On our first day exploring the San Diego Zoo as official interns, we were lead by Rachelle Marcon. An educator and guide at the zoo, she was able to tell us many exciting and fun facts about the animals we saw.

One of the most adaptable animals we saw was the koala. Imagine eating eucalyptus bows everyday, having to use your keen sense of smell to determine the least toxic (yes, your favorite and only food is toxic), and still getting 18-20 hours of sleep everyday!

Even though this koala looks like a newborn, it was actually born six months ago and was the size of a jelly bean!

We learned that koalas have two thumbs on their front paw for better climbing and grasping abilities.

Amu, the camel, is living happily with three other Bactrian camels: Mongo (pictured), the male of the herd, and the other two females, Heidi and Mouse. Their humps are used for storing fats for cold their homeland Mongolian winters. The Bactrian camels are also known for their thick and shaggy winter coats, which they are currently sporting.

Rachelle Marcon, our guide, led us to the koala “barn,” where the koalas were surprisingly active (likely due to the fact that it was nearing sundown, and most animals appear to be active around this time). However, despite their apparent playfulness, Rachelle informed us that koalas are not cuddly, and in fact are as good-tempered as an angry Gila monster. Koalas are the only animals that have adapted to eating eucalyptus, which secretes a deadly poison koalas must become immune to before partaking of their first solid meal. Yet, this does not mean every eucalyptus tree is an open buffet for the koala: the trees vary in toxicity according to the soil, climate, and general genetics of the tree, and thus can sometimes be too deadly for the most determined koalas. In fact, this is a reason one does not see colonies of koalas gallivanting around Southern California, despite our many groves of eucalyptus trees. Rachelle had asked an acquaintance in the horticulture department why this was so, and they explained that due to soil condition and climate the Southern California trees, although they were imported from Australia, are too poisonous for the koala. Another reason koalas are not seen in every Californian backyard are that in Australia koalas act as intrinsic members of their food webs. If koalas are removed, the natural economy will be affected. The natural economy is the amount of resources and minerals circulating through a system, and if these resources and minerals are depleted or bolstered, the human environment will suffer as a result.

On the subject (or at least mildly close to the subject) of trees, I learned something surprising: the San Diego Zoo, although renowned for its varied and massive collection of animals from every corner of the world, has an equally precious collection of plants. The Zoo also boasts an extensive collection of cycads, which are intriguing in that they are found on every continent but Antarctica and have distinctive male and female characteristics. As cycads seem to be somewhat closer in ancestry to humans than most plants due to the cycads’ difference in sex, cycads may hold some clues to the origin of life and humans own divergence from the primeval soup. Or maybe not, but it’s fun to speculate. Too bad for female cycads that they don’t get to choose their mates but are at the mercy of the wind spreading the pollen around.

Liz, Real World Team

Educator guide Rachelle Marcon gave us an exciting behind-the-scenes tour of the koala barn to learn the importance of protecting these tree-hugging marsupials. I was surprised to find out how many koalas the zoo houses (they have the largest collection in any zoo outside of Australia), though relatively few koalas are displayed in the public exhibits. This is because much like people, each koala has a different temperament, and only some are hardy enough to endure the crowds that pass by each day. To me, this served as a reminder that the zoo is not an amusement park to gawk at rare animals, but rather a place to help animals. The more outgoing koalas get to appear publicly to captivate people’s attention, while the other koalas are involved in the zoo’s conservation efforts.

My second day of Zoo InternQuest was literally a walk in the park. Zoo educator guide, Rachelle Marcon, took us on a tour of the animals she interacts with on a daily basis. While visiting the koalas, Rachelle educated us on such things as their specialized environment, behavior, and eating habits. But the most intriguing fact was that the San Diego Zoo houses the largest collection of koalas in the world, outside of Australia of course! Koalas are endangered in the wild due to factors such as habitat destruction; therefore, the San Diego Zoo’s large group of koalas contributes to the preservation of the overall species.

Along our tour, we learned of other unique conservation efforts. One has to do with a special bird called the Guam rail. Native to the island of Guam, this species is now extinct in the wild, but scientists are looking to relocate it to neighboring islands. In the meantime, there is one specimen at the San Diego Zoo, and they must make sure it is paired up perfectly through managed breeding programs. Another species at the zoo in need of protection is the Koa tree. It is native to Hawaii and has been extensively logged in the wild. This is because Hawaiians use the trees to craft several objects, such as tables, bowls, and ukuleles. The tree is also threatened due to invasive wasps from Asia. The wasps lay their eggs on the leaves of the tree, causing a functional deformation that eventually leads to the death of tree. In order to preserve this endangered plant species, the San Diego Zoo is propagating a large colony at the Zoo’s Hawaiian Native Plant Garden.

