Caring for Animals of the Rainforest

The rainforest is an amazing place, filled with an extraordinary number of plant and animal species you can’t find anywhere else in the world. We may be a long way away from the rainforest here in Denver, but for a limited time, there is a unique way to experience this environment right in our own backyard.  

Our latest temporary exhibition “Animals of the Rainforest” brings this incredible ecosystem that provides habitat to roughly half of all the living animal and plant species on the planet to the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, offering our community a special way to meet and learn all about the fascinating animal species from around the world who call the rainforest home. 

Read more: 7 Living Rainforest Animals You Can Meet at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science

The animals in the exhibit are cared for by Little Rays Nature Center, a top-notch organization known for its high standards of animal care. Their team of wildlife caretakers and educators ensure the animals get daily care and health checkups, nutritious meals and lots of enrichment. Here we sit down with Little Ray’s Wildlife Educators Jennifer Nicholas and Donna Santiago to learn about their work and how it is getting to work with incredible wildlife from the rainforest on a daily basis. 

Interview with Jennifer Nicholas 

How did you become a wildlife educator? 

Working with exotic animals has always been a passion of mine, so I knew from a young age that I wanted to do something with animals. When I got this opportunity, I knew it was exactly what I wanted to do. I love teaching people about animals and could talk about them all day long. One of the best experiences is when someone comes in afraid of snakes or spiders, and by the end, they’re saying, “They’re so cute! That’s so cool!” That’s what I want, to see people care about these animals and leave saying, “That was the coolest thing. You made my day.” I really love seeing that change in people. 

What is the experience like bringing live animals to the Museum? 

I’ve really enjoyed working with the Museum so far. The team is very detail-oriented, which is important to me because very I'm focused on details. I love when everything is well planned and clearly written out. And for the public it’s great too! People come to the Museum to learn and they’re the ones you can sit down with and have a meaningful conversation. You can say, "Hey, let me teach you about this animal," and they’re very receptive.  

Why does this exhibition help people care about the rainforest? 

Having live animals in the exhibit really helps convey the importance of rainforests in a way that’s hard to achieve with just statues or panels. If we only had displays, some visitors might briefly read and move on. But when they see the sloth, the boas, or the iguanas, they connect on a different level—they’re fascinated, they think, 'Wow, that’s so cool!' or 'That’s adorable!' And that curiosity often leads to deeper questions. For instance, people start asking, 'Where in the rainforest does this animal live?' or 'Is it endangered?' This opens up conversations about why rainforests matter, not just for animals but for people, too.

Interview with Donna Santiago 

How did you become so passionate about animals? 

From a young age, I was fascinated by animals, especially the ones others found scary. While most kids would shy away, I was eager to learn all I could about them. There are even photos of me as a kid holding alligators and snakes! My passion really started there, fueled by the unique wildlife around me and my curiosity to understand it. 

What does a day on the job look like for you? 

First thing in the morning, we jump right into animal care. We do health checks to make sure all the animals are doing well, change their water and mist the exhibits since maintaining humidity is key. Even though we have foggers, we do a full misting every morning. We also clean out any old food, like salads from the night before, and make sure all lights, humidity levels are at the right levels. Our only mammal, JJ, gets special attention with his diet, so we weigh his salad before and after feeding to make sure he’s getting the right nutrition. We also engage with visitors, sometimes bringing an animal out to talk about it up close. One of the highlights is taking Echo, our Roughneck Monitor, for a walk around the exhibit. She loves interaction, so this is as stimulating for her as it is fun for visitors. At the end of the day, we make sure everything is set for the night by filling the humidifiers and double-checking that each animal's environment is comfortable and secure. 

How is it forming connections with some of these animals that people might not expect you to? 

Oh, I love that question! Forming connections with animals—especially ones people might not expect, like snakes—is incredible. When I was in Philadelphia, I worked with a sloth named Maple, and we had such a unique bond. I’d spend hours with her, and she became so comfortable with me. It’s funny because you don’t always notice the bond right away. But then you realize things like, 'Oh, they’ll only eat when I’m there,' or 'They come out more when they hear my voice.' It’s those little things that show they recognize you. Right now, I’m working on connecting with our iguana, Casper. Every day, I go in with food, talk to him, and give him little scratches, which he loves. It’s amazing how animals start to remember you as 'the person who walks me around' or 'the one who gives me my medicine'—sometimes to their delight, sometimes not so much! But each animal has its personality and building that trust with them is incredibly rewarding. 

It's the last month to see Animals of the Rainforest before it leaves on Jan. 19! Get your tickets, today!