Hand feeding rhinoceroses and giraffes – I don’t think we could have ended this internship in a more exciting way. On our last day at the San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park, we met with Michele Gaffney and Torrey Pillsbury, Senior Keepers of about 26 years; they took us to see some of the species they look after in the field enclosures up at the park. We all climbed into the back of the keeper truck and bumped along the dirt trails across the East Africa and Asian Plains enclosures. In Asian Plains, we stopped to hand feed a group of Indian rhinoceroses some juicy red apples, which are one of their favorite treats! The rhinos came right up to the truck and opened their large mouths as we tossed apple after apple onto their slobbery tongues. Later, we made our way over to East Africa, where we pulled right up to a few hungry giraffes. We also hand fed these tall giants, but their special treat was a bunch of acacia leaves, which they went crazy over. They were stretching their lengthy necks into the truck and sticking out their long, snake-like tongues in all attempts to grab the leaves out of the truck and out of our hands. I felt like I was on a safari – it was amazing!

Since this time of the year is breeding season, some of the female rhinos and giraffes had babies tagging along by their sides. This is very beneficial to the Indian rhinoceros population because in the wild, this species is endangered. The Indian rhinoceros was hunted relentlessly in the nineteenth and early twentieth century; in fact, by 1908 in Kaziranga, one of the rhino’s main ranges, the population had fallen to around 12 individuals. This precious species is illegally poached for its single horn, which some cultures in East Asia believe has healing and potency powers and therefore is used for certain oriental medicines. Also, habitat loss is another cause for their decline. Luckily, several conservation efforts are in effect, and as a result their population of only 100 in the year 1900 has increased to nearly 2,500 a century later. The Indian and Nepalese governments, along with various conservation organizations, have taken significant steps toward Indian rhinoceros conservation. Conservation efforts include the protection of a wild population of at least 2,000 rhinos in some six major sanctuaries, continued anti-poaching efforts, preservation of a captive population capable of long-term viability, and reduction in the demand for rhino products.

As for the giraffes, their species is not currently endangered, however, their numbers have decreased in the past century. One subspecies, the Ugandan giraffe, is in the most trouble; there are only about 445 of them left in the wild. One of the reasons why some of the giraffes have declined in population is that man has hunted these magnificent animals for their meat, hide, and long black tail hairs. Fortunately, many giraffes in the wild are kept safe in game parks and sanctuaries.

Caitlin, Conservation Team

Coming face to face with three curious giraffes, tossing apples to Indian rhinos, what a memorable way to complete our last InternQuest day at the San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park. Torrey Pillsbury and Michele Gaffney, Senior Keepers at the Park, led us through both the Asian Plains and East African areas of the expansive field exhibits. These two vast enclosures house a large number of species together to mimic the animals’ natural social setting. Ms. Pillsbury and Ms. Gaffney described their detailed routines during the day complete with counting the animals within herds, feeding the animals, and observing the groups for any signs of abnormal behavior. What an immense task with such large enclosures! To keep track of the animals in the field, Ms. Pillsbury and Ms. Gaffney use a specific counting system with ear notches along with specifically colored ear tags. Our experience was notably informative and entertaining, especially for close observations of rhinos and giraffes. This was particularly insightful for viewing different animal adaptations that enhance an individual’s food acquisition abilities. For instance, we quickly observed that rhinos have a prehensile lip after repeatedly tossing them apples. We also noted how advantageous a giraffe’s lengthy purple tongue is for ripping off acacia leaves, almost like a hand grasping a branch. These animals were not shy about asking for food, and we certainly got an up close and personal experience.

Ms. Pillsbury and Ms. Gaffney also pointed out the energetic Przewalski’s horses located in an exhibit adjacent to the field enclosure. This horse species, scientifically documented in 1881, was once extinct in the wild but has now been reintroduced to China, Kazakhstan, and Mongolia. The horses are particularly important in Mongolian culture, considered horses of the gods. Another intriguing aspect of the Przewalski’s horse is that it could quite possibly be the only equid species to have never been domesticated. The research regarding this possibility conducted at the Beckman Center for Conservation Research is based on DNA samples from Przewalski’s horse bones from the St. Petersburg Museum in Russia. The result from such a study would shed historical light on human and horse relationships.

