JOURNAL
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2021
Exploring the Wildlife of Amazonia + Our 2022 Calendar Issue
November/December 2021
Vol. 1 No. 5
Journey Through Our Conservation Work This issue of the San Diego Zoo
Wildlife Alliance Journal focuses on the Amazonia hub. To learn more about our collaborative conservation programs around the world, including our wildlife care at the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park, visit sdzwa.org.
Oceans Polar Bear & Penguin
Amazonia Jaguar
Savanna Elephant & Rhino
Southwest
Asian Rainforest
Desert Tortoise & Burrowing Owl
Australian Forest
Pacific Islands
African Forest
Tiger
Platypus & Koala
‘Alalā
Gorilla
3
Contents 2 President/CEO’s Letter 3 By the Numbers 4 Findings 6 Meet Our Team 8 Hot Topics 42 Events 44 Kids Page 45 Last Look
Cover Story 10
From the Living Mountain to the Living Jungle For Andean bear conservation efforts to work, scientists must study the varying landscape as well.
10
Features 14
A Year—and Beyond— of Wonder and Wildlife
40
Amazing species from four unique ecosystems await in the Zoo’s upcoming Sanford Wildlife Explorers Basecamp, opening in February 2022.
16 2022 Calendar
Meet stylized versions of some of the wildlife that will call the Wildlife Explorers Basecamp home.
40
Visualize It Explore the interconnected ecosystems that make the Amazon one of the most extraordinary—and vital— places in the world. On the Cover: Andean bear Tremarcos ornatus. Photo by: Ken Bohn, SDZWA photographer
LET TER FROM THE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
JOURNAL
MANAGING EDITOR Debra Erickson SENIOR EDITOR Peggy Scott STAFF WRITERS Donna Parham Abigail Karkenny Elyan Shor, Ph.D. Ebone Monet COPY EDITOR Eston Ellis DESIGNER Kerri Abrams PHOTOGRAPHERS Ken Bohn Tammy Spratt DESIGN AND PRODUCTION Kim Turner Lisa Bissi Jennifer MacEwen PREPRESS AND PRINTING Quad Graphics
Let's Stay Connected Follow @sandiegozoo & @sdzsafaripark. Share your #SanDiegoZoo & #SDZSafariPark memories on Twitter & Instagram. The Zoological Society of San Diego was founded in October 1916 by Harry M. Wegeforth, M.D., as a private, nonprofit corporation, which does business as San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. The printed San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance Journal (ISSN 2767-7680) (Vol. 1, No. 5) is published bimonthly, in January, March, May, July, September, and November. Publisher is San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, located at 2920 Zoo Drive, San Diego, CA 92101-1646. Periodicals postage paid at San Diego, California, USA, and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, P.O. Box 120271, San Diego, CA 92112-0271. Copyright© 2021 San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. All rights reserved. All column and program titles are trademarks of San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. If your mailing address has changed: Please contact the Membership Department; by mail at P.O. Box 120271, San Diego, CA 92112, or by phone at 619-231-0251 or 1-877-3MEMBER.
Subscriptions to San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance Journal are $25 per year, $65 for 3 years. Foreign, including Canada and Mexico, $30 per year, $81 for 3 years. Contact Membership Department for subscription information.
It’s the most diverse ecosystem on our planet, often referred to as the “lungs of the Earth” for producing nearly one fifth of our oxygen and affecting weather patterns across the globe. Amazonia, a lush tropical rainforest in South America, is our focus in this month’s issue, and I’m excited to take you inside the innovative conservation work we lead in this region. This work is critically important because the health of the Amazon is linked to the health of our planet and our own human health. Population sustainability scientist Russ Van Horn, Ph.D., takes us from the living mountain to the living jungle, starting on page 10, with a look into our work with Andean bears. These bears are active year-round and trail cameras, along with field data collected with our partners, are helping us gather important knowledge and further research to support meaningful conservation efforts. We also delve into the use of genomics in the jungle on page 8. Of course, this end-of-year issue also brings the highly anticipated 2022 calendar, a useful keepsake to keep our mission, to save wildlife and create a world where all life thrives, in your homes all year long. This year’s design is a whimsical, rich concept that reflects the look and feel of Wildlife Explorers Basecamp, opening in February 2022. This all-new experience is simply spectacular, and I’m deeply grateful to our donors, members, and supporters who have made it possible. Together, we’re nurturing a passion for nature as well as an empathy for wildlife in explorers of all ages. Thank you for your continued support.
As part of San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance’s commitment to conservation, this magazine is printed on recycled paper that is at least 10% post-consumer waste, chlorine free, and is Forest Stewardship Council ® (FSC®) certified. FSC® is not responsible for any calculations on saving resources by choosing this paper.
2 / SAN DIEGO ZOO WILDLIFE ALLIANCE JOURNAL / NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2021
Onward Together,
Paul A. Baribault President and Chief Executive Officer
PHOTO BY KEN BOHN/SDZWA; ILLUSTRATION BY: MICHAEL HOGUE
For information about becoming a member of San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, please visit our website at ZooMember.org for a complete list of membership levels, offers, and benefits.
