Behavior and Reproduction in Southern White Rhino Using Thermographic Imaging

Erika Defer is the Director of Research, as well as the animal department Assistant Manager, at Safari West. As part of her role, Erika coordinates the internship programs at Safari West in hopes of inspiring students to pursue a variety of careers that involve working with exotic wildlife. Erika has been working with exotic animals in various capacities since 2008. She received her B.S. in Biology from Sonoma State University and her M.S. in Animal Biology from University of California, Davis. In her undergraduate, she studied Western Pond Turtles (Actinemys marmorata) and assisted in the head start program at Sonoma State University, in collaboration with the San Francisco and Oakland Zoos. Her master’s thesis focused on parasitology and social network analysis utilizing fecal testing, PFGE with commensal E. coli, and behavioral observations to determine social networks and gastrointestinal parasite infection risk in several antelope and giraffe herds housed at Safari…