Alicia, Real World Team

On our last adventure, we met with the panda researcher extraordinaire, Megan Owen! She has observed pandas for over 10 years, since her children were toddlers. She and her family even lived in China for a time to learn more about these endangered bears.

With the keepers we made scientific observations of the panda Zhen Zhen at the Zoo. Intern William is pictured here taking studious observations of Gao Gao.

Our observations showed this individual panda at the Zoo tends to wander around her exhibit at this time of the day.

As a final farewell, we took a group picture in the hollow tree, a replica of a birthing den for a wild panda. We can all truthfully say that these past seven weeks were beyond our expectations. We never imagined that we would learn so much, and the experiences we had were once-in-a-lifetime.

Callie, the photo team!

Here interns strip leaves from acacia branches to use as browse for giraffes in the field enclosures at the San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park. Interns Liz and Sara diligently peel the leaves into our handy dandy feeding bucket.

The giraffes adored the browse. They acted like little children reaching into a cookie jar. Intern Caitlin had difficulty controlling the amount of browse that the giraffes stuffed in their mouths! The task was made more difficult with their 18-inch tongues.

The rhinos were a bit more hesitant approaching our truck. While throwing an apple as bait to the closest pair of rhinos, Keeper Torrey Pillsbury laughed, “bowling for rhinos!”

All of the interns quickly learned that the rhinos have no catching skills. Half the time we threw them an apple into their mouths, the rhinos would fumble and let the apple drop to the ground. Here Intern Sara threw the apple right into the rhino’s mouth!

We observed the early stages of the new Condor Flightline attraction at the Wild Animal Park. This zipline will be the second longest in all of North America. Plus, it will go right over the Asian Plains and tiger enclosures!

During our excursion, we caught a glimpse of the Wild Animal Park’s cloned animal. This banteng was created from ear cells of a genetically valuable male that had died years earlier and had been stored in the Frozen Zoo.

Giant pandas have long been prominent in the public eye. Their distinctive markings, cuddly appearance, and apparently docile personalities have always made them favorites with people. Further, they are revered by the Chinese and are a unique symbol of the country. Yet, despite this reverence in their homeland and global admiration, giant pandas are critically endangered due to massive habitat loss, a purely human effect that is difficult to control.

The Chinese government after a decades-long ban preventing pandas from leaving China, allowed the San Diego Zoo to receive two giant pandas to expand the body of knowledge about panda behavior and physiology. Along with this long-term panda loan, the San Diego Zoo established a partnership with the Wolong Giant Panda Conservation Center in China to aid giant panda conservation.

The project that the Zoo has undertaken is an exceptional one since it has been one of the first bridges between fieldwork and Zoo work. At the Zoo’s Panda Conservation Center, research zoologists are observing giant pandas and collecting extremely important data, while the giant pandas themselves are educating the public simply by being giant pandas. The Center is clearly much beloved by the public, as evidenced by the long lines that are consistently stretching out the door. Zoo research zoologists are also working in the wild by tracking pandas, observing breeding patterns, and applying the information learned at the Center so as to further panda conservation.

The people who visit the giant pandas learn about the pandas and their vulnerability. Habitat loss is a universal problem that cannot help but resonate with everyone who appreciates plants and animals. By observing giant pandas, people realize that the loss of these great animals would be a terrible, terrible thing indeed. This, in turn, leads to a greater collective wish for unity between animals and humans (we hope). It would be a great thing indeed if humans and animals could live in accordance with one another; if the giant pandas could roam China as they once did; if even the mountain lions of our own native county could walk where they once trod. But, to achieve this, we must recognize that we need to share the land and its resources; this is a lesson that the giant panda teaches Zoo visitors everyday.

