The Safari West Wildlife Foundation is proud to announce the graduation of two long-standing Junior Keepers! Zach Welch and Loren Gillogly entered the Junior Keeper program in 2011 and spent the last five years learning the ins and outs of animal husbandry, educational presentations, and all the skills necessary to make a place like Safari West work. On Saturday, November 19th, both Zach and Loren graduated from the Junior Keeper program. These two talented individuals have elected to continue to work with us here at the Safari West Wildlife Preserve. Both Zach and Loren will be moving into the Safari West Internship Program!

Loren, with his encyclopedic knowledge of local flora and fauna and exuberance for wildlife, will enter our African Hoofstock Internship while Zach will kick off our brand new Information Technology Internship. As technology advances, the nation’s zoos, wildlife parks, and conservation organizations need not only dedicated scientists, keepers, and educators but gifted IT specialists as well.

We also celebrated the graduation of Lidia Tapia from the Safari West Wildlife Preserve Avian Internship on that same date. We’re especially excited and proud of Lidia who is our very first graduate to complete the entire program, from Junior Keeper through an internship. Having completed a behavioral study of our flock of white-cheeked turacos, Lidia is now fully prepared to pursue a career in the industry or continue her studies at a collegiate level!

Please join us in congratulating these hard-working Junior Keepers and interns as they prepare to take the next step in the ongoing work of conservation and wildlife science. Congratulations Lidia, Zach, and Loren!