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 San Diego Zoo does not just have plants for the beauty, the environment, or the setting of the enclosures at the Zoo. Many of the plants are just as endangered as the animals at the Zoo. Some plants are grown for the benefit of certain animals. For example, the Zoo uses banana trees to grow many things for endangered gorillas. Not only do they give bunches of bananas to the gorillas (as well as many other primates and birds) they also give them the leaves and the trunk. The leaves and trunk provide more tropical atmosphere as well as enrichment. Another example is the siamang, which is another type of endangered ape. In addition to getting bananas, the siamangs are presented with another important plant. The hibiscus! You may think that the hibiscus just gives the Zoo a charming atmosphere but the siamangs know the importance of these yummy flowers. The hibiscus is a colorful flower shrub that is found in tropical regions throughout the world. But it’s also found blossoming around the Zoo grounds and in the food dishes of the siamang. This flower is also a form of enrichment.

Enrichment is an important part of conservation. Enrichment is when keepers provide animals with opportunities to express social, mental, and/or physical stimulation. It is designed to keep the animals healthy, happy, and comfortable. By using food, leaves, and trunks the Zoo can give the animals a better habitat and make them feel like they are in wild. Providing enrichment, like tree trunks for the gorillas, helps the animal feel less stressed. This can result in more animal births at the San Diego Zoo. And more births means a greater chance for survival for these incredible species. In part, thanks to the bananas that grow in the Zoo!

Sarrah, Conservation Team

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