Well, that’s it for this week. Check back next week for more exciting news on my adventures at the San Diego Zoo!

Caitlin, Conservation Team

 Rachelle Marcon fue nuestra guía que por lo cierto ella era maestra de primaria y me asombro como ella tiene una facilidad de saber todas estas cosas y explicarlas con una sencillez mientras esta con los animales. En el camino nos encontramos con un “Guam rail” o conocido como un rascón de Guam. Este pájaro esta extinguido en vida salvaje y solo existe en zoológicos y en sitios de conservación.

Mientras caminábamos nos paramos en la sección de las plantas Hawaianas y nos dijo que la colección más expansiva del zoológico no son los animales pero las plantas. Muchos más investigadores vienen a estudiar las plantas que los animales. Al fin llegamos con los koalas y descubrí que los koalas no toman nada de agua pero la obtienen de las hojas de eucalipto que por cierto son toxicas. Por cierto por normas los criadores tienen que cambiar el agua todos los dias aunque ellos no toman nada de ella. Quien lo hubiera pensado sacan agua de hojas toxicas, Rachelle nos explico que desarrollaron esto injiriendo un tipo de bacteria que tienen en su estomago. Pero para mí lo más impresionante fue que en las patas frontales tienen dos pulgares y en las inferiores tienen los dedos índices y anulares fusionados, se puede decir que siempre están saludando en Volcano como el señor Spock (Star Trek).

Luego nos dirigimos con los camellos y conocimos Amu un camello hembra de 13 años. Note que tenia los labios partidos y pregunte si nació mal. Rachelle nos explico que esto es normal, los camellos se desarrollaron así para recoger cosas del piso fácilmente al igual una extra capa en sus ojo para protegerse de las tormentas de arena y cerrar su nariz para que no entre nada de arena. También nos dijo que sus jorobas no tienen agua como la mayoría de las personas creen sino grasa y cartílago lo que tenemos en la nariz. Después de ver a los camellos le pregunte que necesitamos para poder trabajar en el zoológico como criador de animales y ella nos explico que al comienzo del zoológico personas podían trabajar al salir de la preparatoria, eso era buenos tiempos dijo tener 18 años y ser un criador de animales. Ahora es muy difícil hay mucha competencia y hay personas con carreras en biología y zoología.

Ya saben lo que dicen lo mejor hasta el final y así fue al fin del día fuimos dónde estaban los castores y monos y les puedo decir que estos eran unos juguetones. Estábamos mirando como los castores perseguían a los monos y estos jugaban y de repente se acercaron a una roca cerca del agua y empezaron a empujarla, después de un intento los castores tiraron la roca al agua y adivinen que estaba abajo, era el filtro del agua. Entre los castores y monos quitaron la tapadera, misión que les tomo algo de tiempo pero cuando lo sacaron se metieron y sacaron todo lo que estaba adentro y comenzaron a jugar. Fue lo mejor del día! Rachelle llamo a un criador para que viniera y arreglara lo que hicieron los castores. Esto son trabajos que un criador. No espera hacer pero para esto están.

From dense eucalyptus forests in Australia to icy Mongolian plains to the swamps of Western Africa, we were in for a whirlwind ride. Although our adventure never actually left Zoo grounds, we learned about conservation projects under way all over the world while being personally introduced to the animals that represent them. This tour was led by Rachelle Marcon, an educator guide here at the San Diego Zoo. Ms. Marcon has a busy schedule with several educational programs inside and outside of the Zoo, as well as VIP and behind-the-scenes tours that she leads. Today, we became the VIPs and got to see what it is like to be a guide at the San Diego Zoo.

Strolling down the pathway towards the koala exhibit, I was amazed at how many stories Ms. Marcon had to tell us. Within minutes of beginning the tour, I had already learned about the Hawaiian koa tree, a plant of great cultural value that is currently being destroyed by invasive wasps, and the efforts to breed the Guam rail, a bird that has become extinct in its native habitat. By learning about these efforts while simultaneously observing these endangered plants and animals in person, I felt personally impacted by their preservation. This is what Ms. Marcon’s job is really about; she uses animals as a means of connecting to the public and inspiring them to do their part for wildlife conservation.

You would think that a guide’s job would be fairly boring since they give the same tour every day. Our experience proved that assumption to be far from the truth. Zoo animals are always full of surprises, and Ms. Marcon was just as shocked and delighted as the rest of us when the otters managed to wreak havoc by breaking open the water filter in their enclosure. Plus, our experienced guide greeted most animals like old friends, and entertained us all by speaking to them in a Dr. Doolittle-like manner. Ms. Marcon bellows along with the koalas and swamp monkeys, and has even trained the kookaburra to make its famous call when she calls herself. There is no doubt about it, the zoo guides seem to have just as much fun meeting the animals as we do.

