Center for Conservation Studies

Hey! My name is Kristen Culp. Following the Smithsonian-Mason Semester, I traveled to Texas to begin a series of internships that would teach me a great deal about animal care. During the summer of 2008, I served as the Black Rhino Intern at Fossil Rim Wildlife Center, where I was responsible for the daily care of five endangered black rhinos. I did everything from cleaning to feeding to practicing trained behaviors, and most of this was without supervision. In the fall, I spent three months at the International Exotic Animal Sanctuary, where I had the opportunity to work with eight feline species and two bear species. In January 2009, I returned to Fossil Rim to work with their wolves for a spring internship. Due to my attraction to rhinos and other hoofstock species, the staff at Fossil Rim adjusted my schedule to allow me to work with both the wolves and all of the hoofstock. Through each of these internships I have had unique experiences, including close encounters with wolves, providing oxygen for rhinos under anesthesia, and independently netting a week-old addax calf. There have been multiple times when someone has learned I went to GMU and immediately asked me if I ever heard of the Smithsonian-Mason Semester; I always smile and proudly tell them that I was able to participate in the inaugural semester.