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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 experiences online. Follow their adventures here on the Zoo’s website!
Interns started their second session with a presentation from Ms. Kim Livingstone. Ms. Livingstone is currently an Animal Care Supervisor in the Primate Department at the San Diego Zoo. She gave us a glimpse into her world as she took us to the bonobos exhibit, an aviary and lastly, the orangutan exhibit. Following Ms. Livingstone was very inspiring and thought provoking as she conveyed her passion for wildlife and consumer awareness while also telling us that you must actively pursue your dreams. Now, let’s learn all about how Ms. Livingstone achieved her lofty dreams and ambitions.
Ms. Livingstone received her two-year associate degree in Exotic Animal Training and Management at Moorpark College in California. The college is special in that it has a zoo on campus that gives current students an opportunity to gain hands-on experience in taking care of exotic animals. Hands-on experience, Ms. Livingstone says, is one of the most important skills needed when applying to the Zoo, and potential applicants should get as much work experience as possible.
From a very early age, Ms. Livingstone had a passion for birds, and given this passion, she wished to work in the field of ornithology. After doing a cross-country road trip, Ms. Livingstone asked the Miami Metro Zoo if she could volunteer. They politely declined stating that they did not have a volunteer program in place. However, Ms. Livingstone was not discouraged and suggested that she be the zoo’s first volunteer. And low and behold, it worked! She became the Miami Metro Zoo’s first volunteer, and eventually, attained a job as a bird keeper. With this job, she was able to travel to New Guinea to study and capture birds from deforested areas. On the trip, she represented the Miami Metro Zoo, and while out in the field, she met a team from the San Diego Zoo. Ms. Livingstone grew up in California and wished to move back. So, following the trip, Ms. Livingstone used the opportunity of the connections she made with the San Diego Zoo during her time in New Guinea, and wrote to the Zoo saying how much she appreciated her experience. As a result of this letter, she got a job offer to work with birds at the San Diego Zoo, and started working at the Zoo in 1988.
Fast forward 28 years, Ms. Livingstone now works with the primates at the Zoo! Her day starts early, and throughout her workday, she takes care of primates such as bonobos, orangutans and gorillas. Her responsibilities for these closely related primates include maintaining enclosures, their health and prepping daily diets. Also, with her training background, Ms. Livingstone is able to train the primates using positive reinforcement for medical purposes, in order to reduce stress and establish a routine for the animals to create stability. In addition to their learned behaviors, the bonobos have their own set of “cultural behaviors” that may have derived from other zoo’s training, such as clapping to get Ms. Livingstone’s attention! One of the most important aspects of Ms. Livingstone’s job is education. She educates the public outside the exhibits in order to raise awareness of the endangerment of many primate species and ways in which humans are expediting their extinction. She also explains how visitors can help the environment through being conscientious consumers by understanding where our products are sourced, and how the production of those products affects the environment.
Ironically, Ms. Livingstone explained that the hardest part of working at the Zoo is working with people and managing them. However, one of the most rewarding parts of her job is also working with people who are passionate about the Earth. Ms. Livingstone loves her job because it provides her the opportunity to see animals’ natural behaviors, participate in unique experiences such as helping birth an orangutan, and have discussions with the public concerning the environment.
Ms. Livingstone stressed throughout her presentation that she got to the point where she is today because she was proactive in looking for opportunities and building connections with people. Therefore, if you want a job at the Zoo, take advantages of the connections you may have or build relations with people by actively asking for volunteer or work opportunities. When looking at applicants, Ms. Livingstone says she looks for people who have a great amount of hands-on experience and excellent people skills. You need to have great people skills in order to successfully communicate with the many different personalities at the Zoo.
Meeting with Ms. Livingstone and hearing about her love for the environment, I further realized the importance of finding a job that you love. The presentation also expanded my perspective of what potential jobs there are for me at the Zoo and how important conservation education is in today’s world.