Delving into Amazonia
BY THE NUMBERS
Remarkable Amazonia The Amazon rainforest region, home to San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance’s Amazonia conservation hub, is a biodiverse place that contains 10 percent of the identified species on the planet. To get an idea of just how unique this region is, consider these numbers:
2.5
Insect species are believed to live in Amazonia. Only 8,000 species have actually been classified.
40,000 + Plant species exist in the Amazonia region. This includes 16,000 tree species.
PHOTOS BY (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP, LEFT): KEN BOHN/SEZWA (3); KURGA/ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS
OFFICERS Steven G. Tappan, Chairman Javade Chaudhri, Vice Chairman Linda Lowenstine, DVM, Ph.D., Secretary Richard B. Gulley, Treasurer TRUSTEES Rolf Benirschke Joye D. Blount Kathleen Cain Carrithers Clifford W. Hague Robert B. Horsman Steven S. Simpson Judith A. Wheatley
million +
New species of plants and animals have been discovered in Amazonia in just the past 22 years.
2021 Board of Trustees
2,000+
TRUSTEES EMERITI Berit N. Durler Thompson Fetter George L. Gildred Yvonne W. Larsen John M. Thornton A. Eugene Trepte Betty Jo F. Williams
Executive Team Paul A. Baribault
President and Chief Executive Officer
Shawn Dixon
Chief Operating Officer
David Franco Chief Financial Officer
2,500+
Dwight Scott Executive Director, San Diego Zoo
Lisa Peterson
Fish species have been identified in Amazonia.
Executive Director, San Diego Zoo Safari Park
Nadine Lamberski, DVM, DACZM, DECZM (ZHM) Chief Conservation and Wildlife Health Officer
Wendy Bulger
General Counsel
1,300+
Bird species live in the Amazonia region.
David Gillig
Chief Philanthropy Officer
Aida Rosa
Chief Human Resources Officer
David Miller Chief Marketing Officer
SAN DIEGO ZOO WILDLIFE ALLIANCE / SDZWA.ORG / 3
FINDINGS
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance (SDZWA) protects and restores nature in eight conservation hubs on six continents. Below are recent discoveries and progress from around the world.
MUSEOMICS PROJECT COLLABORATION
SDZWA is collaborating with SDZG– Peru and the Natural History Museum of the National University of San Marcos in Lima, Peru, on a project titled “Museomics: Building a Molecular Reference Library for the Peruvian Biological Megadiversity.” The project will create a DNA barcode library—a genetic reference used for species identification—for all Peruvian mammals and birds. The library will incorporate state-of-theart genetics tools and will be invaluable for future studies of biodiversity, systematics, and ecology.
CULTIVATING A NATIVE SCRUB OAK PROTOCOL
BEAR BILE STUDY ENCOURAGING; STRATEGY STILL NEEDED
SDZWA scientist Elizabeth Davis, Ph.D., recently led the first ever country-wide study of bear bile use in Vietnam. Bear bile was once the most widely consumed wildlife product in Vietnam, but encouragingly, this study shows that a natural decline in bear bile use is occurring in most of the country. However, many bear farms are located in central Vietnam, and demand for bile remains high and unsustainable in this region—this indicates a need to develop strategies for targeted demand reduction, in order to continue our work to eliminate unsustainable wildlife consumption and combat wildlife trafficking in Vietnam. 4 / SAN DIEGO ZOO WILDLIFE ALLIANCE JOURNAL / NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2021 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021
PHOTO BY: JOSEPH REE, PH.D.
Nuttall’s scrub oak Quercus dumosa, a native California tree that plays important ecological roles, is endangered and increasingly threatened by urban expansion, climate change, and wildfires. To establish assurance populations of these trees, SDZWA scientist Joseph Ree, Ph.D., and our Plant Conservation team have developed a protocol for cultivating oak tissue in the laboratory. The protocol involves taking a small amount of stem tissue from a wild tree and placing it on a sterile mix of nutrients that the tree requires for growth. Growing oak tissue in these conditions removes the need for an intermediate greenhouse step, saving considerable time, effort, and resources. In a promising development, the protocol has so far proven suitable for cultivation of Nuttall’s scrub oak and two other local oak species.
VITAL WILDLIFE VACCINATIONS COMPLETED
Our Wildlife Health teams successfully administered vaccines for protection against SARS-CoV-2 to animals at the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park. Produced by veterinary pharmaceutical company Zoetis, the vaccine was formulated specifically for animals, and requires two doses for maximal efficacy. The teams vaccinated 237 animals: 127 primates, 83 felids, and 27 canids and other carnivores—these species were considered most susceptible to SARS-CoV-2. Our vaccination efforts are at the forefront of wildlife care and are a critical step in learning how to protect wildlife—both in our own community, and worldwide— from infection. Vaccinations are part of our multi-modal approach to protection, which also includes physical distancing, wearing PPE, and routine cleaning and disinfection.
presented by
DECEMBER 10–23 AND 25–31, 2021; AND JANUARY 1–2, 2022 During this year’s Jungle Bells presented by California Coast Credit Union, Aurora returns, bringing with it a magical and spectacular experience with lights, projections, and music. Aurora takes place each evening during Jungle Bells (except December 24). Also enjoy traditonal lighting displays, musical performances and entertainment, visits with Santa (through December 25), tasty holiday treats, gift shopping, dining at Albert’s Restaurant until 8:30 p.m. (except December 24), and holiday photos. ‘Tis the season to celebrate—join us for holiday cheer!
