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.

They prowl through sun-dappled forests, their perfectly adapted paws muffling the sound of their every move. Their eyes gaze intently before them as they stalk, black stripes giving the illusion that they are gliding among the trees. They are tigers, and their natural prowess and beauty have inspired people from all times and places. But with the tiger’s current endangered status, it is possible that generations in the near future will know the wild tiger as no more than a legend.

Dr. Pat Morris, senior veterinarian and department head at the San Diego Zoo’s veterinary hospital, has devoted his career to the conservation of tigers and many other animal species that populate the Zoo. With advanced technology (some of which was invented to monitor human health and have been adapted to animals) he treats the Zoo’s residents to ensure their good health. One of his patients was a male Indochinese tiger, one of the most endangered of all tiger subspecies. The digital X rays that we saw revealed that the feline suffered from a fractured leg and severe dental problems.

Through medical treatment, Dr. Morris cared for the tiger to give him the most prosperous life possible and to uphold something he calls the “ripple effect.” By treating individual animals, he betters their lives so that they may be adequately represented in the gene pool. A diverse gene pool is the keystone to a healthy population. In the case of this tiger, he lived in the wild and occasionally harassed the people of an Indonesian village. He was adopted by the San Diego Zoo and brought with him a new set of genes to contribute to the gene pool.

By treating each animal with the best care, vets learn about a variety of species and what it takes to keep them healthy. This knowledge can be applied to wild populations that are being studied or that are prone to certain diseases. Fortunately, because of excellent veterinary care, this tiger sired two healthy cubs. Because their father’s health conditions were monitored so closely, vets knew exactly what to look for in the cubs that would indicate if the father’s dental condition was inherited by his sons. Thankfully, it wasn’t and not only are the offspring healthy, but so is the gene pool of the Indochinese tiger population in zoos. Though it may seem like zoo vets care for a limited number of animals, in truth they work to uphold the “ripple effect” and contribute to the conservation of the whole species by caring for the individual.

Lauren, Conservation Team

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