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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!
Did you know that this era of geological history is often referred to as the Anthropocene by scientists? It turns out that the climactic and ecological changes occurring throughout the world are primarily caused by humans. David O’Connor, a Community-Based Conservation Ecologist at the Institute for Conservation Research talked to the interns about projects he’s worked on in the field of conservation, as well as how our local actions can affect the environment globally.
Currently, Mr. O’Connor is working on series of surveys conducted throughout Southeast Asia, specifically Los, Cambodia, and Vietnam. San Diego Zoo Global is partnering with local college students and service groups overseas to conduct the surveys, and their goal is to collect data from local people about the use of bear parts for medicinal uses. The number one threat to wildlife in the world is the wildlife trade, namely the hunting and catching of wildlife for medicine, food, or pets. In many parts of Asia, particularly Laos, there is a large market for the production and distribution of bear bile, which is bile collected from sun bears for medicine. The collection often occurs in bear farms, where bears are kept in small cages for the duration of their lives, with a wound kept open for the purpose of continuously collecting bile from their gallbladders. Even though bear bile is a commodity that is illegal in Laos, 10% of the population admitted to using it. By conducting the surveys, San Diego Zoo Global is able to identify the reasons people use bear products, the cultural significance of the practice, possible substitutes, and most importantly, the local knowledge and attitudes towards wildlife. This can help predict human behavior and send messages to the public that are designed to resonate with the different cultures around the world.
However, the wildlife trade isn’t only a problem overseas. The United States is the number two consumer of ivory in the world, and bear bile is still a relevant part of many cultural groups within our country. So, what can we do at a local level? Mr. O’Connor said that with the growth of social media, one thing we can do is spread awareness. By sharing videos and photos of bear farms and other practices we can become a part of the conservation effort. Another thing we can do is to be aware of what we are buying, especially when travelling to foreign countries. Ivory and other animal products are common materials used to allure consumers, and we can’t always be sure what we are purchasing. One way to alert people about illegal activity while traveling is through the app Wildlife Witness. The app reports the sighting to local authorities, who deal with the issue.
In addition to the work being done in Southeast Asia, Mr. O’Connor has also researched giraffes in Kenya. Giraffes are now extinct in seven African countries. Additionally, in the past fifteen years, giraffes have seen a 40% decline in their populations. In one particular species, the reticulated giraffe, numbers have declined almost 70% since 1998. One main cause of this phenomenon is deforestation and habitat loss- when giraffes are forced to live in smaller areas, the vegetation is overgrazed and the layer of topsoil is swept away in the rain, leaving desert-like plains. Another cause of population decline is hunting; hunters use neck snares to trap giraffes. One reason for hunting is, again, medicine. There is a cultural belief that giraffe bone marrow and brain provide resistance against HIV and AIDS.
What is being done in the San Diego area to help giraffes? San Diego Zoo has a number of educational outreach programs, including one involving local middle schoolers. To understand how David and his team collect data, students track giraffes themselves through a simulation. This allows students to not only understand giraffe migrations, but learn about the tracking technology available and about collecting data. By understanding how our actions impact animals, people may be more likely to take small steps toward conservation in their daily lives. After all, humans caused this massive change on the Earth’s surface, and it will undoubtedly be up to us to reverse our mistakes.
Casey, Real World
Week Four, Fall Session 2016
Did you know that this era of geological history is often referred to as the Anthropocene by scientists? It turns out that the climactic and ecological changes occurring throughout the world are primarily caused by humans. David O’Connor, a Community-Based Conservation Ecologist at the Institute for Conservation Research talked to the interns about projects he’s worked on in the field of conservation, as well as how our local actions can affect the environment globally.
Currently, Mr. O’Connor is working on series of surveys conducted throughout Southeast Asia, specifically Los, Cambodia, and Vietnam. San Diego Zoo Global is partnering with local college students and service groups overseas to conduct the surveys, and their goal is to collect data from local people about the use of bear parts for medicinal uses. The number one threat to wildlife in the world is the wildlife trade, namely the hunting and catching of wildlife for medicine, food, or pets. In many parts of Asia, particularly Laos, there is a large market for the production and distribution of bear bile, which is bile collected from sun bears for medicine. The collection often occurs in bear farms, where bears are kept in small cages for the duration of their lives, with a wound kept open for the purpose of continuously collecting bile from their gallbladders. Even though bear bile is a commodity that is illegal in Laos, 10% of the population admitted to using it. By conducting the surveys, San Diego Zoo Global is able to identify the reasons people use bear products, the cultural significance of the practice, possible substitutes, and most importantly, the local knowledge and attitudes towards wildlife. This can help predict human behavior and send messages to the public that are designed to resonate with the different cultures around the world.
However, the wildlife trade isn’t only a problem overseas. The United States is the number two consumer of ivory in the world, and bear bile is still a relevant part of many cultural groups within our country. So, what can we do at a local level? Mr. O’Connor said that with the growth of social media, one thing we can do is spread awareness. By sharing videos and photos of bear farms and other practices we can become a part of the conservation effort. Another thing we can do is to be aware of what we are buying, especially when travelling to foreign countries. Ivory and other animal products are common materials used to allure consumers, and we can’t always be sure what we are purchasing. One way to alert people about illegal activity while traveling is through the app Wildlife Witness. The app reports the sighting to local authorities, who deal with the issue.
In addition to the work being done in Southeast Asia, Mr. O’Connor has also researched giraffes in Kenya. Giraffes are now extinct in seven African countries. Additionally, in the past fifteen years, giraffes have seen a 40% decline in their populations. In one particular species, the reticulated giraffe, numbers have declined almost 70% since 1998. One main cause of this phenomenon is deforestation and habitat loss- when giraffes are forced to live in smaller areas, the vegetation is overgrazed and the layer of topsoil is swept away in the rain, leaving desert-like plains. Another cause of population decline is hunting; hunters use neck snares to trap giraffes. One reason for hunting is, again, medicine. There is a cultural belief that giraffe bone marrow and brain provide resistance against HIV and AIDS.
What is being done in the San Diego area to help giraffes? San Diego Zoo has a number of educational outreach programs, including one involving local middle schoolers. To understand how David and his team collect data, students track giraffes themselves through a simulation. This allows students to not only understand giraffe migrations, but learn about the tracking technology available and about collecting data. By understanding how our actions impact animals, people may be more likely to take small steps toward conservation in their daily lives. After all, humans caused this massive change on the Earth’s surface, and it will undoubtedly be up to us to reverse our mistakes.
Casey, Real World
Week Four, Fall Session 2016