MEET OUR TEAM
Q
What is the coolest thing about your job?
The fact that it even exists! There can’t be many other illustrators who have the opportunity to work for a zoo full time. For someone who loves to draw and loves animals, it’s a dream come true. I get to play a small role in sparking educational and emotional connections between our guests and wildlife, which is something I find personally rewarding.
Q
What book or movie influenced you or made a strong impression?
sheepishly] …please tell me I’m not the only one who didn’t know this…” So it was exciting to be part of the team that unveiled San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance!
Amy Blandford As SDZWA’s senior illustrator, her artwork appears in San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance Journal, on signs at the Zoo and Safari Park, on souvenirs, and anywhere else an image is needed to capture the beauty and uniqueness of wildlife.
My first introduction to art was the picture books I loved as a child. I’d spend hours copying the drawings and making up my own stories about the characters. In the artwork I’ve created for the new Sanford Wildlife Explorers Basecamp, opening in February 2022, I see traces of some old favorites: books illustrated by Eric Carle, Ezra Jack Keats, Mary Blair, Alice and Martin Provensen, and others. What has surprised you about working with SDZWA?
I’d been a Zoo member since the ‘90s and thought I knew what the organization was all about. But I didn’t realize the extent of the contributions it makes to wildlife conservation until I started working here. Me: “Wow, people need to know this! [looks around
6 / SAN DIEGO ZOO WILDLIFE ALLIANCE JOURNAL / NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2021
A year’s worth of talent
See some of Amy’s illustrations in our 2022 calendar, starting on page 16.
Q
What was a turning point or defining moment in a project or program you’ve worked on?
It’s been an awfully long “moment,” but it’s the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s been incredible, the way everyone on the design team, the writers, all the people I work alongside have pulled together behind the scenes, working harder than ever in an outstanding effort to make possible the SDZWA launch and the upcoming Wildlife Explorers Basecamp, and support two Zoo/Park closures and reopenings during the COVID-19 pandemic. I’m so blessed to work with such talented and dedicated people. What is your favorite animal? Why?
MONKEYS! Golden lion tamarins, capuchins, langurs. But my favorite individuals at the Zoo are two of the apes: Aisha the orangutan and Sela (pictured, left) the siamang. I’ve really enjoyed watching them grow up together; their antics crack me up. It always lifts my spirits to see members of different species bond with each other and become friends. It’s how I wish the whole world was.
PHOTO BY TAMMY SPRATT/SDZWA; ILLUSTRATION BY: MICHAEL HOGUE
Q
Q
EVERY WEEKEND STARTING NOVEMBER 26 THROUGH JANUARY 2, AND SELECT WEEKDAYS. SEE SDZWA.ORG FOR DETAILS. See the Safari Park in a whole new light! Go on a holiday expedition of light and travel through places that glow and twinkle with holiday cheer. Holiday tunes set the mood, and seasonal food treats tempt you throughout your journey. Join us for a joyful celebration of the season!
HOT TOPICS
Genomics in the
T
Mrinalini Erkenswick Watsa, Ph.D., a population sustainability scientist for SDZWA, charts the course to “frugal science.”
echnological advances have expanded the repertoire of tools available to laboratory scientists, providing them with smarter, quicker, and more accurate ways to study the science of molecules. With this tide of innovation has come a significant increase in the complexity— and cost—of lab ware. Many devices come with warranties and maintenance packages that run into thousands of dollars a year in themselves. This has created what is often an insurmountable gap between those who can access laboratory technology and those for whom the price is simply too high. However, alongside such innovation there has also been a quieter, simpler movement: we call it “frugal science.” Frugal science has produced a $1 paper microscope and 3D-printed centrifuges. Do-it-yourself biologists have invented $300 kits to make machines that can easily and affordably amplify genes of interest. This ever-growing movement has demonstrated that we can democratize laboratory science and open its doors to a much larger group of players. Nowhere has this been more impactful than in the field of conservation genomics, a field that applies the study of genes and chromosomes toward the preservation of wildlife and biodiversity. Globally, many conservation programs for endangered species rarely assess biological samples (such as hair, feces, or tissue) due to the difficulties faced by scientists in trying to analyze them. However, these samples, often deposited by wildlife as they move through their habitat, contain veritable treasure troves of information. We can tell which species live in an ecosystem, who eats whom, if males outnumber females, and even the number of individuals in a particular region, all by using the DNA they naturally deposit into their environments. We can protect and conserve endangered species by making technology accessible to scientists and communities around the world. The frugal science movement makes all this possible. In 2021, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and our partners are embarking on an effort to democratize and decentralize laboratories, beginning with the launch of the Wildlife Conservation Laboratory at Los Amigos Biological Station in the southeastern Peruvian Amazon. We are strategically investing in low-cost, high-quality technology (yes, you read that right!) and empowering scientists from the regions where we work to add this to their “conservation toolbox.” This move comes at a time when a global pandemic has further emphasized the importance of genomics, and the need for widespread laboratory science and training. Genomics gives us an unprecedented lens with which to view the world. And now, genomics is coming to the jungle! You can help support conservation science. Visit sdzwa.org to learn more.
