Zoo InternQuest is a career exploration program for high school students. For more information see the Zoo InternQuest Journals. For more photos see the Zoo InternQuest Photo Journal.

A vaguely familiar smell filled our noses as we approached the gorilla enclosure. As soon as we entered through a large, painted gate off to the side of the trail, it hit us hard. “Onions,” our guide said, “that’s the gorillas.” A funny comment, but very true. Sunni Robertson, an Educator Guide at the San Diego Zoo, makes learning fun for visitors by telling them various conservation facts from entertaining stories about gentle gorillas to escape artist orangutans. In order to achieve this profession, Sunni went to college in Oregon where she obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Biology. After Oregon, she made her way to the Los Angeles region to attend Moorpark College, where she received hands-on training with live animals. Moorpark combines traditional textbook learning with experience in a small zoo setting where students undertake animal nurturing responsibilities and enroll in classes to learn field techniques. Sunni’s program at Moorpark was a very trying two-years, but was a very fun and rewarding experience.
Collectively, we think that Sunni’s job would be fun even though the road to get there might not be the easiest. In this line of work, she has the opportunity to teach visitors about what they can do to help the world they live in while still delivering a string of interesting tales for people to pass on to friends and family. Because of Mrs. Robertson’s informative and interesting tour, our first day turned out to be truly sunny!

Tawni and Jake represent the Zoo InternQuest Careers Team.

Zoo InternQuest is a career exploration program for high school students. For more information see the Zoo InternQuest Journals. For more photos see the Zoo InternQuest Photo Journal.

Sure, throwing sticks of celery into the mouth of a massive Indian rhinoceros as it sedately swings its head in your direction and looks you in the eye is something most people would remember. However, how many people know that all rhinoceros species are endangered?

Sunni Robertson, educator guide at the San Diego Zoo, hopes that guests will come away with amazing experiences as well as a greater understanding of animal species represented at the Zoo. She tries to spark an interest in the public and send visitors home with the motivation to create change.