SDZWA Stories

Pollinators are an incredible group of animals that ensure the health of our ecosystems by helping plants to reproduce. In a world that tends to focus on the “charismatic megavertebrate,” it’s often surprising to learn that the smallest animals are the real powerhouses of pollination. If this doesn’t sound like a big deal, consider that 1,200 crops and over 180,000 species of plants require pollination, and without pollinators like these specialized insects— specifically bees, flies, beetles, butterflies, and moths—life as we know it would cease to exist. Pollination dates back millions of years, and among the first animals on record to pollinate were beetles. Pollination may seem a bit like a happy accident, and to the pollinating animal, it’s merely a consequence of gathering resources. Even so, it’s also the result of millions of years of plant and animal coevolution refined to increase efficiency!

San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance (SDZWA) took an important step forward in having giant pandas return to the San Diego Zoo by signing a cooperative agreement with China Wildlife Conservation Association and filing a permit application with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. SDZWA has a nearly 30-year conservation partnership with research collaborators in China focused on protecting and recovering giant pandas. These collaborative efforts have had a significant impact—including, increased scientific understanding of giant panda biology, care and wellness, and what pandas need to thrive in a changing climate—contributing directly to the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List downgrading the giant panda from Endangered to Vulnerable in 2021. But there is still much more work to do to secure their safe future.

In July 2023, just weeks before International Tiger Day, the San Diego Zoo Safari Park (and parents Diana and Dumai) welcomed two Sumatran tiger cubs. The cubs—a male and female—were born on July 12, and we were well aware of the significance of their arrival, as it had been seven years since the Safari Park’s last tiger cub birth. This was a joyous outcome for a collaborative project that paired our team of carnivore specialists with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Species Survival Program (SSP), to support the propagation of this incredible species. The current SSP population consists of 67 animals (30 males, 37 females) in managed care at 28 AZA facilities. The process—and logisitics—of wildlife conservation are governed by strict protocols, but there are still facets that can defy predictability.

Who doesn’t love a penguin? They’re cute and curious, and their antics can keep Zoo guests interested and engaged for hours. Penguins are colonial birds, meaning that they seek safety in a crowd, so that’s why you’ll see large numbers of them living or swimming together. Even though the 25 African penguins at the San Diego Zoo’s Dan and Vi McKinney Penguin Habitat at Africa Rocks usually gather in a big group, they each possess distinct personalities, and we treat them as individuals. A big part of our wildlife care specialists’ daily responsibilities is ensuring that each penguin stays healthy—and to do this, we must be familiar with what normal behavior is for each bird in the colony.

For the third consecutive year, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance will partner with the Tournament of Roses in Pasadena and participate in the 135th Rose Parade® presented by Honda on New Year’s Day. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance’s parade float theme— “It Began with a Roar”—will feature a myriad of heartwarming stories from the San Diego Zoo that have inspired generations to care for and protect wildlife.

Standing close to a 430-pound gorilla, his brow furrowed and eyes stern, it’s easy to tense up. However, once you adjust to his sheer size and powerful appearance, it becomes clear that he is actually remarkably calm—peaceful even. What many people don’t realize is that gorillas are naturally quiet and peaceful. They are gentle giants. This is especially true of the geriatric silverback who lives at the Safari Park. Now 51 years old, Winston wins the hearts of all those who come into contact with him—both people and gorillas. His easygoing, kind, and relatable character, combined with his experience, size, and influence, make him a likable and trusted leader of the family troop.

San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance is celebrating the birth of two Sumatran tiger cubs—the first of this critically endangered species to be born at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park’s Tull Family Tiger Trail habitat in seven years. Their birth also comes just in time for Global Tiger Day. With only an estimated 400 to 600 Sumatran tigers remaining on Earth, the births are significant in increasing the worldwide population of this tiger species and furthering the nonprofit conservation organization’s ongoing work to conserve them.

San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance has announced construction is officially underway on the largest and most transformative project in the San Diego Zoo Safari Park’s 50-year history. The all-new Denny Sanford Elephant Valley will reimagine the heart of the Safari Park, turning the current elephant environment into a dynamic savanna and a place of exploration. Elephant Valley will give guests of all ages the opportunity to connect with elephants like never before, encouraging greater empathy, understanding, and appreciation of this majestic species—and igniting a passion for wildlife.

In the mid-morning hours of July 6, 2023, guests to the San Diego Zoo were treated to a rare and remarkable sight. Red panda Adira entered her outdoor habitat in the Zoo’s Asian Passage with someone new: her small and curious 1-month-old cub. This milestone was immensely significant, as the new cub is the first red panda born at the Zoo since 2006, and this marked the first time staff and guests were able to get a glimpse of the youngster outside its den.

Who can it be now? One look at two of the Safari Park’s newest residents—from their duck-like bills to their short legs, webbed feet, and otter-like tails—and it’s clear there is only one thing they can possibly be: platypuses Ornithorynchus anatinus. Since their debut in November 2019, this species is becoming more familiar to our visitors, and now it’s time to get to know the delightful duo, Birrarung (“Birra,” for short) and Eve.

Veterinarians gave their first exam this morning to four capybaras, members of the world’s largest rodent species, born Monday at the San Diego Zoo. The four capybaras, which weighed between 3.5 and 4 pounds, were born on-exhibit in the Harry and Grace Steele Elephant Odyssey. Capybaras are the world’s largest rodent and are found east of the Andes, on Central and South American riverbanks, beside ponds and in marshes, or wherever standing water is available.

Butterflies and moths make up one of the largest and most recognizable groups of insects, the Order Lepidoptera. Derived from the ancient Greek words for “scale” and “wing,” the name perfectly describes a key characteristic of moths and butterflies: the tiny, keratin-based scales that cover their wings. Over time, lepidopterists (people who study moths and butterflies) have identified more than 274,000 species—and there are many more to discover.