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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!
Interns were lucky enough to meet with Christopher Tubbs, a Scientist in the Reproductive Physiology Division at the San Diego Zoo. Dr. Tubbs works to solve challenges in animal reproduction. Did you know that there are many chemicals in the environment that can actually affect animal’s ability to reproduce? This is particularly concerning when we are talking about endangered animals.
So, what does it mean when we say that an animal is endangered? It means that the number of animals in a particular species is shrinking and could potentially go away forever (become extinct). Can you believe that there are more than 16,000 endangered species in the world today? There is only one way to make endangered species stable again, and that is by making more of them. Though we wish we could snap our fingers and make hundreds of healthy baby animals appear, we can't. Instead, people like Dr. Tubbs go to work to improve the reproduction process of endangered animals.
Now, how does Dr. Tubbs put his work into action? Well, it's not a very simple process. It’s sort of like a “poop puzzle.” Yes, poop. In Dr. Tubbs’ world, he doesn't let “waste” go to waste. In fact, the interns learned that poop is actually quite valuable! Though it may seem gross, there are many helpful elements hidden to the naked eye within animal waste. Studying animal waste is one way for Dr. Tubbs to collect, read, and analyze the different chemicals in an animal’s body. Sometimes these chemicals are from the animal’s diet and sometimes it’s from their environment. Knowing about potentially harmful chemicals in an animal’s body can actually help Dr. Tubbs know how to create a solution to fix it.
It may seem crazy that chemicals in an animal’s diet can negatively impact an animal’s reproductive process. Dr. Tubbs has been involved in a project with white rhinos that proves there is a direct link between the two. White rhinos are a critically endangered species, and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park is heavily involved in the species’ reproduction efforts. There has been over 90 calves born at the Safari Park, but females born at the institution have had little success with reproduction. Dr. Tubbs and his colleagues discovered specific chemicals believed to be negatively affecting the animal’s reproductive health. How did they find these chemicals? White rhino poop! A change in the rhino’s diet, and guess what happened next? Three baby white rhinos were born! Who knew waste could be so helpful? IF you would like to read more about the white rhino’s, check out this link: https://zoonooz.sandiegozoo.org/2016/04/06/three-day-old-southern-white-rhino-relaxes-with-mother/
Interactive Game: “Who Dung It?”
Objective: With all this talk about the purpose of poop in science, we’re putting your “dung” knowledge to the test! Review the animal waste below. Use the clues provided to help you guess what form of waste belongs to what animal. The clues represent a general diet for each animal.
Animal Waste Clues:
Elephant: grasses, small plants, bushes, fruit, twigs, tree bark, and roots.
White Rhino: grass, small plants.
Panda: leaves, bamboo shoots, flowers, vines, grass.
Giraffe: leaves and twigs of acacia, mimosa, and wild apricot trees.
Koala: eucalyptus leaves.
Directions: Now that you know what each animal eats, guess which poop photo goes with each animal photo. Once you've finished, you can check your answers (on the bottom left corner). Good luck!
Chloe, Kids Corner Team
Winter Session 2017
Interns were lucky enough to meet with Christopher Tubbs, a Scientist in the Reproductive Physiology Division at the San Diego Zoo. Dr. Tubbs works to solve challenges in animal reproduction. Did you know that there are many chemicals in the environment that can actually affect animal’s ability to reproduce? This is particularly concerning when we are talking about endangered animals.
So, what does it mean when we say that an animal is endangered? It means that the number of animals in a particular species is shrinking and could potentially go away forever (become extinct). Can you believe that there are more than 16,000 endangered species in the world today? There is only one way to make endangered species stable again, and that is by making more of them. Though we wish we could snap our fingers and make hundreds of healthy baby animals appear, we can't. Instead, people like Dr. Tubbs go to work to improve the reproduction process of endangered animals.
Now, how does Dr. Tubbs put his work into action? Well, it's not a very simple process. It’s sort of like a “poop puzzle.” Yes, poop. In Dr. Tubbs’ world, he doesn't let “waste” go to waste. In fact, the interns learned that poop is actually quite valuable! Though it may seem gross, there are many helpful elements hidden to the naked eye within animal waste. Studying animal waste is one way for Dr. Tubbs to collect, read, and analyze the different chemicals in an animal’s body. Sometimes these chemicals are from the animal’s diet and sometimes it’s from their environment. Knowing about potentially harmful chemicals in an animal’s body can actually help Dr. Tubbs know how to create a solution to fix it.
It may seem crazy that chemicals in an animal’s diet can negatively impact an animal’s reproductive process. Dr. Tubbs has been involved in a project with white rhinos that proves there is a direct link between the two. White rhinos are a critically endangered species, and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park is heavily involved in the species’ reproduction efforts. There has been over 90 calves born at the Safari Park, but females born at the institution have had little success with reproduction. Dr. Tubbs and his colleagues discovered specific chemicals believed to be negatively affecting the animal’s reproductive health. How did they find these chemicals? White rhino poop! A change in the rhino’s diet, and guess what happened next? Three baby white rhinos were born! Who knew waste could be so helpful? IF you would like to read more about the white rhino’s, check out this link: https://zoonooz.sandiegozoo.org/2016/04/06/three-day-old-southern-white-rhino-relaxes-with-mother/
Interactive Game: “Who Dung It?”
Objective: With all this talk about the purpose of poop in science, we’re putting your “dung” knowledge to the test! Review the animal waste below. Use the clues provided to help you guess what form of waste belongs to what animal. The clues represent a general diet for each animal.
Animal Waste Clues:
Elephant: grasses, small plants, bushes, fruit, twigs, tree bark, and roots.
White Rhino: grass, small plants.
Panda: leaves, bamboo shoots, flowers, vines, grass.
Giraffe: leaves and twigs of acacia, mimosa, and wild apricot trees.
Koala: eucalyptus leaves.
Directions: Now that you know what each animal eats, guess which poop photo goes with each animal photo. Once you've finished, you can check your answers (on the bottom left corner). Good luck!
Chloe, Kids Corner Team
Winter Session 2017