8 / SAN DIEGO ZOO WILDLIFE ALLIANCE JOURNAL / NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2021
Jungle
We can protect and conserve endangered species by making technology accessible to scientists and communities around the world.
Genome Sequencing, In Brief The genome is an organism’s complete set of genetic information, encoded by DNA. Genome sequencing is the process of decoding this information, allowing scientists to unravel and analyze an individual’s unique genetic makeup. The following is a quick guide to getting from sample to sequence: Extraction
DNA from a biological sample is isolated and purified.
Amplification
The DNA fragments are “amplified,” or repeatedly copied, within a specialized machine. This process, called a polymerase chain reaction (PCR), produces up to millions of copies of specific sections of DNA, which makes genetic information easier to study.
Library Preparation
The products of a collection of PCRs are then pooled together, creating the “library.” This allows multiple genetic targets to be sequenced at once.
Library Sequencing
Analysis:
Powerful computer programs determine how to piece together the fragments of genetic information by comparing them against a specific organismal reference genome. Scientists utilize these genomic sequences to gain insight into factors such as identity, physiology, and health. –Elyan Shor, Ph.D., and Mrinalini Erkenswick Watsa, Ph.D.
SAN DIEGO ZOO WILDLIFE ALLIANCE / SDZWA.ORG / 9
ILLUSTRATION BY : TETIANA LAZUNOVA/ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS
A sequencing machine reads the library, identifying and recording the composition of nucleotides—the genetic building blocks (A, T, C, G)—in every DNA fragment.
KEN BOHN/SDZWA
DID YOU KNOW? The Andean bear is one of the flagship species of national parks in the Andes.
FROM THE LIVING MOUNTAIN TO THE LIVING JUNGLE In the Andean bear program, we’re working in a dynamic and diverse landscape to answer basic questions with implications for conservation planning across the Andean bear’s range. BY RUSS VAN HORN, PH.D.
T KEN BOHN/SDZWA
o stand at the overlook at Tres Cruces in Manu National Park, in the Andes of southeastern Peru, is an incredible and humbling experience. It can look and feel as though you are a very small and very disoriented human, standing on the edge of the world. If you are a scientist working toward the conservation of Andean bears, you stand at the edge between what we know and what we do not know. The forested slopes below you descend from the sacred Apu (living mountain) Cañajhuay through humid forests, down and up and down again, to the Amazon rainforest. If you follow the trail before you, you will walk in shadows between and below trees covered with moss, vines, spectacular orchids, and bromeliads, and next to towering tree ferns. If you watch carefully as you descend, you
will see that the forests vary across short distances, with changes in elevation and orientation. Within these forests live many species that are not well understood, including Andean bears. As scientists, we are pretty certain that we know some things about Andean bears. These bears live across one-sixth of the north-south distance of the Earth, and across a range of more than 13,000 feet (4,000 meters) in elevation. They do not attack people, but they have been reported to eat more than 20 species of animals, and over 300 species of plants. Scientists know something else: despite these characteristics, which suggest the potential for the bear to survive alongside humans, these bears are vulnerable to extinction in the wild, and we don’t understand enough about the bears to effectively support their long-term conservation.
SAN DIEGO ZOO WILDLIFE ALLIANCE / SDZWA.ORG / 11
Challenges and Questions The continued existence of Andean bears is threatened by habitat loss, habitat fragmentation, increased mortality of bears after crops are raided and livestock are killed, and various effects of climate change. To respond to these threats, and to answer important conservation questions—such as where are the most important locations for the conservation of Andean bears, or which are the critical spaces to connect remaining patches of Andean bear habitat—we need to improve our understanding of the basic biology and ecology of the Andean bear. In science, the first step in understanding something is describing it, so that we can develop possible explanations and gather data to learn where our thinking was correct, and where it was not. Over the last five years, this is what we’ve been doing—asking, thinking, describing, and thinking again, about the significance of what we’ve observed in the landscape around Tres Cruces. From Tres Cruces, with a light pack and no misadventures, you could walk downhill from the grassland and drop across dwarf alpine forest, cloud forest, upper and lower montane forests, to the Amazon rainforest in less than two days. The rainforest is not far away, but there are no Andean bears there. Through a network of trail cameras, we’ve regularly observed bears to only walk about halfway down these slopes; you could walk down the entire elevational range of the bear in a single day. We don’t detect bears lower down, where there appear to be more diverse foods, supporting many more species of birds and primates than live at higher elevations. Why do the bears not descend the slopes to compete for these foods, fish in the large rivers, or forage around illegal gold-mining camps? We do not know yet, but we are analyzing
Because food is available yearround where they live, Andean bears are active year-round and do not spend months inactive in dens, as do American black bears or brown bears. Trail cameras, along with data collected by field projects, help scientists glean as much information as possible about these enigmatic, arboreal bears.
12 / SAN DIEGO ZOO WILDLIFE ALLIANCE JOURNAL / NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2021
more than 150,000 images of wildlife, including more than 45 species of mammals, to see if patterns suggest that landscape features or negative interactions with other species may keep Andean bears from the lowlands. If Andean bears’ distribution is restricted by interactions with other species, and climate change results in those species moving up the slopes, as tree species are already moving up the slopes, then the bear’s range may shrink even though the slopes remain covered with forest.
