Goodbye St. Louis

Today is my last day as a research intern with the St. Louis Zoo. It's been amazing, and now it's time to head on to new things. I can't believe nearly a year has passed already!

I'll miss the Zebras and the Asses of course. As an intern, I became very attached to them and also their conservation message. The fox videos, I may not miss quite as much. All of the people I've worked with, who have been absolutely amazing, and the building where something always seemed to happen. I'll miss the lounge with the magical table that everyone puts communal food on. My favorite days where when I'd walk into the lounge to find donuts. I'll miss intern bowling.

The stingrays, also my babies. When I first came to the zoo, I never thought I'd get quite so attached to equids and fish. I'll miss the people I got to know in the Education department as well.

Goodbye, churro-and-fried-ice-cream stand. Goodbye, ugly kid sign. Goodbye, giant hill that I trekked up and down to get to and from the intern home base.

Speaking of giant hill, I'll actually miss my walk to the zoo. I'll miss Forest Park in general, really. It's pretty much the most amazing thing in St. Louis.

Goodbye fun zoo events, like Jammin' and Zooquest. Goodbye crazy dancing butterfly lady. I'll miss Sofiya, the amur leopard, and that crazy ostrich in the giraffe yard. Goodbye protesters, nobody took your pamphlets anyway.

I'll miss Dewey's pizza, and the Loop, and Central West End. I'll miss the crepes that one could purchase in Central West End. Goodbye Wash U, I never found the pool that you supposedly have.

I'll miss driving from Illinois at night, over the bridge, greeted by the lit up Arch and the lights of downtown. It's an amazing sight, and I'm glad I got to see it one last time last night.

Goodbye St. Louis...I never really knew how amazing you were until I lived here. Goodbye zoo, I love you.

Hello Florida....

Intern tours and Jammin' at the Zoo

So I finally leave STL next week. It's been crazy...and to think I've been here for almost a year. That definitely wasn't the plan, but I'm glad it worked out this way. St. Louis is such a great city and I've met a TON of amazing people. 

Yesterday was jam packed with awesomeness. During the summer, the interns are invited to go on intern tours around various parts of the zoo. Yesterday's tour was in the Red Rocks area and we got to see the zebra, addax, and banteng chutes that they use to put them in the yards with. It was really cool. Also got to see two baby wallabies (not joeys) and had one last visit with Tokar, the brother of the three Somali Wild Ass mares, in his separate yard in the back. 

Another highlight of the tour was seeing the babirusa piglet at the antelope house. If you've ever seen a babirusa, you know "cute" really isn't a word most people use to describe it. I, however, think they're adorable and the piglet was no exception. 

                                                    

I've only got to go on a few intern tours (due to working in the education department as well, usually on tour days) but the Red Rocks tour was by far my favorite. It was cool to learn so many things about an area that most people generally disregard. 

Later last night I went out with a fellow zoo intern to Jammin' at the Zoo, a wine and beer tasting event that also features live music. Besides getting an opportunity to enjoy some of the best wine in the area it was a beautiful evening to be out and about. 

Almost to the Finish Line

With less than a month at the zoo to go, I have a lot of things to get ready for. Packing for school, getting paperwork out of the way, getting my last hurrahs in with friends before I move. It's so weird to think I've been in St. Louis for nearly a year. It had never been my intention to stay this long, but I'm glad I did. Working at the zoo has been amazing! 

With so much time dedicated to my Interpreter's job with the education department I haven't had nearly so much time to go into the lab. This may not be entirely bad since I've found I'm coming down with a bit of senioritis I suppose...I find myself increasingly resistant to do fox videos, asking for other projects to complete instead. It's just as well, it may be time for me to move on anyhow. 

The Stingray exhibit is a phenomenal success and has been a ton of fun to work. Talking on a microphone for 3 hours can get a bit old but it definitely beats working fast food or some other menial job. I've been super fortunate to be a part of both the Research and Education departments at the zoo. By far my favorite Stingray is the baby cownose, Stewart. I need to get a picture of him! 

But what on earth am I going to do with this blog when I leave? I'm not really sure yet. I'm hoping to get a job at the Lowry Park zoo in Tampa, or at least try to volunteer, so maybe it'll transition nicely.

In the meantime, I'm looking forward to taking more pictures, going on some intern tours (went on a Carnivore tour which included a back-area tour of the Big Cats! Standing two feet away from two Amur Tigers is pretty intimidating) and just kicking back and enjoying whatever comes next in the 3 weeks I have left. 

By the way, when we were down with the tigers, we were close enough to hear them chuff. One was taking a bath and washing his enormous paw. Despite their intimidating size, they were still horribly adorable. It was super hot the day we went on this tour, so all the tigers were seeking shade or playing in their pool. 

In other news, the littlest Asian elephant, Jade, was finally introduced to the rest of the herd permanently. Seeing one baby elephant is cute, but TWO in one exhibit is just...well....twice as cute. Jade and Mahlia can be seen from time to time making little hay hats. On the super hot heat advisory days, the elephants have been playing in their water. It's a shame I don't have any pictures. 

Finally, the Equid herds have been separated. Having watched the foals grow up over the fall and winter, it's been tough to see them get so big. Soon the mares will breed again (hopefully) and the cycle will continue, with some new interns falling in love with the new babies. The things we do for conservation.