Tree climber helps San Diego Zoo achieve world-class status for its plants and trees – NBC 7 San Diego

He is a world-class tree climber climbing in a world-class arboretum.

Joe Wurzel is senior arborist at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. He specializes in climbing the tall trees in the park. Six years ago, Wurzel climbed his first tree.

“I absolutely fell in love with it,” he said. “It’s a very free feeling. I guess you could equate it to surfing, snowboarding or skydiving.”

Using climbing and safety equipment, Wurzel will climb trees throughout the safari park to inspect them for damage and disease. If necessary, he trims the trees. Root is a small part of a massive horticultural team at the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance that gives the trees and plants the same care as the animals.

“Look at some of the rarest animals in the world, we have some of the rarest plants in the world,” said Adam Graves, horticulture director at the San Diego Zoo. “We never really had an official way to share it with the world.”

Now they do.

The ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Program awarded the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park Level 4 accreditation for their education, conservation and work in the global community.

“A level four is pretty rare,” Graves explained. “There are only about 50 in the entire world.”

“It gives us the recognition that I think we deserve and want to showcase,” added Maddie Roberts, horticulture manager at the Safari Park.

ArbNet is an interactive, collaborative, international Arboreta community. It is the only global initiative that officially recognizes Arboreta based on a set of professional standards.

Wurzel is one of the many people who care for the San Diego Zoo’s arboretum every day. However, his care is apparently elite.

“I think climbing in general is just the coolest thing I’ve ever done,” smiled Wurzel.

He’s so good at his job that Wurzel qualified for this year’s International Tree Climbing Championships in Georgia. He represented the western United States as one of 90 competitors.

“It wasn’t a surprise to me. I’ve seen Joe climb and he’s great,” Roberts said.

“I think we’re really proud that we were able to attract a talent like Joe to our organization,” Graves added.

Wurzel said participants will be judged on speed, technique and safety.

“Simply the craziest, most stylistic art form I have ever participated in. I love it,” he said.

Wurzel said he didn’t win, but he looks forward to competing in the future while maintaining the zoo’s global standard at a high level.