Solutions, Tools Conservationists throughout the Andean bear’s range are trying a variety of approaches to improve the long-term outlook for the bears to exist in a
DID YOU KNOW? A Species Survival Plan (SSP) is in place for this bear species, through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance is committed to Andean bear conservation in Amazonia.
presence alters the spatial and temporal patterns of how Andean bears use Andean forests. Trail cameras are a valuable tool in our work, and the photos they collect of Andean wildlife are evidence of animals that we almost never see in person. Little by little, we’re building the tools, the knowledge, and the alliances that will help governmental agencies, private land managers, and local communities to more effectively plan their long-term coexistence with Andean bears and other wildlife from the living mountain to the living jungle. Russ Van Horn, Ph.D., is a population sustainability scientist for SDZWA.
PHOTO BY: KEN BOHN/SDZWA
human-impacted world. For example, ecotourism has been suggested as a way for local communities to benefit directly from conserving Andean bears and other large mammals. However, we do not know how the bears might react to ecotourism. Because well-managed tourism should not change the availability of food for bears, or directly change their mortality, it’s possible that tourists would have no impact on Andean bears. However, bears of other species are known to change their behaviors in response to human hikers, so perhaps ecotourism will affect Andean bears. To support effective planning for ecotourism, we’re analyzing data from trail cameras to see whether human
SAN DIEGO ZOO WILDLIFE ALLIANCE / SDZWA.ORG / 13
w
A Year— and Beyond— of Wonder and Wildlife
W
Make a date with some of your favorite species in four ecosystems.
e can’t wait to welcome you to Sanford Wildlife Explorers Basecamp when it opens at the San Diego Zoo in February 2022—our most significant expansion at the Zoo to date. In the meantime, we’re thrilled to share a sneak peek at the exclusive, one-of-akind artwork featured throughout the immersive experience as the theme of the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance 2022 calendar. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance Senior Illustrator Amy Blandford carefully crafted each colorful scene to demonstrate the diversity and interconnectedness of our planet. Each month, you’ll get a glimpse of the four unique ecosystems that await your adventures at Wildlife Explorers Basecamp: Rainforest, Desert Dunes, Marsh Meadows, and Wild Woods. From treehouses and flyover insect migrations to trickling streams and arid deserts, Wildlife Explorers Basecamp will allow you to dive into the ecosystems and planet we all share. And from leafcutter ants and orb weaver spiders to
squirrel monkeys and sloths, opportunities to connect with plants and animals while unleashing your creativity will be around each and every corner. Come nose-to-nose (or beak, or snout…) with wildlife ambassadors. Crawl through naked mole-rat tunnels and visit a black light-illuminated ant colony. Team up to play conservation games on interactive screens, or use microscope stations to make your own discoveries. Guests can splash, slide, and jump side by side with wildlife, building empathy for plants and animals—and for children, boosting the physical, cognitive, social, and emotional aspects of their development. Conservation starts with people. And inspiring wildlife allies to join us in creating a world where all life thrives is the driving force behind Wildlife Explorers Basecamp. In this place like no other, exploration will be endless—leaving guests of all ages engaged, inspired, and ready to take action with us as allies for wildlife. We hope you enjoy this taste of Wildlife Explorers Basecamp with each month that passes. Even after 2022 comes and goes, know that Wildlife Explorers Basecamp will be waiting for you to make memories filled with wonder for all the years ahead.
14 / SAN DIEGO ZOO WILDLIFE ALLIANCE JOURNAL / NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2021
“Bee” on the Lookout
A bee is hidden in every illustration throughout Wildlife Explorers Basecamp! Can you find them all in this calendar?
January
9
31
30
New Moon 0
24
Full Moon @
17
10
3
23
16
First Quarter Moon G
New Moon 0
Wild Holidays ends (Park)
Jungle Bells ends (Zoo)
February S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28
December 2021 S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
2
Monday
Sunday
1
25
Last Quarter Moon T
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
18
11
4
28
Tuesday
2
26
19
12
5
29
Wednesday
3
27
20
13
6
30
Thursday
Living the High Life: About 90 percent of rainforest animals find everything they need—food, shelter, and mates—in the treetops.
Friday
4
28
21
14
7
31
New Year’s Day
15
8
5
29
22
Wild Holidays (Park)
Jungle Bells (Zoo)
1
Saturday
sdzwa.org
February
27
6
International Polar Bear Day (Zoo)
Love Your Pet Day
20
7
28
Washington’s Birthday
Presidents’ Day
21
14
13
Valentine’s Day
7
March S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
January S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
6
Monday
Sunday
8
1
8
1
22
15
First Quarter Moon G
Lunar New Year (Year of the Tiger)
Seniors Free, through February 28 (Park)
Lunar New Year (Park)
Lunar New Year (Zoo)
Tuesday
9
9
2
23
16
Last Quarter Moon T
Full Moon @
Groundhog Day
2
Wednesday
10
3
24
17
10
3
Thursday
Friday
Rosa Parks Day
Leafy bits are food for leafcutter ants’ underground fungus gardens. The ants eat the fungus—not the leaves.
