Life as a Kings Conservation Society Scholar

     The summer session of my internship at the Brookfield Zoo through the Kings Conservation Program has come to an end, but I've had a lot of fun memories and educational experiences throughout my first 8 months interpreting.

Top right: a bird that has flown from its uncaged exhibit in Feathers and Scales.
Top left: the family of gorillas, my favorite animals, cohabiting in their exhibit in Tropic World.
Center left and center right: a caracal and a rock hyrax from the Fragile Kingdom Desert exhibit.
Center image: a toucan enjoying some fruit placed on a branch.
Bottom left: the bison in their outdoor exhibit during the winter.
Bottom right: a humbolt penguin in their exhibit at The Living Coast.

     Getting used to interpreting for others was rough at the beginning. When we interpret, we are given a binder of information on animals within the part of exhibit to which you are assigned. There are also supplementary items for guests to enjoy, such as skull casts and fur pelts. Because we switched stations every hour, I had trouble keeping all my facts straight. I also struggled with a sort of "stage fright" when talking to the guests. 

     Over time, I began to really enjoy particular exhibits and interpreting certain animals. For instance, my favorite spot in the zoo is on the bridge in Fragile Kingdom Desert (FKD) because I find the caracal a very interesting animal with a lot of intriguing facts to offer. I help guests locate the sneaky cat and show them a skeleton cast. When no one is around, I love watching the rock hyraxes, the animals adjacent to the caracals. They are such cute, furry rodents that can jump and climb surprisingly well for their apparent build. Finding places like FKD have helped me get a grasp on countless animal facts while developing true interests in the variety of animals that the zoo has to offer. I have gotten over my "stage fright" and I enjoy discussing animals as well as answering questions for the many guests I encounter during my short shifts interpreting. 

     Another part of the program I have enjoyed is the classes provided. I have taken an Introduction to Evolution and Sexual Selection course as well as an Introduction to Animal Behavior course. I was able to learn about these topics in depth–even more than I would have in my school biology classes! I enjoy the science classes provided because they give me a chance to further educate myself on my interest in primatology and evolutionary biology. The thorough lessons taught on these intriguing subjects has made me further fall in love with the program.  

     I look forward to continuing my education and volunteer work through the Kings Conservation Society Scholars program and I hope to be able to take the lessons and experiences with me.