Vegas Stripped: Springs Preserve zoologist cares for animals — VIDEO
When Rachel VanHorn says she has a degree in zoology, most people think she is a zookeeper or a vet. She’s not, but she loves getting familiar with creatures, great and small.
VanHorn is a zoologist at the Springs Preserve, where she is handler and caregiver for the animals that help park visitors learn about the desert’s array of life. Her job is with the mammals, but often overlaps into reptiles and other creatures at the 180-acre preserve on South Valley View Boulevard.
On Saturdays, visitors can interact with VanHorn and some of the critters. VanHorn says she fosters “a sense of responsibility” between people and animals. She loves the work. “I feel like that’s why we do this. That’s why have these animals, that’s why we talk about the things we talk about … and I don’t think that passion is something that you lose.”
Vegas Stripped is an Emmy Award-winning series by visual journalist Rachel Aston. Her videos are posted weekly at reviewjournal.com. Contact her at raston@reviewjournal.com. Follow @rookie__rae on Twitter.
