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.

When Corinne Pisacane gets home from work, she truly can say that she is pooped out! Mrs. Pisacane works at the Wild Animal Park in the field of endocrinology, which is the study of hormones. Studies in human endocrinology are quite common, but the techniques and parameters for studying hormones in other species are not so well established. Most commonly, Mrs. Pisacane uses feces and urine from animals to examine levels of reproductive hormones in the body for mating purposes or as a warning of potential health issues.

Documenting levels of reproductive hormones, such as estrogen and testosterone, is important for helping animal keepers implement the best breeding methods for successful reproduction. During an animal’s pregnancy, Mrs. Pisacane can continue to document the hormones to ensure that the animal has a successful birth. For some animals, gestation periods are only a few weeks long, however, for other animals such as African elephants, pregnancies last up to 24 months. Can you imagine toting around that baby for two years?!

Mrs. Pisacane’s mission is ultimately to help conserve animals. With all of the many issues facing species in the wild, she works to keep animals alive and well not only at the Wild Animal Park, but in the wild as well. A few of the ways you can help with the success of Mrs. Pisacane’s research is to volunteer your time cleaning up trash and preventing pollution, planting trees, donating money to conservation efforts, and just all around living green.

Eric, Real World Team

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