Liz, Real World Team

panda in locomotor mode

En nuestro ultimo día en el Zoológico, visitamos a los osos pandas. Conocimos a Megan Owen, quien ha trabajado desde el 96, un mes después de que el primer panda viniera a vivir en el Zoológico de San Diego. Ella nos contó que si uno quiere poder trabajar en monitorear comportamientos se necesita dos cosas vitales, pasión por tu trabajo, y una gran paciencia. Ya que el trabajo de ellos requiere monitorear a los pandas por horas y a veces solo están acostados haciendo nada además de dormir, dormir y dormir.

Una de las cosas que el monitoreo a encontrado es que los pandas con la opción de cambiar de cuarto o exhibiciones y poder moverse libremente tienen un nivel menor de estrés a los que solo están en una exhibición. Al poner cámaras y micrófonos en diferentes partes y en el cuarto donde dan a luz se puede aprender mucho sobre su naturaleza. Los pandas pueden actuar libremente sin sentir que están siendo observados por una persona en vivo.

Para este tipo de trabajo es necesario tener un “ethogram”; el cual es como un catalogo de comportamientos. Digamos que estas observando al panda y esta caminando y en lugar de escribir caminando solo pones “cam” o, si esta dormido pones “drm” o algo parecido. Al final del día con toda la información que uno obtiene se analiza y se puede decir que los osos pandas al acercarse el final del día les gusta explorar mientras en las tardes suelen comer o descansar.

También uno de los beneficios de siempre estar observando a estos animales es de que en si es muy difícil reproducirlos ya que panda hembra solo puede tener relaciones unos pocos días al año y si no, pues tienen que esperar hasta el siguiente. Las pandas hembras tienen comportamientos distintivos cuando están listas y los criadores cuando ven esto rápidamente preparan un plan y juntan a un macho para que se conozcan y si se tiene suerte tener un bebe panda, en sí una de las cosas más hermosas que se puede ver.

William career team

Throwing apples to a rhino and showering in giraffe saliva were truly once in a lifetime experiences for my fellow interns and me. Yet for Torrey Pillsbury and Michele Gaffney, Senior Keepers at the San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park, this was just an average day at work. They are responsible for dozens of herds out in the vast fields of the Wild Animal Park. The Park is divided up into seven areas, and keepers are assigned to work in one of those locations, such as the Asian Plains exhibit that we visited. Keepers are automatically reassigned every couple of years, providing them with a diverse array of skills, as well as new animals to meet and interact with.

We began our trip the same way Ms. Gaffney and Ms. Pillsbury begin their average workday, by entering the keeper trailer and perusing the Red Books. Red Books are similar to diaries; this is where keepers record daily observations about the animals in their enclosures. Any notes on abnormal behavior, health, and enrichment are all added to the Red Book. I was amazed at how much organization and meticulous paperwork is necessary to take care of zoo animals.

After leaving the trailer, we clambered into the back of a keeper truck, seated comfortably on bales of hay and ready for our personal safari. As the vehicle trundled along through the plains of Asia, Ms. Gaffney pointed out the animals that we passed, telling anecdotes about many of them. I was astounded at the knowledge that keepers possess for the dozens of species of hoofstock and other mammals out in the field. This made sense, however, once I got a sense of what their job really entails.

Keepers at the Wild Animal Park spend a fair amount of time filling food troughs, cleaning out drinkers, and assisting veterinarians with medical examinations. The bulk of their responsibility, however, lies in observation. The keepers must count each animal individually to make sure that there is the correct number of individuals representing each species. These daily counts are crucial, especially in large enclosures such as those at the Park. They also spend time simply observing the animals and looking for abnormal behaviors. Keepers develop an understanding for the basic behaviors of each species, and they can tell if an animal is ill or upset. With so many animals to care for, however, it is impossible to watch all of them all the time. The keepers do their best to make sure that no animal slips their notice.

