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.

Stephanie Burns is a testament to the fact that most Americans hold several jobs before finding their true calling. This Moorpark College graduate spent a few years at that junior college in Ventura County, California, working mostly with exotic animals at America’s Teaching Zoo. The former Zoo camp leader, television animal trainer, farm animal care provider, and now San Diego Zoo educator gave us an extensive tour of the World-Famous San Diego Zoo.

Ms. Burns took us on a wild adventure through the Queensland koala barn, currently holding 20 koalas. Surprisingly, koalas are isolationists that enjoy having their own space. These marsupials have a scent gland on their chest, used to mark their territory on the tree in which they reside. The reason we know all of this now? Ms. Burns, Zoo educator, used her conversational style to teach us about koalas. There were a few show-and-tell moments thrown in too, such as touching the fur of a koala (a taxidermied specimen, not a live one) and getting a close up of a replica of a koala skull.

Did you know that eucalyptus leaves are poisonous to most animals? Koalas can smell or taste (scientists aren’t really sure) how toxic the eucalyptus leaves are, and they won’t eat it if it’s too toxic. Because the animal keepers do not have the same ability, they have to present the koalas with a variety of eucalyptus species each week to let the koalas choose. In doing her job of an educator, Ms. Burns gave us some insight into the job of a koala keeper. The keepers have to be good observers of animal behavior. For example, the koalas normally get all the hydration they need from the leaves they eat, but if they start drinking from the bowls of water given to them, something could be physically wrong with the koala.

Later on Ms. Burns led us through the Zoo’s manicured grounds to the Bactrian camel exhibit that features three camels. Mongo, a 1,700-pound cocky male with a large appetite, caught our attention quickly over the others while we were feeding the group celery and elephant pellets, an herbivore treat. He shoved his way to the front of the pack to remind us of his presence. His two female companions exercised common camel behavior by spitting back at the gutsy male. Two-year-old Heidi later won our attention by nudging Ms. Burns every so often. Keepers are waiting for Heidi to turn six years old, when she will reach sexual maturity, so she can mate with Mongo.

Our encounters with these fascinating animals left us envious of Ms. Burns’ job and excited for the weeks of exploration to come. We can’t wait to learn more about the other 8,000 animals cared for by the Zoo, the 6,000 plant species that beautify the grounds, and the different jobs here at the Zoo.

Dana and Lindsay – Careers Team

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