There’s nothing like a day at the zoo. Spending the day strolling through lush landscapes, experiencing amazing wildlife, and relaxing with loved ones makes the perfect setting for creating fun memories to last a lifetime.
And while guests experience a day full of discovery and enjoyment, several hundred people work quietly behind the scenes, busily putting their passion for wildlife into daily practice. They rise early, put on a durable uniform, and get ready to roll up their sleeves for whatever the day might hold. They are wildlife care specialists. And their jobs are a bit different than you might think.
Wildlife care specialists care for a milky stork chick at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park’s Bird Breeding Center.
“Being a wildlife care specialist is more than just cleaning up after and feeding the wildlife you care for,” said Michelle Gizowski, Lead Wildlife Care Specialist for the San Diego Zoo Safari Park’s Village Team. “It is a very physically demanding and mentally challenging job. It requires lifting heavy objects, walking long distances and working heavy machinery, to name a few. We have to do a lot of out-of-the-box thinking.” It takes an incredible amount of teamwork and coordination to care for about 3,000 individuals at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, requiring constant communication about daily needs and changes. Once the day starts it’s “all gas and no brakes” said Michelle. Wildlife care specialists not only coordinate with each other, they also collaboratively work with teams from horticulture, buildings and grounds, construction management, nutrition, and veterinary services, to name a few.
Caring for the varied and ever-changing needs of wildlife is a big responsibility. Wildlife care specialists rely on keen observation skills and specialized knowledge to regularly assess the physical and mental wellbeing of every individual they care for. “As a wildlife care specialist, we are their voices and support to ensure the individual and species as a whole is set up for success,” said Michelle. “Our observational skills are important because the wellbeing of wildlife depends on it.”
A wildlife care specialist observes a red panda at the San Diego Zoo.
For Senior Wildlife Care Specialist Lauren Cook, who works for the San Diego Zoo Safari Park’s Bird Department, it’s especially critical to keep an extra close eye on each individual bird during the spring and summer. “During breeding season we are always on the lookout for any breeding behaviors and also watching birds with eggs or chicks and keeping track of when eggs are due to hatch or chicks are due to fledge,” Lauren said. She also helps ensure that breeding birds have the right kind of nesting material available, and can offer artificial incubation. Currently, Lauren cares for two pairs of White Storks who have raised four chicks this year, and is assisting a pair of Abyssinian Ground Hornbills with incubation.
An Abyssinian Ground Hornbill scans the San Diego Zoo Safari Park’s African Outpost.
“I am most proud of the conservation work that we do and getting to be a part of that,” Lauren said. “A few years ago, I was able to go to Africa to spend time helping one of our conservation partners, Vulpro. They are an organization focused on saving African vultures. Getting to actually work in the field with one of our conservation partners was incredible and really did make me feel lucky and proud.”
Avian Recovery Specialist Rosemary Rice also cares for breeding birds, yet in a unique setting. As a member of San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance’s Hawaii Endangered Bird Conservation Program at the Keauhou Bird Conservation Center on Hawai‘i Island, Rosemary cares for native Hawaiian birds on the brink of extinction or already considered extinct in the wild. By helping breeding pairs of Hawaiian honeycreepers and ‘alalā raise chicks and prepare them for reintroduction into native forests, her work offers hope that their populations will once again thrive in Hawaii. “My favorite part of this role is having a non-traditional impact in wildlife care and conservation management” she said. “I get the privilege, and have the kuleana, of seeing and handling these special, culturally significant birds in such a direct and personal way. I also really enjoy working with the forest and being a steward to the native ecosystems and habitats.”
Two young ‘Alalā—critically endangered Hawaiian crows—take in their new surroundings after a successful transition from the Hawai‘i Endangered Bird Conservation Program into the Pu‘u Maka‘ala Natural Area Reserve on the Big Island of Hawai‘i.
Whether at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, one of our conservation centers, at partner sites, or at the San Diego Zoo, our wildlife care specialists each make a difference for wildlife. They also universally share one important trait—passion. “I knew from a young age I wanted to work with animals, but as I grew up and came to understand the realities of our world and the threats that wildlife face—I knew I had to get involved,” said Chris Torres, Senior Wildlife Care Specialist for the Sun Bear Forest team at the San Diego Zoo. “While I might not be able to save the world or an entire species on any given day, I can walk away knowing I made a difference in that animal’s life today,” he said.
The passion wildlife care specialists have for wildlife not only drives them to succeed in dynamic, strenuous roles, it also helps them inspire others. “As educators, we share our expertise through formal and informal presentations on species in our care including the organization’s conservation efforts to protect them,” Chris said. “We emphasize the role of leading zoos in supporting species conservation and encourage guests to contribute to these efforts. Educating the public through skilled presentations is a vital aspect of our role.”
Wildlife care specialists educate and inspire guests from all around the world to become allies for wildlife.
Conservation is about people, and our incredible teams of wildlife care specialists inspire us, and our guests, every day. Their ability to adapt to ever-changing circumstances, and to demonstrate resilience in the face of physical, mental, and emotional challenges impacts both the people and wildlife around them for the better. There’s no doubt, that when it comes to caring for wildlife, our wildlife care specialists are all in. “This work is critical,” said Chris. “And while wildlife are here in our care, we are going to do everything we can to offer them the best quality of life possible.”
Nearly five hundred wildlife care specialists contribute to our teams at the San Diego Zoo, San Diego Zoo Safari Park, and through our global field stations. Discover more about what it’s like to be a wildlife care specialist for San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance here.
