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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!
This week, interns had the incredible opportunity to meet Peter Gilson, a reptile keeper who has been working at the San Diego Zoo for ten years. We were able to venture behind the scenes of various reptile and amphibian exhibits to learn more about these incredible animals. Being able to interact with the largest species of tortoise, also known as the Galapagos tortoise, was an incredible and unique experience like no other.
Mr. Gilson truly has an incredible job! His work begins early so that he and the rest of the reptile team can check on all the reptiles and amphibians in their care. After the morning check ups are completed, Mr. Gilson and his co-workers perform various maintenance duties and animal feedings. Medications are also administered during this time. Keepers will also meet with veterinarians to make sure all the animals are healthy and doing well. Reptile keepers have to keep tabs on all the animals they are in charge of, which means being able to tell apart one individual from another. This can be a very daunting task when one is in charge of dozens of tree frogs that all look identical!
Peter Gilson first introduced us to the Galapagos Tortoises, who can live to be as old as 175-200! The male tortoises specifically like to have their necks gently rubbed, while the females were a bit shyer with strangers. The female tortoises were also significantly smaller than the males, which is common in many animal species. All the tortoises have numbers painted on their shells so their keepers can tell them apart and keep tabs on each individual's health and well being. Mr. Gilson informed the interns that the tortoises are very attracted to bright colors, and may even try to eat anything of this nature. This is because tortoises love to eat flowers, so anything with bright colors such as red, pink, orange, or yellow immediately become enticing.
After meeting the Galapagos Tortoises, the interns were taken behind the scenes of the amphibian exhibits. The room was super damp/humid and smelled like, well, a rainforest! Mr. Gilson told us that it is very important for keepers to have an understanding of the ecology and toxicology of the environments that these fragile organisms call home. This helps keepers best care for the animals they are in charge of and create a display that replicates the animal's’ natural environment. After exiting the amphibian building, Mr. Gilson informed us of a deadly fungus that has been diminishing certain frog populations all over the world; even in San Diego County. Chytrid fungus is a fungus that typically breaks down wood but one type has evolved to enter amphibian skin through the pores of frogs. The fungus causes amphibians skin to be extremely tough, which can be lethal because amphibians acquire oxygen and water through their skin rather than mouths. If you own any amphibian, some ways to keep chytrid fungus out of their exhibit would be: put any new animals in quarantine before putting them in the exhibit, practice good hygiene, maintain barriers between exhibits, and dispose of animal waste as soon as possible.
The interns last stop with Mr. Gilson was at the famous reptile house. Mr. Gilson showed us how keepers are able to differentiate venomous and non-venomous snakes, as well as how they are able to handle venomous species during emergencies. It is important to have anti-venom available for each and every venomous species housed at the Zoo to ensure employee safety. Other than snakes, there are a variety of lizards and turtles that reside at the reptile house, both on exhibit and behind the scenes. Every single individual animal must be accounted for, no matter how large or small. Reptile keepers definitely go to great lengths to ensure the health and well being of their animals!
Anyone can make a difference in conserving amphibians in San Diego. It is extremely important to not use pesticides, since these harmful chemicals undergo little to no testing on amphibians. Also, pesticides and other herbicides usually end up in waterways, which is where most amphibians live. To make matters worse, amphibian skin is very absorbent, so the pesticides will become absorbed into the animals’ bodies. Invasive species of frogs are also detrimental to native frog populations, so never release a pet frog into the wild! Invasive species can spread diseases and compete with native populations for an already limited food source. Recycling and picking up trash will also help local populations of amphibians, as well many other animals.
Sarah, Real World Team
Week One, Winter Session 2017
This week, interns had the incredible opportunity to meet Peter Gilson, a reptile keeper who has been working at the San Diego Zoo for ten years. We were able to venture behind the scenes of various reptile and amphibian exhibits to learn more about these incredible animals. Being able to interact with the largest species of tortoise, also known as the Galapagos tortoise, was an incredible and unique experience like no other.
Mr. Gilson truly has an incredible job! His work begins early so that he and the rest of the reptile team can check on all the reptiles and amphibians in their care. After the morning check ups are completed, Mr. Gilson and his co-workers perform various maintenance duties and animal feedings. Medications are also administered during this time. Keepers will also meet with veterinarians to make sure all the animals are healthy and doing well. Reptile keepers have to keep tabs on all the animals they are in charge of, which means being able to tell apart one individual from another. This can be a very daunting task when one is in charge of dozens of tree frogs that all look identical!
Peter Gilson first introduced us to the Galapagos Tortoises, who can live to be as old as 175-200! The male tortoises specifically like to have their necks gently rubbed, while the females were a bit shyer with strangers. The female tortoises were also significantly smaller than the males, which is common in many animal species. All the tortoises have numbers painted on their shells so their keepers can tell them apart and keep tabs on each individual's health and well being. Mr. Gilson informed the interns that the tortoises are very attracted to bright colors, and may even try to eat anything of this nature. This is because tortoises love to eat flowers, so anything with bright colors such as red, pink, orange, or yellow immediately become enticing.
After meeting the Galapagos Tortoises, the interns were taken behind the scenes of the amphibian exhibits. The room was super damp/humid and smelled like, well, a rainforest! Mr. Gilson told us that it is very important for keepers to have an understanding of the ecology and toxicology of the environments that these fragile organisms call home. This helps keepers best care for the animals they are in charge of and create a display that replicates the animal's’ natural environment. After exiting the amphibian building, Mr. Gilson informed us of a deadly fungus that has been diminishing certain frog populations all over the world; even in San Diego County. Chytrid fungus is a fungus that typically breaks down wood but one type has evolved to enter amphibian skin through the pores of frogs. The fungus causes amphibians skin to be extremely tough, which can be lethal because amphibians acquire oxygen and water through their skin rather than mouths. If you own any amphibian, some ways to keep chytrid fungus out of their exhibit would be: put any new animals in quarantine before putting them in the exhibit, practice good hygiene, maintain barriers between exhibits, and dispose of animal waste as soon as possible.
The interns last stop with Mr. Gilson was at the famous reptile house. Mr. Gilson showed us how keepers are able to differentiate venomous and non-venomous snakes, as well as how they are able to handle venomous species during emergencies. It is important to have anti-venom available for each and every venomous species housed at the Zoo to ensure employee safety. Other than snakes, there are a variety of lizards and turtles that reside at the reptile house, both on exhibit and behind the scenes. Every single individual animal must be accounted for, no matter how large or small. Reptile keepers definitely go to great lengths to ensure the health and well being of their animals!
Anyone can make a difference in conserving amphibians in San Diego. It is extremely important to not use pesticides, since these harmful chemicals undergo little to no testing on amphibians. Also, pesticides and other herbicides usually end up in waterways, which is where most amphibians live. To make matters worse, amphibian skin is very absorbent, so the pesticides will become absorbed into the animals’ bodies. Invasive species of frogs are also detrimental to native frog populations, so never release a pet frog into the wild! Invasive species can spread diseases and compete with native populations for an already limited food source. Recycling and picking up trash will also help local populations of amphibians, as well many other animals.
Sarah, Real World Team
Week One, Winter Session 2017
