Zoo InternQuest is a seven-week career exploration program for San Diego County high school juniors and seniors. Students have the unique opportunity to meet professionals working for the San Diego Zoo, Safari Park, and Institute for Conservation Research, learn about their jobs, and then blog about their experience online. Follow their adventures here on the Zoo’s website! This week interns had the chance to meet and talk with Jessica Sheftel, Enrichment supervisor at the San Diego Zoo. Mrs. Sheftel monitors and designs most of the enrichment activities for animals at both the Zoo and Safari Park. From building our own model enclosures to meeting squirrel monkeys, this week was unforgettable, and I hope you will learn as much as I did by reading my blog! [caption id="attachment_115845" align="aligncenter" width="361"] Meet Jessica Sheftel (left), Enrichment supervisor at the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park! Mrs. Sheftel was originally a keeper at the San Diego Zoo’s Children’s Zoo for eight years, but now she is in charge of most enrichment activities for both the Zoo and Safari Park as the enrichment supervisor. Mrs. Sheftel has her hands full with the vast amount of animals she cares for, but amazingly, she seems undaunted by the task![/caption] [caption id="attachment_115846" align="aligncenter" width="368"] As we settled in, Mrs. Sheftel explained to us how she consults with the keepers at the Zoo to identify the animal’s personal needs. By using cameras, she is able to monitor the animal's daily activities, even when there's nobody watching them. With this information, Mrs. Sheftel is then able to create an enrichment activity that is best suited for that animal.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_115847" align="aligncenter" width="450"] Historically, animal enclosures were mostly concrete, with little to no similarities to their natural habitats. Nowadays, with the help of people like Mrs. Sheftel, animal habitats are very similar to their natural landscapes as you can see above. As Mrs. Sheftel says, “enrichment also makes the animal feel at home.” It's not always about a toy, but replicating the animal’s natural habitat.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_115848" align="aligncenter" width="450"] When you think enrichment, you most likely imagine simple toys like balls and trinkets, but it is much deeper than that. When making enrichment, Mrs. Sheftel and other keepers need to know which behavior they want to elicit. Stalking, hunting, problem solving; these are all behaviors certain enrichment activities can bring out in an animal on a daily basis.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_115849" align="aligncenter" width="450"] After explaining the ins and outs of effective enrichment, Mrs. Sheftel wanted to put our skills to a test by building our own model enclosures! Through the use of shoe boxes, shrubbery, leaves, and other materials, we assembled our very own habitats, fitting the needs of the animal we chose.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_115850" align="aligncenter" width="332"] Myself and fellow intern Bailey went to work quickly, envisioning the perfect habitat for our chosen animal; the Malayan tiger. Other animals picked by the interns were monkeys, Arctic foxes, and otters. For all of our model habitats, our designs needed to replicate the animal's natural habitat as much as possible.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_115851" align="aligncenter" width="450"] Interns Alicia and Sam are hard at work designing their habitat! Mrs. Sheftel advised us to use materials that would occur in the animal's natural landscape. Available to us were twigs, branches, leaves, glue, and other such materials. Also, we needed to identify potential feeding areas for the animal.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_115852" align="aligncenter" width="401"] After much hard work and determination, we had finished our model habitat! With a pond, waterfall, river, and thick brush for hiding, our tiger had the ideal habitat. As for enrichment, live fish in the waterways for active hunting because tigers love swimming, and tall trees for climbing.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_115853" align="aligncenter" width="450"] Another great habitat, this one created by Jenna and Glenna. Their animal, the Arctic fox, has plenty of snow to keep it cool in the warmer times of the year, a forested area for stalking enrichment, and a cozy den to keep it warm in the winter times.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_115854" align="aligncenter" width="450"] After finishing our model enclosures, Mrs. Sheftel took us outside for some real-time enrichment! Squirrel monkeys at the Children’s Zoo were ready for their final meal of the day, and Mrs. Sheftel had some surprises for them! Paper bags filled with peanut butter to elicit problem solving behaviors and fresh vegetables to help them mimic foraging techniques.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_115855" align="aligncenter" width="450"] Mrs. Sheftel prepares the food and enrichment for the squirrel monkeys. While waiting, the monkeys jostled with each other and edged ever closer, anticipating the excitement to come! Although Mrs. Sheftel doesn’t usually work with animals, she still loves providing them with enrichment that she knows will make their lives even better.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_115856" align="aligncenter" width="450"] With no hesitation at all, the squirrel monkeys dove into their enrichment with vigor. Although it took a couple minutes, the squirrel monkeys were able to figure out the paper bag puzzle, and were rewarded with a delicious treat! The paper bags were used to bring out a foraging behavior of scratching trees and revealing insects. Meeting and talking with Mrs. Sheftel was amazing, and in my opinion, she just may have one of the most important job of all at the Zoo: making the animals lives fun, mentally stimulating and enjoyable.[/caption] Patrick, Photo Team Week Four, Winter Session 2016