This is how we mix the matrix for the Collembola colonies.

A little plaster of Paris, a little carbon, and a little water is all it takes.

It's a little messy at first, but you get used to it.

Poor Andy gets stuck with the dirty work.

Well, maybe not ALL the dirty work.

The scenery makes even this task easy.

"Those are the craziest gringos we've ever had at the zoo."

"Hmmm, I wonder if Collembola taste good?"

"Jaime is right, those ARE the craziest gringos we've ever had here."

Now, to let them dry overnight.

"You see, Jaime? They only LOOK crazy."

"And to our left we have the zoo's newest arrivals...crazy gringos."

Please go home and let us get some sleep.

…and we STILL cleaned glass.

How to get a strong handshake: we clipped the shelves to accommodate the terrarium drains.

This steel is HARD! Let’s get this right the first time.

Time to ease the terrariums into their new homes.

Where’s a plumber when we need him? Time to install drain lines.

No margin for error. PVC pipe is a tight fit.

This is less fun on some shelves.

Why did placing the bottom shelf so near to the floor seem like such a good idea?

NOW it’s starting to look like a frog room.

Yes Marcela, we’re really going to finish the job!

A new arrival at the zoo. Andrés holds a “chuncho,” an Austral Pygmy-Owl, Glaucidium nanum.

A close-up look at the chuncho.

Our neighbor to the east, a Peruvian Pelican, Pelecanus thagus.

This place has cool plants (Aloe arborescens).