Kid Territory: Jobs: Taking Care of Plants
Tree trimmers help maintain the health and beauty of the trees in our collection. Branches, limbs, and tree trunks are sometimes placed in animal exhibits to be used as "toys" or animal "furniture."
Gardeners plant a wide variety of plants and trees that help keep the San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park looking green. Many visitors enjoy the plants as much as the animals!
Bamboo, ficus, and eucalyptus are some of the plants, called "browse," that are grown to feed the animals.
What we do
We take care of all the plants and the trees at the San Diego Zoo and the Wild Animal Park. The plants are here for decoration, for education, and for the animals as shade, shelter, or food. Some of us trim the trees, and some make sure the irrigation system is always working to provide our plants with water. Gardeners plant, weed, and trim the bushes, hedges, and plants growing on Zoo and Park grounds. We harvest many plants to be used to feed the animals, such as bamboo for the giant pandas and eucalyptus for the koalas. We even provide trimmed plants and trees for "furniture" for the animals to sit on or climb.
What’s cool about this job
Being outside in such a beautiful area is a great way to work! Learning about plants, maintaining their health, and keeping the grounds looking colorful and interesting are all things that we like about our jobs. Many visitors come to the Zoo or Wild Animal Park just to see our plants! We’re lucky to be able to work in the horticulture field and benefit so many people and animals.
Job challenges
Protecting the plants as living elements isn’t always easy. We need to preserve the plants in exhibits, where the animals often try to eat them or destroy them. We also have to protect the plants during construction projects. Some of the trees are irreplaceable because of the time it takes them to mature. In addition, our animal population is always growing, so there is always increased demand for plants as food for our animals.
How this job helps animals
Horticulture helps our animals in many ways. Plants help create as close to a natural habitat as can be expected in a zoo. Plants and trees also provide leafy food, called browse, for the animals’ diets. They give them shade, cover for hiding, and nesting material.
How to get a job like this
You need to be in the right place at the right time, with the right attitude and experience. You might consider studying ornamental horticulture and biology in college. Volunteer to work with park service groups to understand the importance of vegetation and animals in the area. Torrey Pines State Reserve, here in California, and many other community park groups use volunteers to maintain trails and replant areas to restore habitat. Get involved working with plants now, and you’ll learn much of what you’ll need to know in order to work in this field later.
