So Long, Sable Antelope!
Posted at 12:02 pm August 31, 2007 by Blair Roberts
Twelve weeks of summer flew by quickly and now I am writing to say goodbye to the Wild Animal Park and my summer internship there. I had a wonderful time carrying out my research project on the space use of the ungulates in the East Africa exhibit and feel that I have developed as a researcher in ways that will enable me to pursue a meaningful career in wildlife conservation. I also got to hone my public speaking skills by presenting my project multiple times to the staff and even the Zoological Society of San Diego’s Board of Trustees. The Zoo’s Undergraduate Summer Fellows program is a great way for aspiring researchers to get their hands dirty with some quality research experience!
As for my project, I have counted up the numbers, run the calculations, and discovered some interesting things about the animals of East Africa. First, the Zambian sable I wrote about in my last post (see Sable Antelope: Unwanted Roommates?) have fully settled into their new home. Although they had trouble negotiating the steep hills at first (their enclosure on Horn & Hoof Mesa at the San Diego Zoo was flat, and their hooves kept slipping out from under them on the grassy slopes at the Wild Animal Park!), they are now moving about the enclosure with ease. Their new roommates seem to be accepting them as well. There have been no major changes in space use by the original residents, with the exception of the waterbuck, which are spending most of their time in a different part of the enclosure than usual but seem to be doing okay despite their move.
The temperature data I collected showed that although the temperature in different parts of the enclosure varied (up to 9 degrees Fahrenheit at any one time), the average amount of variation was not sufficient to explain why animals use the areas they do. The animals’ decision about where to hang out seems to have more to do with the topographical features of the enclosure: giraffes like flat lands while Nile lechwe prefer hills and sitatunga stick to stream beds (as pictured above).
This fall I will return to Missouri to work as an intern at the Saint Louis Zoo until I (hopefully!) start a doctoral program in behavioral biology in the fall of 2008. I hope you have enjoyed reading about my summer experiences and have gained some insight into the inner world of the East African enclosure!
Blair Roberts is a Weedon Summer Student Fellow in the San Diego Zoo’s Behavioral Biology Division.
Listen to an iZoofari Chat with Blair as she talks about her studies.
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September 4th, 2007 at 12:59 pm
Blair, best wishes on your future endevours, it was a pleasure to read your blogs they were interesting and informative and I came to learn a few things or too and you have a sense of humor also, good luck
September 10th, 2007 at 6:50 am
Blair, I am glad you enjoyed your internship at SDZ. We’ve enjoyed reading about your experiences and you have helped us understand the world of animal research that goes on daily at SDZ and WAP. Happy to hear that you are headed down your chosen path of environmental conservation with more knowledge, honed research skills, and a heightened appreciation for the conservation of endangered animals and our global environment.
Best wishes in your future endeavors, especially for the next year at St Louis Zoo. What animals do they have there? I believe Gram is on his way to Kansas City zoo, which is not far from St. Louis. Maybe your paths will cross some day.