In addition to leading tours on Zoo grounds, Ms. Marcon also works for about ten different educational programs through which she teaches children of all ages about the importance of conservation. She often takes animal ambassadors to schools and uses them to engage the students and make a lasting impression. With extensive experience working with animals as well as teaching credentials and a history of interacting with young children, Ms. Marcon has found the perfect way to do what she loves. She gets to hang out with animals all day while at the same time spreading her infectious passion for wildlife preservation to the general public and to the generations of tomorrow.

Sara, Careers Team

Hi my name is William and I am a senior in high school as well as swimmer and football player here in San Diego. I have always been a “green fighter” always telling my friends to save energy and to do the less harm to our environment. Also I love to volunteer at the beach clean ups that my school organizes. I’m very in the animal conservation and their care and protection. I’m absolute against brutality toward animals. I have two dogs that I am very close. I used to have many kinds of dogs as well as a turtle, and many different types of fish. Also in my house in Mexico we used to have eighteen birds.

I want to study architecture, biology and landscaping to create green buildings. In these buildings I want to cause less harm to the environment. The buildings will have a small carbon footprint, use solar and wind energy, and recycle water. Green buildings can become part of their environment instead of tearing up habitat and replacing it with man-made structures. In this way, animals and plants are not chased out of their homes but can live along with humans.

I’m on the Careers Team so I will write about the different careers that you can do to help animals. And, as a bonus for you readers who know Spanish, I will write some of my Blogs in Spanish!

How would l spend my perfect day? In the wilderness of course! My name is Alicia and I’m junior from San Diego California. I love being part of the environment every second I get. Whether its outdoor sports like alpine skiing and rock-climbing or traveling to new cities in South America or Europe, I am always looking for adventure and connection to nature.

In my spare time I enjoy reading, painting and spending time at the San Diego Zoo. I have a passion for the arts, and I love to try and connect my art to natural elements like different colors and textures. But what I enjoy most is learning about the environment and how we can sustain it. For the past three years, I have been a part of Zoo Corps at the San Diego Zoo, communicating to the public about conservation and endangered species. My participation in Zoo Corps has solidified my interest in studying zoology and I am very excited for InternQuest because in my future, I want to study wildlife conservation and learn about animal behavior. I see InternQuest as a great opportunity for learning about these different topic areas as well as meet new people and gain experience.

I am on the Real World team so my blogs will make the connection between my zoo experiences with InternQuest and the global community.

On my trip to South Africa, I was able to meet two cheetahs!

Hi, my name is Callie and I am a senior in high school. I have two main passions: animals and volleyball. I have been volunteering at the San Diego Wild Animal Park in their Conservation Corps for the past 4 years. I am also the setter on my high school and club volleyball teams; I have been playing volleyball since I was 12 years old. When I am not doing those two activities, I prefer to spend my time closer to home. I spend nights curled up on the couch watching movies, enjoying books, and hanging out with my best friend and family.

My enthusiasm for animals has sent me to South Africa where I volunteered at a cheetah preserve, to Mexico where I released endangered turtles into the Pacific Ocean and swam with dolphins, and to my own back yard where I play with my two kittens. It is with this passion that I am excited to be involved with Zoo InternQuest and become better acquainted with the inner workings of the San Diego Zoo. I will be continuing my study of animals and biology at Amherst College as a freshman this fall.

I am on the Photography Team so follow our journey through Zoo InternQuest through the Photo Blog.

Me in Aspen, CO.

Hi, my name is Caitlin and I am a senior in high school in Carmel Valley/San Diego, California. I have always been a huge animal lover! In fact, this year I started a Friends of Animals club at my high school in order to spread awareness of animal cruelty and join other teens in advocating for animal well-being.

My favorite animal is the horse, and it has always been since I began riding at the age of six. I am now 18, and I still English horseback ride in the hunter/jumper divisions. Almost all the volunteer work I’ve done has involved horses in some way because I feel most comfortable around them. I used to volunteer in a therapeutic riding program, where I helped teach kids with disabilities how to ride. It was a very rewarding experience!

I now volunteer at the Equine Hospital at Helen Woodward Center, where I work with and help take care of horses with all types of conditions and health problems. I’ve even had the opportunity to assist with emergency situations. For example, I helped perform a bone scan on a horse who had some sort of unknown lameness and just last week, I watched a veterinarian stick a long camera down a horse’s nostril to its throat to examine a lump of hay that was stuck in its digestive tract and could have caused choking. I would love to become an equine veterinarian someday, because I think the work these vets do is fascinating! Of course, I would enjoy most work that involves caring for animals, so I am looking forward to exploring my career options at Zoo InternQuest and throughout college and life.

I am representing the Conservation Team; therefore, look for my comments on conservation efforts here at the San Diego Zoo!