After all the paperwork, counting, and physical exertion, the most rewarding part of a keeper’s job was revealed: interacting with the animals! The Indian rhinos walked right up to our truck and opened their mouths wide for a sweet treat, and the giraffes nearly knocked us over in their enthusiasm for the acacia leaves we offered them. There is really no other career that can compare to caring for a field full of wild animals every day.

Sara, Careers Team

It's Baba, the Pangolin!

I felt like a child again when we made a visit to the Children’s Zoo Petting Paddock. Of course we didn’t just play with the goats and sheep. We also met with Bob Cisneros, the supervisor of the Children’s Zoo. He has been working at the Zoo for fifteen years and at the Children’s Zoo for two years. His job at the Children’s Zoo involves giving children hands on experiences and allowing people to connect with wildlife.

After introduction, Mr. Cisneros showed us a very rare and unusual animal named Baba. Baba is a pangolin, which are native to equatorial Africa and Asia. There are a total of only eight species of pangolin, with four species in Africa and the other four in Asia. They live on the edge of the rainforest and spend a lot of their time climbing trees. Pangolins are excellent climbers because they have extremely strong muscles in their legs and tails. They also have a very keen sense of smell and long claws that help them dig. What make this animal unique are the tough scales that cover its body. These scales are made of keratin, the same type of protein we have in our own nails. However, when a pangolin is first born, their scales aren’t hard at all, they are soft. Another distinctive trait is the pangolin’s exceedingly long tongue, which helps it consume ants more easily.

The pangolin is endangered in the wild due to habitat destruction and poaching, because they are hunted for their hides and unique scales. At the San Diego Zoo, there are two pangolins, one male and the other female. To help reverse the pangolin’s decreasing population, the Zoo hopes to breed these two. They haven’t had offspring yet, but the Zoo hopes they do in the near future. Mr. Cisneros explained that they already have a nursery set up in case the female does give birth to offspring. The Zoo must be prepared to take good care of any offspring born because the pangolin which could be particularly challenging as few if any have been raised in captivity.

Caitlin, Conservation Team

Genetics is a field with so much untapped potential! Dr. Oliver Ryder, Division Head of Genetics and Heidi Davis, Senior Research Technician at the research arm of the San Diego Zoo, told us about some astounding new genetic applications. At the Zoo, the main use of genetics is in the interest of conservation. We visited the Frozen Zoo, where we saw large, silver freezer tanks full of thousands of samples of genetic material harvested from animals all over the world. This collection is the largest in the world and the first ever established. Contrary to what first occurred to me, it is actually extremely uncommon to use samples from the Frozen Zoo to clone animals. Instead, this unique collection is more of an insurance policy against extinction, where geneticists focus on saving what they can and work on preventing extinction rather than delving further into research of what we have already lost. The purpose of the collection is to provide diverse resources that can track evolutionary trends and preserve genetic diversity, helping to keep the gene pool as varied as possible.

Genomic projects for endangered species can give people a better understanding of what an endangered species needs and optimize what we can accomplish and how many species we can save by studying their genetic makeup. The ‘alala, the Hawaiian crow, is a bird species on the verge of extinction. It is already completely extinct in the wild, and the few remaining in captivity are experiencing extremely low breeding success. Chicks do not make it to adulthood or have strange birth defects such as missing eyes. For this species, the study of genetics can make the difference between success and total extinction. By studying genetic data, it is possible to learn more about which genes produce this faulty outcome and to trace it back to its roots. Overall, the study of genetics can help improve animals’ health, and our ability to provide specific monitoring and management programs for endangered species.

It turns out that these conservation efforts have direct benefits for humans as well. Even after the original mapping of the human genome, roughly 60-70% of all human genes still have no known function. Most animals have genetic sequences that are extremely similar to those of humans, so the study of animal genetics can even help us understand ourselves better. If several species seem to have a prevailing sequence, then we can infer that this sequence must be important because it has persisted through evolutionary history in a variety of different species. Also sequences that reveal a higher propensity for disease transmission and acquisition can be discovered, leading to better treatments for affected species.  

Heidi, Conservation team