Zoo InternQuest is a career exploration program for high school students. For more information see the Zoo InternQuest Journals. For more photos see the Zoo InternQuest Photo Journal.

The time is flying by so fast, and we are learning so incredibly much every day! This week, we took a behind the scenes tour of the Reptile House at the San Diego Zoo, courtesy of Todd Schmidt, a senior reptile keeper and herpetologist at the Zoo. There are four different corridors of exhibits, some kept at a higher temperature or humidity depending on the species housed there. Mr. Schmidt introduced us to a variety of different species, including a baby annulated python, several Fijian iguanas, a grouchy sidewinder, and an even grouchier alligator snapping turtle.

The Fijian iguanas are startlingly beautiful. They are bright shades of blue-green, and they almost pose for people walking by. These animals unfortunately are extremely endangered, and the ones at the Zoo have been loaned to them by the Fijian government! The Fijian government knew about the Zoo’s excellent reputation for breeding endangered species in captivity and there are so few of these animals left in their natural habitat. Collaborative conservation efforts with other countries can sometimes be difficult. There are certain laws and rules pertaining to the types of things that the San Diego Zoo can do, but they have been successful nonetheless, so far breeding over 100 individuals from the original 12.

Another critically endangered animal we saw was the Panamanian golden frog. These animals, like many amphibians, are considered indicator species. This means that whenever there are toxins or other harmful things in the environment, these animals show it first. This is because the golden frog’s skin is semi-permeable. Water and the toxins that can come with it can directly penetrate the skin and enter the body, causing harm to the animal. Many golden frogs have died because of a fungus, called the Chytrid fungus. It has spread rapidly through Central America, killing many of these striking black and yellow frogs, and driving to extinction some other brightly colored species of frogs. The conservation of the species is now a high priority for the San Diego Zoo.

Wendy, Conservation Team

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