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!

At almost 4,000 lbs, Parvesh, the greater one-horned rhinoceros is still not considered an adult. In charge of his care is senior keeper Victoria Girdler, who cares for the rhino string at the San Diego Zoo. That includes animals like Parvesh, as well as the babirusas, a honey badger, and an assortment of Australian animals. Mrs. Girdler has been working with Parvesh for several months now, ever since he was transferred to the Zoo from the San Diego Zoo Safari Park where he was born. Parvesh is still settling in, but he was quick to grow attached to the keepers here. He is still getting used to being hand fed by keepers and guests, and Mrs. Girdler is continuing to train him to allow guests to touch him as well. Every morning, Mrs. Girdler begins her day with visual checks of all her animals, and gives them breakfast according to their specialized diets. Then she takes care of Parvesh, opening the door of his barn and making sure he has enrichment for the day. Like all animals at the Zoo, Parvesh has a variety of enrichment items including different toys and activities that keepers give him in order to bring out some of his natural behaviors.

Growing up, Mrs. Girdler developed a love for animals by caring for her dogs, cats, horses, birds, fish, and tortoises. From a young age, she knew she wanted to help others learn to appreciate and respect the animals she had a passion for protecting. Mrs. Girdler earned a degree in zoology at Colorado State University (CSU). During her time at CSU, she studied abroad for six months in Tanzania to study their native species. Since then, she's had a passion for world travel and experiencing new cultures. Before working for the San Diego Zoo, Mrs. Girdler gained experience and knowledge through a variety of internships, volunteer opportunities, and jobs with other zoos around the country. She has worked on a horse farm, helped with rhino conservation fundraising, volunteered at a big cat rescue center, and founded Hoof Knives for Mahouts (supplying foot care tools to elephant caretakers in India). Mrs. Girdler has worked at the Oklahoma Zoo, the Houston Zoo, and has been an intern at Walt Disney World, where she had the opportunity to train dolphins. Her understanding of a diverse group of animals has allowed her to value every species, cherishing their unique quirks and personalities. 

Mrs. Girdler followed her passion and she invites everyone to do the same. She says that being an animal keeper is a hard job but the close bonds made with every creature are worth all the stress and the time. Mrs. Girdler’s best advice to those wanting to pursue a career in animal keeping is to simply be around animals and do your own research. This can be done through charity work, internships like ones at the San Diego Zoo, or even through volunteering at local shelters and rescue centers. Aside from being observant, staying calm, and having the ability to think out of the box, one has to be determined and passionate about their job. Don’t let the fear of the unknown stop you from pursuing something new, says Mrs. Girdler. She believes that you have to be willing to take the opportunities given to you and make sacrifices in order to make them a reality.

Arguably one of the most handsome animals that Mrs. Girdler has had the opportunity to work with is Parvesh, the greater one-horned rhino. These mammals are also known as Indian rhinos and great Indian rhinos, despite being found in Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan, and India. Greater one-horned rhinos are semi-aquatic, allowing them to swim through water in order to cool down and occasionally to feed on aquatic plants. They are also known to eat grasses, leaves, and fruits. Unlike other rhino species, the greater one-horned is a mainly solitary species, as they are not herd animals, nor are they territorial. Mating is sparse and the gestation period for a female is between 15-16 months, which is an additional challenge to repopulation. These rhinos are listed as Vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List. Although the species is currently not at critically low numbers, if efforts are not made to preserve this animal, then it will continue to make a steady decline.

The two greatest threats facing rhinos like Parvesh include poaching and habitat fragmentation. Rhino horns have been poached due to a false belief they have mystical or medicinal powers, but they are made from the same material as our hair and fingernails: keratin. Overdevelopment and urban expansion are causing  habitat fragmentation, meaning their habitat begins to shrink and is interrupted by human settlements. This makes it more difficult for greater one-horned rhinos to reproduce and maintain genetic diversity as they cannot mix with rhinos across an urban area. Fortunately, there are many ways we can help the greater one-horned rhino! You can donate to rhino conservation agencies like San Diego Zoo Global’s Wildlife Conservancy, participate in conservation fundraisers such as auctions or Bowling for Rhinos. You can also participate in ecotourism, where tourists stay at and support businesses with an emphasis on conservation. Try to live a sustainable lifestyle: make sure to recycle, produce little waste, support your local businesses and products, and buy in bulk or buy goods with less plastic. The most valuable thing you can do is make an effort, because a little goes a long way.

Mrs. Girdler’s favorite aspect of her job is interacting with the animals and making sure each one is comfortable and happy. She loves to see how the little things that she does in her work every day, such as making a mud wallow, can have such a positive impact on the animals. Most recently, she enjoys the desensitization training she is doing with Parvesh, getting him accustomed to guest interaction. Aside from working with rhinos, Mrs. Girdler has also done work with elephants. One of her favorite projects was nursing two sick elephants back to health. It was extremely rewarding for her to see the elephants improve, and they now live at the Los Angeles Zoo. 

Mrs. Girdler showed us how real a connection can be between keeper and animal. It is a relationship that is intimate and unique––something most never get a chance to experience. She knows that each individual creature she gets to work with has their own preferences and personalities. Her close work with rhinos shows how important it is to have someone who is able to facilitate the creation of a connection between an animal and the public. It inspires strangers to want to make a change and to want to learn about the species around them.

Week Three
Fall Session 2019