The Minnesota Zoo is well known for its 485 acre facility in Apple Valley, Minnesota – just minutes away from the Mall of America. However people may be less familiar with the amazing work the Zoo does outside of Minnesota. The Zoo’s Conservation Advisory Team and the Minnesota Zoo Foundation have been sending Zoo staff around the world for years with the Ulysses S. Seal Conservation Grant. This grant allows staff to help support conservation projects they are personally passionate about and even participate hands-on in the research, if possible. From Hyacinth macaws to endangered sea turtles, the Minnesota Zoo has sent staff to 24 different countries on 58 grant projects and is excited to continue this great extension of the conservation work being done here at the Zoo itself. Overall, the grant has provided over $365,000 of critically-needed funds to over 120 unique conservation programs in 47 countries around the world.

My name is Jessica and I am a Northern Trail zookeeper at the Minnesota Zoo. I recently received a grant through the Ulysses S. Seal Conservation Grant Program from the Zoo that awards small grants to projects promoting the conservation of wildlife. I will be heading to Thailand with Dr. Kate Jenks, one of the Zoo’s conservation biologists, to help with her research on the endangered dhole. I have worked with this species for 2 years at the Zoo through their training and husbandry and it has become one of my favorites!  Here is a little insight on how I am preparing for the 2 week project…

First off, I’m going to be completely honest; probably the most terrifying part of the trip is going to be the 20 hours of travel on an airplane! Being a zookeeper at the Minnesota Zoo, about 99% of my time is spent on my feet. Most of my preparations for the trip are focused on surviving being confined to a chair for hours and hours! I’ve got my compression socks, my kindle stocked full of movies, my books on Thailand, and plenty of snacks. Thailand is 12 hours ahead of us so we will be arriving at midnight Bangkok time, but noon Minnesota time.

As far as the actual project I will be participating in? I’ve got no worries! We will be traversing through the jungle (if you have seen some of our exhibits in the beginning of spring you would understand how this is not foreign to me) and setting up camera traps at one of the wildlife sanctuaries (not unlike the camera traps we set up at the Zoo to monitor our animals overnight when we aren’t there).  Finally, we will be catching and radio-collaring wild dhole in order to track their movement and get a better idea of territories and numbers in the wild (this will be the fun, new, exciting part!).

I basically have most of the supplies needed that I use on a daily basis at the Zoo.  I’ve got bug spray, a first aid kit, hiking shoes, flashlights and batteries, and sunscreen.  My Zoo uniform will have me covered for clothing. I get dirty at the Zoo all the time so this won’t be anything out of the ordinary! Some not so common items are toilet paper (you can never be too prepared!), duct tape, rope, and biodegradable laundry soap (since we are lacking any of those fancy amenities you normally get at a hotel).  And then there are the usual travel items when going overseas such as a voltage converter and electrical plug converter set.

I’m very grateful for this opportunity that the Minnesota Zoo has given me.  I am extremely excited to have such a hands-on role in this project. We are one of only four zoos in the United States that exhibit dhole and it’s so amazing that we can play such a huge role in the conservation effort to save this endangered species.  Now that I’m all packed and ready to go stay tuned for another update and pictures!

Check out Part Two of this blog post here.