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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.
Reptiles and amphibians are very important to the health of sustainable ecosystems, and exist in a multitude of variations and species. There are over 9000 species of reptiles and over 6700 species of amphibians! The Zoo does a lot to preserve these incredible animals despite the countless factors that are currently decimating their numbers. This week interns met with Peter Gilson, a reptile keeper for the San Diego Zoo who cares for many of those animals.
Unfortunately, amphibians are often one of the first species to suffer from environmental changes. Their skin is semi-permeable which allows them to absorb moisture and breathe, but they often take in chemicals and other toxins along with it. Currently, one of the major problems facing amphibians is a harmful fungi known as chytrid fungus. Chytrid fungus is absorbed through the amphibian’s skin through water, and then blocks the pores causing the skin to harden. Unfortunately, the infected animals usually die within days. While there is currently no cure for chytrid fungus, the Zoo and the Institute for Research Conservation are searching for solutions. For example, the Zoo collected all the remaining critically endangered Panamanian golden frogs from their native habitats in the rainforests of Panama in order to prevent their extinction. The Zoo is beginning a breeding program, and hopefully one day, if a cure for chytrid fungus is found, they will be reintroduced back into the wild. In the meantime, Mr. Gilson explained that the Zoo does almost all chytrid fungus testing for North America, and the Institute even has a mobile testing unit that can quickly determine if the fungus has infected wild individuals. The Zoo is doing everything in its power to oppose the spread of chytrid fungus, but the problem is widespread and difficult to combat.
In addition to the vast conservation efforts for amphibians, San Diego Zoo Global has many conservation projects dedicated to helping our scaled friends. Housed in the native species building are a number of flat-tailed horned lizards, a native species from San Diego and Mexico. Currently, much of the flat-tailed horned lizard’s habitat is rapidly disappearing due to urban development. Many individuals were rescued and brought to a few zoos in the U.S. In addition to reptiles residing in far off places, native species of reptiles are also in danger of being pushed out by invasive species in San Diego. Specifically, the southwestern pond turtle is a species native to San Diego, but currently, red-eared sliders spread by the pet trade are overtaking their habitats. Fortunately, Mr. Gilson says that the Zoo is involved in a developing project to help the southwestern pond turtle.
However, while many of the projects mentioned above are works in progress, the Zoo has an excellent track record for saving endangered species on the brink of extinction. For example, the Galapagos tortoise, which is one of the animals Mr. Gilson cares for, has been a huge success for the Zoo and conservation in general. Since the tortoises were brought to the Zoo in 1928, over a hundred have hatched. Historically, Galapagos tortoises, which at one point included 14 different subspecies, used to live on all of the Galapagos Islands. However, their populations were greatly decreased by sailors, who used the long-lived tortoises for food on their long voyages. When the Zoo first got involved, there were only about 3,000 tortoises remaining in the wild. Playing a major role in conservation efforts, the Zoo sent one of only two remaining males of one of the subspecies back to the Galapagos, where he fathered over a thousand hatchlings! With the Zoo’s help, the estimated population of Galapagos tortoises has rebounded to around 19,000 across all sub species.
Mr. Gilson’s job is essential to the Zoo’s continual conservation efforts; without him, and other reptile and amphibian keepers, the Zoo would be incapable of doing so much of the amazing work it accomplishes daily in regards to the well-being and conservation of the many species in their care. Additionally, beyond the individuals residing in the Zoo’s care, Mr. Gilson plays a part in protecting and preserving thousands of slippery, scaly creatures around the world.
Jenna, Conservation Team
Week Six, Winter Session 2016
Reptiles and amphibians are very important to the health of sustainable ecosystems, and exist in a multitude of variations and species. There are over 9000 species of reptiles and over 6700 species of amphibians! The Zoo does a lot to preserve these incredible animals despite the countless factors that are currently decimating their numbers. This week interns met with Peter Gilson, a reptile keeper for the San Diego Zoo who cares for many of those animals.
Unfortunately, amphibians are often one of the first species to suffer from environmental changes. Their skin is semi-permeable which allows them to absorb moisture and breathe, but they often take in chemicals and other toxins along with it. Currently, one of the major problems facing amphibians is a harmful fungi known as chytrid fungus. Chytrid fungus is absorbed through the amphibian’s skin through water, and then blocks the pores causing the skin to harden. Unfortunately, the infected animals usually die within days. While there is currently no cure for chytrid fungus, the Zoo and the Institute for Research Conservation are searching for solutions. For example, the Zoo collected all the remaining critically endangered Panamanian golden frogs from their native habitats in the rainforests of Panama in order to prevent their extinction. The Zoo is beginning a breeding program, and hopefully one day, if a cure for chytrid fungus is found, they will be reintroduced back into the wild. In the meantime, Mr. Gilson explained that the Zoo does almost all chytrid fungus testing for North America, and the Institute even has a mobile testing unit that can quickly determine if the fungus has infected wild individuals. The Zoo is doing everything in its power to oppose the spread of chytrid fungus, but the problem is widespread and difficult to combat.
In addition to the vast conservation efforts for amphibians, San Diego Zoo Global has many conservation projects dedicated to helping our scaled friends. Housed in the native species building are a number of flat-tailed horned lizards, a native species from San Diego and Mexico. Currently, much of the flat-tailed horned lizard’s habitat is rapidly disappearing due to urban development. Many individuals were rescued and brought to a few zoos in the U.S. In addition to reptiles residing in far off places, native species of reptiles are also in danger of being pushed out by invasive species in San Diego. Specifically, the southwestern pond turtle is a species native to San Diego, but currently, red-eared sliders spread by the pet trade are overtaking their habitats. Fortunately, Mr. Gilson says that the Zoo is involved in a developing project to help the southwestern pond turtle.
However, while many of the projects mentioned above are works in progress, the Zoo has an excellent track record for saving endangered species on the brink of extinction. For example, the Galapagos tortoise, which is one of the animals Mr. Gilson cares for, has been a huge success for the Zoo and conservation in general. Since the tortoises were brought to the Zoo in 1928, over a hundred have hatched. Historically, Galapagos tortoises, which at one point included 14 different subspecies, used to live on all of the Galapagos Islands. However, their populations were greatly decreased by sailors, who used the long-lived tortoises for food on their long voyages. When the Zoo first got involved, there were only about 3,000 tortoises remaining in the wild. Playing a major role in conservation efforts, the Zoo sent one of only two remaining males of one of the subspecies back to the Galapagos, where he fathered over a thousand hatchlings! With the Zoo’s help, the estimated population of Galapagos tortoises has rebounded to around 19,000 across all sub species.
Mr. Gilson’s job is essential to the Zoo’s continual conservation efforts; without him, and other reptile and amphibian keepers, the Zoo would be incapable of doing so much of the amazing work it accomplishes daily in regards to the well-being and conservation of the many species in their care. Additionally, beyond the individuals residing in the Zoo’s care, Mr. Gilson plays a part in protecting and preserving thousands of slippery, scaly creatures around the world.
Jenna, Conservation Team
Week Six, Winter Session 2016
