Photo: San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
Brooke Shieldsis beloved for her roles in film and television, but the actress admits she thought about giving up fame for a career caring for animals.
“It’s actually what I thought I would do with my life,” Shields, 56, told PEOPLE about her passion for animals at the opening of theSan Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance’s Wildlife Explorers Basecamp at the San Diego Zoo.
“It all started from being onThe Tonight Showwith Johnny Carson and often being a guest when Johnny would have animal advocate Joan Embery bring animals on,” she added.
Through these visits toThe Tonight Showand some other projects, Shields befriended Embery as a teen and began to think seriously about working with wildlife.
“I really was like, ‘Yeah, I’ve done enough of this acting and modeling. I think I’m ready to focus on animals,’ " Shields shared.
This developing interest in helping animals led Shields to take an internship at the San Diego Zoo at the age of 17.
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
The job included “waking up at 5:30 a.m.” and “a lot of cleaning up and a lot of meal prep” for the California zoo’s residents. Even with the early hours and hard work, Shields adored the time she spent interning at the zoo, and the role developed a respect for the “tremendous amount of work, upkeep, and maintenance” it takes to run a zoo.
“Before, humans at zoos were the voyeurs. You’d just look at something but not really learn or understand how you’re a part of it,” Shields said.
Today, the San Diego Zoo and many others have exhibits that educate visitors about animals, their native habitats, and how humans are responsible for protecting both.
The San Diego Zoo’s newest addition, a 3.2-acre state-of-the-art, multi-ecosystem experience called Wildlife Explorers Basecamp, is specifically focused on helping animal lovers of all ages learn about how they can protect the planet and the countless critters that call it home.
The new experience includes numerous interactive and sensory elements designed to help guests develop empathy for all creatures — from the smallest bug to the largest mammal — and understand how each species plays a part in keeping the Earth healthy.
To learn more about Wildlife Explorers Basecamp and the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance’s continuing conservation work,visit SDZWA’s website.
source: people.com