Cutting in the Canopy:
11
4
25
18
11
4
Lincoln’s Birthday
Valentine’s Day Dinner (Park)
12
5
26
19
12
5
Saturday
sdzwa.org
March
Spring Equinox
Daylight Saving Time begins
28
4
27
3
21
14
13
20
7
April S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
February S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28
6
Monday
Sunday
World Water Day
International Women’s Day
8
1
5
29
22
15
Tuesday
Purim
New Moon 0
Ash Wednesday
Dr. Seuss Day
6
30
23
16
9
2
Wednesday
24
New Moon 0
7
31
Last Quarter Moon T
St. Patrick’s Day
17
First Quarter Moon G
10
3
Thursday
Full Moon @
Friday
Tiny Creatures Hard at Work: Fallen leaves and rotting logs— yum! Decomposers gobble it up and turn it into rich soil that feeds the forest.
8
1
25
18
11
4
9
2
26
Spring Safari, featuring Butterfly Jungle begins, through May 8 (Park)
19 Butterfly Jungle Preview Dinner (Park)
12
5
Saturday
sdzwa.org
April
17
Easter Sunday
1
24
Easter Brunch (Park)
2
World Penguin Day (Zoo)
25
18
11
10
Easter Brunch (Zoo)
Palm Sunday
4
May S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
March S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
3
Monday
Sunday
3
26
19
12
5
29
Tuesday
4
27
20
13
6
30
Wednesday
5
28
21
14
7
31
Thursday
Desert Dunes: Desert plants take up and store water when it rains. Desert animals get most of their water from food.
Earth Day
Passover begins
Good Friday
6
29
22
15
8
1
First Quarter Moon G
April Fools’ Day
Spring Safari, featuring Butterfly Jungle continues, through May 8 (Park)
Friday
23
New Moon 0
Epiphyllum Show and Sale (Park)
7
30
Last Quarter Moon T
Full Moon @
9
16
Nativescapes Garden Tour (Park)
Ramadan begins
2
Saturday
sdzwa.org
May
8
1
15
5
29
Last Quarter Moon T
22
Total Lunar Eclipse Full Moon @
First Quarter Moon G
Mother’s Day
Spring Safari, featuring Butterfly Jungle, ends (Park)
Mother’s Day Brunch (Park)
Mother’s Day Brunch Buffet (Zoo)
Epiphyllum Show and Sale (Park)
Sunday
New Moon 0
Memorial Day
World Turtle Day
Eid al-Fitr begins
16
9
2
6
30
23
Monday 3
7
31
24
17
10
Tuesday
8
1
25
18
11
4
Wednesday
Cinco de Mayo
5
9
2
26
19
12
Thursday
Native habitats of the Southwest are home to desert tortoises, burrowing owls—and so much more.
Thriving in a Dry Land:
20
13
6
3
27
April S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
Bike to Work Day
Endangered Species Day
Friday
June S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
4
28
Armed Forces Day
21
International Migratory Bird Day
14
7
Saturday
sdzwa.org
June
27
4
3
Last Quarter Moon T
20
13
6
26
19
12
Nighttime Zoo begins, through September 5 (Zoo) Father’s Day Brunch (Park) Father’s Day Juneteenth
World Environment Day
July S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
May S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
5
Monday
Sunday
21
New Moon 0
Summer Solstice
5
28
World Giraffe Day (Zoo)
Full Moon @
Flag Day
14
First Quarter Moon G
7
31
Tuesday
World Oceans Day
6
29
22
15
8
1
Wednesday
7
30
23
16
9
2
Thursday
Keep Cool: The large surface area of a fennec fox’s ears releases body heat. How do you keep cool?
Friday
8
1
24
17
10
3
11
18
9
2
25
R•I•T•Z: Rendezvous In The Zoo (Zoo)
Breakfast with Giraffes (Zoo)
4
Saturday
sdzwa.org
July
25
1
24
31
18
17
National Zookeeper Week begins
11
4
10
Independence Day
August S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
June S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
3
Monday
Sunday
2
26
19
12
5
28
Tuesday
20
3
27
Last Quarter Moon T
Full Moon @
13
First Quarter Moon G
6
29
Wednesday
New Moon 0
4
28
21
14
7
30
Thursday
Friday
29
22
15
8
1
5
Global Tiger Day (Park)
Nighttime Zoo continues, through September 5 (Zoo)
Grasses, reeds, and sedges grow in a marsh’s waterlogged soil. They offer birds and flying insects a place to rest.
Marsh Meadows:
World Snake Day
Breakfast at Penguins (Zoo)
6
30
23
16
9
2
Saturday
sdzwa.org
August
Kenya Days (Park)
Sunday
22
29
5
28
4
15
14
21
8
Nighttime Zoo continues, through September 5 (Zoo)
1
7
31
Monday
9
2
6
30
23
16
Tuesday
18
25
1
8
31
7
Last Quarter Moon T
Full Moon @
11
4
Thursday
24
17
10
3
Wednesday
Friday 5
July S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
2
26
World Orangutan Day
19
World Elephant Day (Park)
Kenya Days (Park)
12
First Quarter Moon G
You might find one under a rock or log or near a puddle. Help them thrive—keep your backyard pesticide-free.
