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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 on the Zoo’s website!
Have you ever been on a walk and have seen a rhino across the street, or maybe even a white tailed wildebeest? No? Of course not, they live half way across the world! Now did you know that both of these animals are endangered or close to critically endangered? Most people aren’t aware that animals are losing their habitat every day. The Zoo brings in animals from all over the world to close this proximity gap between humans and animals. By closing this gap, the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park are able to educate their guests on the importance of conservation.
This week for InternQuest, the interns got to meet two Senior Mammal Keepers at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park: Torrey Pillsbury and Rodger Petersen. Ms. Pillsbury has been a keeper for 32 years and Mr. Petersen has been a keeper for 25 years. Most of their work involves working in the field and keeping logs of the animals while they are in the office. The Safari Park is home to many different types of mammals, reptiles and birds, including animals from across the world. For example, one of Ms. Pillsbury’s favorites was the white-tailed wildebeest. The white-tailed wildebeest is an endangered species, and sadly, may even be extinct in the wild. The Safari Park worked with white-tailed wildebeest to try and boost their population. However, given the immense collaboration between zoos, the white-tailed wildebeest has since left the Safari Park for another facility to further boost population numbers.
Ms. Pillsbury and Mr. Petersen have a very important job at the Safari Park. They take care of the animals that are used by the Park to educate its guest on conservation. As keepers they keep the park running by keeping the animals healthy and happy. The Safari Park also takes care of animals that no longer have natural habitats in the wild. Humans are the main cause of habitat destruction, pollution, and other reasons why these animals no longer have a safe or natural environment to live in. We need to start taking action now, before it starts effecting us. We can’t just wait until it’s too late like we did with so many other species.
My time as an intern has inspired me in so many ways. I have met people who have dedicated their lives to science, animals and education. All these aspects come together to create what the San Diego Zoo is all about. None of this would be possible without their amazing keepers like Ms. Pillsbury and Mr. Petersen.
Bailey, Conservation Team
Week Six, Winter Session 2016
Have you ever been on a walk and have seen a rhino across the street, or maybe even a white tailed wildebeest? No? Of course not, they live half way across the world! Now did you know that both of these animals are endangered or close to critically endangered? Most people aren’t aware that animals are losing their habitat every day. The Zoo brings in animals from all over the world to close this proximity gap between humans and animals. By closing this gap, the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park are able to educate their guests on the importance of conservation.
This week for InternQuest, the interns got to meet two Senior Mammal Keepers at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park: Torrey Pillsbury and Rodger Petersen. Ms. Pillsbury has been a keeper for 32 years and Mr. Petersen has been a keeper for 25 years. Most of their work involves working in the field and keeping logs of the animals while they are in the office. The Safari Park is home to many different types of mammals, reptiles and birds, including animals from across the world. For example, one of Ms. Pillsbury’s favorites was the white-tailed wildebeest. The white-tailed wildebeest is an endangered species, and sadly, may even be extinct in the wild. The Safari Park worked with white-tailed wildebeest to try and boost their population. However, given the immense collaboration between zoos, the white-tailed wildebeest has since left the Safari Park for another facility to further boost population numbers.
Ms. Pillsbury and Mr. Petersen have a very important job at the Safari Park. They take care of the animals that are used by the Park to educate its guest on conservation. As keepers they keep the park running by keeping the animals healthy and happy. The Safari Park also takes care of animals that no longer have natural habitats in the wild. Humans are the main cause of habitat destruction, pollution, and other reasons why these animals no longer have a safe or natural environment to live in. We need to start taking action now, before it starts effecting us. We can’t just wait until it’s too late like we did with so many other species.
My time as an intern has inspired me in so many ways. I have met people who have dedicated their lives to science, animals and education. All these aspects come together to create what the San Diego Zoo is all about. None of this would be possible without their amazing keepers like Ms. Pillsbury and Mr. Petersen.
Bailey, Conservation Team
Week Six, Winter Session 2016
