OPENING DOORS

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OPENING DOORS

Through its paid internship program, the Zoo immerses students in zoo and conservation careers.

by RENAE COTERO (she/hers)

B.A. in Biology, Occidental College School Programs Coordinator, L.A. Zoo

This summer, in an effort to find more equitable ways to engage the diverse communities of Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Zoo proudly welcomed 14 college students from systemically excluded identities, specifically those who identify as BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and/or varying abilities, to participate in a 10-week paid internship program. Interns had the opportunity to work directly with mentors from various Zoo divisions, including Conservation, Learning & Engagement, and Nutrition. As the mentor for the Learning & Engagement interns, I was excited for the opportunity to share my experiences with the interns and provide an opportunity for them to build the skills necessary to begin their own journeys.

Each cohort had a unique experience and learned essential work-related skills needed for futures in zoo and conservation fields.

LEARNING & ENGAGEMENT

INTERNS: Trinity Astilla, Jeremiah Cabrera, Brianna Vasquez MENTOR: Renae Cotero, Curator of Education

The Learning & Engagement Division fosters lasting relationships between communities, nature, and animals. This cohort of interns facilitated programs both onsite at the Zoo and offsite in the community. During each program, they facilitated conversations about wildlife, helped participants feel comfortable in nature, and had meaningful experiences with students.

One of the programs the L&E interns worked with was the Migrant Education Program (MEP). Coordinated by LAUSD, MEP provides educational support for children of migrant workers. The L&E interns worked directly with these students to help create positive and memorable experiences for them at the Zoo. They saw the importance of representation in zoos and were able to be positive role models for the students. “I really loved working with the Migrant Education

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Program,” says Jeremiah (he/him). “It was amazing to see the kids grow in their interest, comfort at the Zoo, and confidence. I love knowing that I had a positive impact on kids in my community.”

CONSERVATION

INTERNS: Daniel Chroman, Eden Dore, Belen Flores, Anthony Insinilla, Ivan IsidoroVillafuerte, Julie Lazaro, Max Morales, Gus Molina, Krishna Parekh, Keileen Ramirez MENTOR: Anna Becker, Coordinator of Community Conservation

The Conservation Division interns spent the summer building technical skills in applied conservation—gaining experience that will increase access, networks, and pathways to future employment. Working in undeveloped areas of the Zoo, the interns had the opportunity to learn and practice various field techniques, including habitat mapping, transects, soil sampling, camera traps, and sound sampling. “I became excited to learn about what a conservationist does on a daily basis,” says Max (they/them), “and how to work with all the different equipment like camera traps and setting up transects.” Using the skills they developed, the interns conducted their own research projects, collected and analyzed data, and presented their findings to their peers.

An important aspect of this internship was for the interns to reflect on their own relationships with nature and the importance of increasing access for all communities. One Conservation intern said, “The best thing about this internship program is that it has provided me a space to not just learn about conservation but to also grow as a person.”

NUTRITION

INTERN: Brandon Stansbury-Medina MENTOR: Emily Schwartz, Zoo Nutritionist

Animal welfare is our highest priority at the Zoo, and nutrition plays a vital role in the life of every animal here. During his internship, Brandon (he/him) was able to gain real world experience in science, research, and animal health. He completed daily diet prep and assisted with food deliveries throughout the Zoo. To demonstrate his understanding of animal diets, Brandon formulated his own diet for an imaginary cassowary.

Brandon also learned about body condition scoring—an important health assessment method that includes measuring an animal’s fat and muscle deposits. He assisted with body condition scoring of species including goats, jaguars, and mountain tapirs.

Brandon says, “This was an amazing experience, and I hope to still stay very close with the Los Angeles Zoo and the staff because I’ve made great relationships with them all.”

As a conservation organization, our goal is to create a just and sustainable world where people and wildlife thrive, together, and this internship was an important step towards achieving that goal. As a mentor, I was inspired both personally and professionally by the interns, their love for the Zoo, and their eagerness to learn how they can help future generations connect with and conserve wildlife. My hope for this cohort is that they not only leave with the skills to pursue careers in conservation, but that they also know that their fellow interns, mentors, and the L.A. Zoo are invested in them as individuals and will continue to support them on their journeys.

LEARNING BY DOING

Conservation interns learned field research techniques—and put them into action to study local biodiversity. Here, they set up camera traps in an undeveloped area of the Zoo. Photo by: Anna Becker

INSPIRING OTHERS

Learning & Engagement interns pass on what they’ve learned, inspiring younger generations to connect with and conserve wildlife. Photo by: Laura Frost

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