Spot the Salamanders:
3
September S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 26 26 27 28 29 30
New Moon 0
27
20
Kenya Days (Park)
13
6
Saturday
sdzwa.org
September
New Moon 0
2
3
26
25
Rosh Hashanah begins
19
18
4
27
20
5
28
21
14
7
1
Fall Equinox
6
29
World Rhino Day (Park)
22
15
8
Thursday
Friday
7
30
23
16
9
2
Full Moon @
17
10
First Quarter Moon G
International Vulture Awareness Day (Park)
3
Saturday
8
1
24
Last Quarter Moon T
13
6
31
Wednesday
Grandparents Day
12
5
30
Tuesday
Food, Wine, and Brew Celebration (Zoo)
Labor Day
Nighttime Zoo ends (Zoo)
October S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
Monday
sdzwa.org
Patriot Day National Day of Service and Remembrance
11
4
August S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
Sunday
Watery World: We all need water. Fish, frogs, salamanders, and some reptiles spend at least part of their lives in water.
October
16
Autumn Festival (Park)
30
First Quarter Moon G
Halloween
31
New Moon 0
1
2
26
19
12
3
27
20
13
6
HalGLOWeen (Zoo)
HalGLOWeen (Zoo)
HalGLOWeen (Zoo)
HalGLOWeen (Zoo)
4
28
21
14
7
30
Friday
22 Autumn Festival (Park)
5
29
HalGLOWeen (Zoo)
Autumn Festival (Park)
8
1
15 HalGLOWeen (Zoo)
Autumn Festival (Park)
HalGLOWeen (Zoo)
HalGLOWeen (Zoo)
Kids Free begins, through October 31 (Park)
Kids Free begins, through October 31 (Zoo)
Saturday
Autumn Festival (Park)
Diwali
25
18
11
5
29
Thursday
HalGLOWeen (Zoo)
24
Ellen Browning Scripps Day
Yom Kippur begins
4
28
Wednesday
Autumn Festival (Park)
23
Last Quarter Moon T
17
Indigenous Peoples’ Day
10
3
27
Tuesday
sdzwa.org
HalGLOWeen (Zoo)
Full Moon @
Autumn Festival (Park)
HalGLOWeen (Zoo)
Full Moon @
Autumn Festival (Park)
HalGLOWeen (Zoo)
9
First Quarter Moon G
HalGLOWeen (Zoo)
November S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 18 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
September S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 26 26 27 28 29 30
2
Monday
Sunday
Streams burble among tall trees that provide shade, shelter, and food. Grasses and ferns grow in the soft soil.
Wild Woods:
November
21
28
20
27
4
5
14
7
13
Wild Holidays (Park)
Daylight Saving Time ends
December S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
October S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
6
Monday
Sunday
Total Lunar Eclipse Full Moon @
Election Day
8
1
6
29
22
15
Tuesday
7
30
First Quarter Moon G
New Moon 0
23
Last Quarter Moon T
16
9
2
Wednesday
Thanksgiving Day
Thanksgiving Day Buffet (Park)
Thanksgiving Day Buffet (Zoo)
One Health Day
3
8
1
24
17
10
Thursday
Here to Help: Spiders are fearsome predators—but not to people. Without them, we’d be overrun with insects.
Wild Holidays (Park)
Veterans Day
Friday
9
2
25
18
11
4
3
10
Wild Holidays (Park)
26
19
12
5
Saturday
sdzwa.org
December
December
Kwanzaa begins
Christmas Day
1
Wild Holidays (Park)
Jungle Bells (Zoo)
Jungle Bells (Zoo)
2
26
Wild Holidays (Park)
Jungle Bells (Zoo)
3
27
Wild Holidays (Park)
Jungle Bells (Zoo)
4
28
Wild Holidays (Park)
First Quarter Moon G
5
Jungle Bells (Zoo) Wild Holidays (Park)
Jungle Bells (Zoo)
29
Wild Holidays (Park)
Hanukkah begins
25
Wild Holidays (Park)
Winter Solstice
New Moon 0
Wild Holidays (Park)
Wild Holidays (Park)
Wild Holidays (Park)
Jungle Bells (Zoo) Jungle Bells (Zoo)
Jungle Bells (Zoo) Jungle Bells (Zoo)
22
Jungle Bells (Zoo)
21
Wild Holidays (Park)
20
Jungle Bells (Zoo)
Jungle Bells (Zoo)
18
19
Jungle Bells (Zoo)
17
4
30
23
New Year’s Eve
5
Wild Holidays (Park)
Jungle Bells (Zoo)
31
24
Wild Holidays (Park)
Jungle Bells (Zoo)
16
Last Quarter Moon T
Jungle Bells (Zoo)
15
Wild Holidays (Park)
14
Wild Holidays (Park)
Jungle Bells (Zoo)
Jungle Bells (Zoo)
10
Wild Holidays (Park)
3
Full Moon @
9
2
Saturday
Breakfast with Santa (Park)
8
1
Friday
Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
7
Thursday
Jungle Bells (Zoo)
13
6
30
Wednesday
Jungle Bells (Zoo)
12
5
29
Tuesday
sdzwa.org
Jungle Bells (Zoo)
11
Wild Holidays (Park)
January 2023 S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
November S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 18 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
4
Monday
Sunday
A long body, sturdy legs, nimble toes, and a sensitive nose make the coati an expert climber and hunter.