Emma, Careers Team
Week Two, Fall Session 2016
Interns started their second session with a presentation from Ms. Kim Livingstone. Ms. Livingstone is currently an Animal Care Supervisor in the Primate Department at the San Diego Zoo. She gave us a glimpse into her world as she took us to the bonobos exhibit, an aviary and lastly, the orangutan exhibit. Following Ms. Livingstone was very inspiring and thought provoking as she conveyed her passion for wildlife and consumer awareness while also telling us that you must actively pursue your dreams. Now, let’s learn all about how Ms. Livingstone achieved her lofty dreams and ambitions.
Ms. Livingstone received her two-year associate degree in Exotic Animal Training and Management at Moorpark College in California. The college is special in that it has a zoo on campus that gives current students an opportunity to gain hands-on experience in taking care of exotic animals. Hands-on experience, Ms. Livingstone says, is one of the most important skills needed when applying to the Zoo, and potential applicants should get as much work experience as possible.
From a very early age, Ms. Livingstone had a passion for birds, and given this passion, she wished to work in the field of ornithology. After doing a cross-country road trip, Ms. Livingstone asked the Miami Metro Zoo if she could volunteer. They politely declined stating that they did not have a volunteer program in place. However, Ms. Livingstone was not discouraged and suggested that she be the zoo’s first volunteer. And low and behold, it worked! She became the Miami Metro Zoo’s first volunteer, and eventually, attained a job as a bird keeper. With this job, she was able to travel to New Guinea to study and capture birds from deforested areas. On the trip, she represented the Miami Metro Zoo, and while out in the field, she met a team from the San Diego Zoo. Ms. Livingstone grew up in California and wished to move back. So, following the trip, Ms. Livingstone used the opportunity of the connections she made with the San Diego Zoo during her time in New Guinea, and wrote to the Zoo saying how much she appreciated her experience. As a result of this letter, she got a job offer to work with birds at the San Diego Zoo, and started working at the Zoo in 1988.
Fast forward 28 years, Ms. Livingstone now works with the primates at the Zoo! Her day starts early, and throughout her workday, she takes care of primates such as bonobos, orangutans and gorillas. Her responsibilities for these closely related primates include maintaining enclosures, their health and prepping daily diets. Also, with her training background, Ms. Livingstone is able to train the primates using positive reinforcement for medical purposes, in order to reduce stress and establish a routine for the animals to create stability. In addition to their learned behaviors, the bonobos have their own set of “cultural behaviors” that may have derived from other zoo’s training, such as clapping to get Ms. Livingstone’s attention! One of the most important aspects of Ms. Livingstone’s job is education. She educates the public outside the exhibits in order to raise awareness of the endangerment of many primate species and ways in which humans are expediting their extinction. She also explains how visitors can help the environment through being conscientious consumers by understanding where our products are sourced, and how the production of those products affects the environment.
Ironically, Ms. Livingstone explained that the hardest part of working at the Zoo is working with people and managing them. However, one of the most rewarding parts of her job is also working with people who are passionate about the Earth. Ms. Livingstone loves her job because it provides her the opportunity to see animals’ natural behaviors, participate in unique experiences such as helping birth an orangutan, and have discussions with the public concerning the environment.
Ms. Livingstone stressed throughout her presentation that she got to the point where she is today because she was proactive in looking for opportunities and building connections with people. Therefore, if you want a job at the Zoo, take advantages of the connections you may have or build relations with people by actively asking for volunteer or work opportunities. When looking at applicants, Ms. Livingstone says she looks for people who have a great amount of hands-on experience and excellent people skills. You need to have great people skills in order to successfully communicate with the many different personalities at the Zoo.
Meeting with Ms. Livingstone and hearing about her love for the environment, I further realized the importance of finding a job that you love. The presentation also expanded my perspective of what potential jobs there are for me at the Zoo and how important conservation education is in today’s world.
Emma, Careers Team
Week Two, Fall Session 2016
