” Eeeeeew!” seemed to be the general consensus when the Girls In Science participants learned they were heading up to the Pathology Department for this week’s Zoo visit, but opinions had definitely changed by the time we finished up!

We learned that ” pathology” means ” the study of disease” and involves the nature, processes, and consequences of any given infirmity. Every animal that dies at the Zoo or the Wild Animal Park comes to the Pathology Department for necropsy, which is a post-mortem exam similar to an autopsy. Even if an animal doesn’t belong to our collection, but is found dead on grounds (like a sparrow, duck, or squirrel), it is still examined to make sure it isn’t carrying a disease that might affect the collection. Approximately 1,800 necropsies are done each year, averaging about five each day.
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Wha–?! Let me rephrase: the Girls In Science students were introduced to the Zoo’s Geographic Information System mapping project this week by intern Jeannine Carlin.
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The San Diego Zoo’s Girls In Science program started its spring semester with a behind-the-scenes visit to see giraffes!
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The San Diego Zoo’s Girls In Science just returned from a weekend camping trip up to San Onofre State Beach!

We arrived at our campsite on Saturday morning, set up camp, ate an early lunch, then hiked out to the world-famous surfing break known as Trestles. We sat down in the shade right underneath the main railroad trestle and spent some time talking about art. Andy Goldsworthy is a sculptor who uses natural items to build beautiful works of art, which he then lets nature slowly tear apart. |inline

This week, the Girls In Science met with the Zoo’s resident entomologist, Paige Howorth, and spent some quality time getting to know some of our six- and eight-legged friends!

We met up with Paige outside of the Children’s Zoo’s ” Bugtown–The Itty Bitty City,” where we spent a little time perusing the enclosures, getting a feel for what we might be in for later. Some of the girls were squeamish, but all were fascinated by the critters on display. Paige brought out a few for us to meet and touch.
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The San Diego Zoo’s Girls In Science visited Wegeforth Bowl this past week and met with a couple of very handsome California sea lions named Jake and Nelson. (Oh yeah, and trainers Carlee Westbrook and Sherri Taul, too!)
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It is very easy to forget that we as people are animals–primates very closely related to the gorillas, orangutans, bonobos, and chimpanzees. But this past week, the Girls In Science met with keeper Yvette Kemp to learn about visual communication from the primates in Monkey Trails, and a little about themselves in the process!
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This week was the Girls In Science (GIS) program’s first ” classroom session.” This is the time when we look at the information we have gathered, process it, and document it.
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Girls In Science (GIS) met with keeper Kim Lovich this week for a behind-the-scenes look into the duties and amazing environment of a reptile keeper!
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The Girls In Science (GIS) crew’s introductory visit to the Zoo happened this past week! We had planned for a behind-the-scenes visit with Mongo and Amu, the Zoo’s Bactrian camels, but the neighboring guanacos had a surprise planned for us”¦a new baby!

Members of the family Camelidae are naturally found on three different continents. Dromedary, or one-humped camels, are African. Bactrian, or two-humped camels, are Asian. |inline