Feeding an Okapi
After graduating middle school in 2012, I had the privilege to participate in a one week summer camp entitled “Work on the Wild Side” at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park in August. This was geared toward high schoolers with an interest in building a career in wildlife and gaining knowledge in the fields of education, zoo keeping, and animal training. Much of the experience consisted of aiding zookeepers in their daily chores of feeding and cleaning, though other significant aspects included lectures on animal biology, care, and training, behind-the-scenes glances of the park’s facilities, exciting trips through the spacious field enclosures via jeep, up-close encounters with numerous exotic species that displayed unique behaviors, and an all-around humorous atmosphere during excursions and lunch breaks!
Taking a tour of the animal medical facility and enjoying the safari-like field enclosure
Learning about the various species at the zoo
Taking a stroll with a cheetah (and his dog companion) through the park