I hope you were able to visit the San Diego Zoo January 16 through 19. If not, boy did you miss a good time! It was the Zoo’s first Discovery Days celebrating koalas with Koalapalooza (see blog, Koalapalooza: A Joey Is Named). Discovery Days events are a great new way for people to learn more about a targeted species.
During these times, keepers and researchers will share information about the species being featured and show some of the things we are doing to help save them and their habitats. And keepers from all around the Zoo share information about some of the animals they work with during an extended All About Enrichment weekend. Discovery Days are also a great time for the public to learn what they can do to help wildlife.
Horticulture staff explained the differences between eucalyptus species, the mainstay of a koala's diet.
During Koalapalooza, the Collection Health Department, which consists of veterinary services, nutrition, and wildlife disease laboratories, participated by having a booth where guests could speak with veterinarians, vet technicians, hospital keepers, nutritionists, and hospital administration. We had posters and information describing what we do, medical procedures playing on the computer and TV, digital images of some of the medical cases from the Zoo, plush animal bandaging, a vet truck demo, and remote drug delivery presentations.
A Zoo vet shows some of the equipment found on the specially equipped vet truck to Zoo visitors during Koalapalooza.
Collection health is an area of the Zoo that is seldom seen by the public. Most people don’t know that there are seven full-time veterinarians and six full-time vet technicians who are in charge of looking after the vast animal collection here at the Zoo. Plus, there are five hospital keepers, lab personnel, and all the hospital support staff that it takes to make things run smoothly.
I know we all had a great time at the booth and we are looking forward to Bear Bonanza, March 19 to 22. So if you didn’t make it to Koalapalooza, be sure to mark your calendar. Bear Bonanza will be here before you know it and we already have exciting plans for that. Be sure to look for us!
Yvette Kemp is a senior hospital keeper at the San Diego Zoo.
Read Yvette’s previous blog, Deiriai the Swamp Monkey
Your Koalapalooza looks like it was so much fun. How did you get the Koalas to stay awake? I think the name ‘Sooky’ that has been given to the baby Koala is lovely.
Thanks Yvete. It sounds like a very educational and fun event for everyone. I wish I could travel from VA for the Bear event in March, but afraid that will have to wait until I get employed again.
Keep us posted on our beloved animals and their many keepers and dedicated staff.
I wish I lived anywhere close to San Diego because your special events are so enticing. It would be interesting and a lot of fun to learn so much about koalas. I love the photos of the bears that you posted in the “What’s New” section to highlight the upcoming Bearnanza. (Well, it’s Bear Bonanza but my brain keeps thinking “Bearnanza.” Maybe you could temporarily rename the pandas’ exhibit the “Pandarosa” for the special event.
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I also wish I could enjoy your Valentine’s activities, as I also enjoyed the lovey dovey photos of your animals in “What’s New”. Maybe they’re just taking a friendly sniff of each other, but at this time of the year it’s fun to think of them smooching.
My daughter and I saw Sooky and we love her so much. She is very cute!!
We will come back and visit her soon!