Today, we take a break from our senior panelists to hear from the Pre-Veterinary Society, which took a tour of Southwick Zoo over the weekend. Secretary Camille Hironaka tells us what goes on behind the scenes:

Last Saturday, the Tufts Pre-Veterinary Society took a field trip to the Southwick Zoo to meet the animals and Dr. Peter Brewer, the veterinarian who runs the zoo.

Feeding an animal at the Southwick Zoo

We got to see the lions, the tigers (but unfortunately, no bears), take a tour of Dr. Brewer’s clinic, and go behind the scenes at the zoo. Highlights of the zoo include red kangaroos, white rhinos, sloths, and reticulated giraffes. For a full species list and more detailed information on the animals, check out the Southwick Zoo’s website.

Giraffe at Southwick Zoo

Dr. Brewer also gave a full tour of his clinic, where he talked about his experience with animals both big and small; he’s done everything from casting a capuchin monkey’s arm to anesthetizing a lion. He showed us his tranquilizer darts, and even let us shoot his blowgun (tip: trash cans make excellent targets for beginners). Throughout our time with him, Dr. Brewer stressed the importance of practice and attention to detail to minimize mistakes. With so many different species at his zoo, there’s a lot to learn and know!

Clinic tour at Southwick Zoo

The trip was a great experience, and the Pre-Vet Society is grateful to Dr. Brewer for sharing his zoo and expertise with us!

Photos courtesy of Freshmen Representative Asia Acevedo and Vice President Alena Naimark