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.

Fire at the Park

Michele Gaffney, a San Diego native, graduated from University of California, Davis, and then moved back to north San Diego County. She has been working at the Wild Animal Park from 6 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for 24 years. That shows a whole lot of passionate dedication to her job, not to mention getting up and out the door in the dark! Our visit to the East Africa and Asian Plains exhibits at the Wild Animal Park took place only one short week after a major wildfire blew through the area. Within the borders of the Wild Animal Park, though the recent fire had burned 600 out of 1,800 acres, she optimistically reported that thankfully only two animals were lost due to complications from the fires.

Sitting on the haystacks on the back of the keeper truck, we set off to journey through the Park exhibits, exhilarated to be so close to the rhinos, giraffes, and gazelles that roamed the exhibits. As I looked outward, beyond the fence, I saw how close the fires came to the Wild Animal Park. Black burn marks covered the once brush-filled hillside right outside the Park’s service road, which ended up serving as a firebreak. I asked Michele where the animals were during the fire and she told me that all animals on the outskirts of the Park, including the critically endangered California condors, were moved to the Park’s Harter Veterinary Medical Center while the rest remained safe and secure in the large field enclosures. The fields are well irrigated so the grass was not flammable, and the animals had a lot of area to move away from the threat. Although winds have damaged some trees and exhibits, the Park nevertheless weathered the storms very well. The Wild Animal Park staff certainly showed that they were prepared.

To help the Park, you can donate to the Wild Animal Park Greening Campaign, which goes directly to the rebuilding of exhibits, or support the Catastrophic Leave Fund, which goes to help the many Park employees who lost their homes. Both donations are tax-deductible.

Haoyu - Real World Team

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