. These preventative measures were also apparent when we went to the koala exhibit and had to dip our feet in disinfectant before entering the building.

In the koala exhibit we were introduced to the team area lead, Chris Hamlin. From the viewing windows, the Zoo would appear to only have a handful of koalas. From the inside of the building, however, I was able to see that the Zoo has over 30 koalas. They also have around 30 out on education or breeding loans in the United States and Europe. This loan program was started in the 1980s and all money raised is sent directly back to Australia to help conservation efforts there. That along with little things such as giving the koalas indigenous names impressed me with how focused the Zoo is on helping to preserve the natural habitat and culture of Australia.

Breeding programs, such as the koalas, may be the most noticeable part of any zoo’s conservation effort. My experience at the Zoo has shown me the animal keeper’s job is one that requires brute strength and attention to detail. Each job is just as important as the other, whether a keeper is picking up droppings and shoveling hay or recording data on the movements of koalas.

Contributed by Mariah – Zoo InternQuest Conservation Team

I thought I was going to be pretty comfortable around the camels. After all, I figured the worst they could do was spit. However, I learned that was most likely not going to happen because camels only spit when they’re upset or provoked. But when I was first standing next to this quite large animal, I realized that I still felt a little vulnerable, which was a suprise to me, being such an animal fan. I felt better as we fed the camels some food pellets and experienced their slimy lips. Mr. Davis pointed out that one of the camels was in a separate enclosure. He was the new male brought in for breeding purposes.

New animals to the Zoo are quarantined for at least 30 days before being placed in an enclosure. This is to ensure that the health of the animals is up to par and there are no other issues with them. Keeping these animals separate avoids possible medical conditions from spreading throughout an entire enclosure. Imagine how devastating it would be if an animal was introduced into an enclosure without being examined when it could possibly spread a disease among the entire group. This could put the breeding program for that species at risk.

(Note: the camel was not quarantined, he was in a “next door” enclosure to the females as part of the introduction process.)

When I visited the Zoo in the past, I always assumed the few koalas on display were the only ones there. However, as we traveled behind-the-scenes, I quickly noticed that I was mistaken. There were many more koalas perched peacefully on branches in enclosures. Chris Hamlin, marsupial team area lead, informed us that koalas are very picky eucalyptus eaters. I was amazed to hear that the Zoo provides them with four different types of eucalyptus leaves daily in hopes that they will be interested in one of them that day. In addition, the Zoo keeps a refrigerated room full of eucalyptus plants to keep it fresh for the koalas.

There is a program within zoos of the United States in which koalas are loaned for educational and conservation awareness purposes. In the Koala Loan Program, a koala and a keeper travel to a different zoo in the States to give people in that community a connection to koalas. This exhibit attracts people to the partnering zoo and raises their awareness for the need of koala conservation. Profits accumulated from this program are sent directly to Australia for research on koalas in their natural habitat. I think this program is a great success because everyone benefits, especially the koalas.

As our first day out exploring the Zoo with a presenter, I was overwhelmed with all the new information I learned. From the visitors’ perspective, everything seems orderly and simple. Little do you know all the hard work and dedication that goes into keeping the animals mentally and physically healthy.

Contributed by Shelby - Zoo InternQuest Conservation Team