HIGH POINT, N.C., June 28, 2012 – Katie McCoy, a rising junior at HPU, is spending her summer taking care of young ones – but not the kind that you’d think. McCoy is interning as the primate keeper and animal care intern at the Hollywild Animal Park in Inman, S.C., where those that she cares for total more than a dozen different species.
McCoy, a biology major, is responsible for the enrichment and overall well-being of 12 primates, two cranes, a Patagonian Cavy, three tortoises, seven birds, a pen of lambs, a buffalo calf and many others throughout the summer. Since McCoy hopes to work in the field of animal care, she is gaining important experience in the professional setting of her dream field.
“This internship has given me extensive knowledge and experience while I work with exotic animals; it’s made me realize how much hard work goes into animal care,” she says. “My work at Hollywild Animal Park has given me a rare opportunity to get hands-on experience that will be applicable to any career that I pursue.”
In the time McCoy has already spent at the zoo, she has witnessed the birth of a Snow Macaque and had the unique opportunity to help raise three Syrian bear cubs that were born in January.
“Experience from labs and class lectures in courses such as zoology and botany have been invaluable in my knowledge of various plants and animals I encounter at the zoo,” says McCoy. “My courses thus far in my education at HPU have provided a strong foundation for my intended career with animals.”
At High Point University, every student receives an extraordinary education in an inspiring environment with caring people.℠ HPU, located in the Piedmont Triad region of North Carolina, is a liberal arts institution with over 4,200 undergraduate and graduate students at campuses in High Point and Winston-Salem. It is ranked by US News and World Report at No. 3 among Regional Colleges in the South. Parade Magazine lists HPU in the top 25 private schools in the nation. HPU was selected in the 2010-2011 list of “Colleges of Distinction,” as well as one of the top green schools in the country by the Sierra Club. The university offers 44 undergraduate majors, 40 undergraduate minors and 10 graduate degree programs. It is a member of the NCAA, Division I and the Big South Conference. Visit High Point University on the Web at highpoint.edu.
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Pam Haynes
Communication Specialist
336-841-9055