Realizations of Working at a Zoo by Evelyn

Realizations of Working at a Zoo by Evelyn - December 2019 Scholarship Essay

I stared aghast as a three-legged Malayan tiger devoured horse meat from a stick that I had pushed into the enclosure just moments before. Standing mere feet away, I grabbed another chunk and began to feed the tiger Petra again. Attempting to keep balance while standing on my toes, I reached high towards her mouth. At over eight feet on her hind legs, Petra was at the Dickerson Park Zoo as part of their Malayan tiger conservation program. My adrenaline-fueled proximity to Petra was just one of the many experiences that contributed to my developing realization of the positive impact of zoos in global conservation and environmental efforts.
For the past three years, my extensive work at the zoo, as a select member of their youth educational program, the Venture Crew, furthered my passion for science and helping others. Whether shoveling elephant waste into wheelbarrows, working in the veterinary hospital, or transporting birds, I have been immersed in a world where animal care is the sole mission of the zookeepers. Because of the complex nature of zoos, I have realized that they play a powerful role in promoting conservation and maintaining the survival of species. As a child, I thought of zoos as places of entertainment. I heard conflicting ideas about how zoos are abusive by keeping wild animals in captivity for public enjoyment. One day during a physical of a maned wolf, a children’s group came into the surgical room of the veterinary hospital. As I was combing through the wolf’s fur in search of abrasions, a child asked, “Are these animals new? I haven’t seen them here before.” I responded by telling him that not all animals are on display, especially if the species is critically endangered. The maned wolf population is quickly depleting, leaving the species nearing extinction. The Dickerson Park Zoo holds eight maned wolves out of the two hundred in captivity in the world. These experiences contributed to my realization that conservation priorities are based on the welfare of animals rather than the demands of the public.
In addition, working closely with the zookeepers allowed me to consider more carefully the difficult issue of animal euthanization. I had never experienced a euthanization until Petra, who was much older than the typical tiger and suffering due to mobility issues. In the past, I may have associated her death with the cruel nature of the zoo. However, I have learned that animals are sometimes euthanized in acts of mercy, and in other instances as a measure to protect the species against disease or other threats. As my understanding broadened, I was forced to adapt my personal belief system for the greater good of animal management. For instance, I have been a vegetarian since I was six (after the discovery of the inherent logistics of meat creation), so when I picked up a frozen package of hundreds of dead mice to feed injured raptors, I was naturally conflicted. Here, two ideas that I am passionate about conflicted, yet it was imperative at that moment to reconcile my love of living animals with the needs of conservation.
Due to these experiences, I am clearly aware that science can be a powerful tool to improve the lives of others, including animals, and to address global challenges. I continue to learn about the complexity and interconnectedness of global issues through the zoo’s efforts to address environmental sustainability and promote international collaboration. Through my work at the Dickerson Park Zoo, I have developed and refined my passions, solidifying my decision to work towards a degree in biology or environmental science. I have developed my ability to think critically about multiple sides of complex issues, which is essential in today’s world. As it turns out, my experience with Petra, whether it be feeding her or reflecting on her death, has taught me as much about myself as it has about zoos.