In the Trees or on the Ground:
VISUALIZE IT
Branching Out The Amazon is a vertical mosaic of layered habitats, each packed with extraordinary wildlife. Many move up and down through the stories to find what they need for survival. This creates an interconnected ecosystem—one that impacts our entire planet, and one that San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance is working to protect. By Abigail Karkenny | Illustration by Amy Blandford
E M E RGE NT L AYE R
Bright, spacious, and unprotected from the elements
Are we there yet?
CANOPY L AYE R Crowded treetops that control light and moisture reaching the layers below
U N DE RSTORY L AYE R
Damp, tangled maze of trees, bushes, and vines that tolerate low light and high humidity
It takes 10 minutes for rain to drip from the thick canopy to the forest floor.
FOREST FLOOR
Dark (receiving less than 2 percent of light that the canopy does) and blanketed by decomposing matter
RIVE R
The world’s second-longest river, stretching 3,977 miles long with thousands of winding tributaries
40 / SAN DIEGO ZOO WILDLIFE ALLIANCE JOURNAL / NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2021
Harpy eagle These massive raptors are perched at the top of the rainforest food chain.
Brazil nut tree Heavy, baseballsized fruits sprout from this massive tree.
Bald uakari Bright red faces are thought to signal good health to other monkeys. Scarlet macaw Strong, curved beaks help them crush nuts and seeds. Heliconia Only hummingbirds can reach the tucked-away nectar of these “lobster claws.” Goliath birdeating spider Insects, mice, frogs and more are on its menu— not just birds.
Amazon river dolphin Their shade of pink varies, depending on age and water clarity.
Greater bulldog bat These bats prey on fish by using echolocation to detect water movement. Agouti An oily substance on their coarse hair repels water like a raincoat. Green anaconda These whopping 550-pound snakes can swallow large prey whole.
Be a Wildlife Ally: Choose Good Wood
One Forest, Many Roles Biodiversity hotspot: Among the most biologically rich and threatened regions on Earth
Water transport: Creates clouds that carry moisture around the planet
Howler monkey Their long distance calls can sometimes be heard from nearly two miles away (about the corner-to-corner distance of Balboa Park!).
Emerald tree boa With expert camouflage and long teeth, tree boas can snatch flying prey mid-air. Southern tamandua Their name means “catcher of ants” in Brazil’s Tupí language.
Home: About 30 million people live in the Amazon
You can help by choosing items with the FSC logo. Look for it on wood and paper products, like furniture or paper towels (and your copy of the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance Journal!).
Blue morpho butterfly With a wingspan of five to eight inches, these are among the world’s largest butterflies.
Açaí palm Many animals eat the açaí’s tart purple berries. People eat them, too—in the Amazon, and around the world.
Amber phantom butterfly Translucent wings help them hide in dense, shaded habitat.
Jewel caterpillar A gooey coating and spikes protect these caterpillars until they transform into dalcerid moths.
Glass frog Transparent skin on their bellies allows their green top color to provide camouflage.
Amazon water lily Massive eightfoot leaves help these giants soak up the sun.
Whiteblotched river stingray Polka dots provide camouflage for these fish in sun-spotted water.
Kapok These trees are some of the Amazon’s tallest, reaching about 230 feet and producing up to 4,000 fruits at a time.
Kinkajou These nocturnal carnivores use their prehensile tail to grip branches for balance and when reaching for food.
Peruvian firestick While most stick insects have leaf-like camouflage, these use bright warning colors as a defense. Elephant beetle By eating waste, rotten wood, and carcasses, beetles clean up the rainforest and create fresh soil. Yellow-spotted Amazon river turtle Their main nesting sites are heavily protected to prevent poaching.
SAN DIEGO ZOO WILDLIFE ALLIANCE / SDZWA.ORG / 41
PHOTOS BY: ISTOCK/GETTY IMAGES PLUS: PROXYMINDER, GLOBALP (3), EDSONGRANDISOLI, NTCO, MIKELANE45, JESUE92,WIKA1979, VAC1, DEWIN ‘ INDEW, INNA TABAKOVA, MIRECCA, MICHEL VIARD, LEOMERCON, THORSTEN SPOERLEIN, CHARLES WOLLERTZ, BOOKYBUGGY, STANISLAV CHEGLEEV, BRASIL2; BRAND X PICTURES/STOCKBYTE/GETTY IMAGES; MEDIAPRODUCTION/E+/GETTY IMAGES; ALAMY STOCK PHOTOS: WIRESTOCK, INC., NATURE PICTURE LIBRARY, BLICKWINKEL, BETASTOCK.
Carbon sink: Absorbs and stores excess carbon from the atmosphere
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance manages two Amazonian wildlife monitoring stations, one of which is located in a Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) logging concession. FSC certification ensures that trees are responsibly harvested, protecting wildlife from rampant deforestation.
EVENTS
November SAN DIEGO ZOO
November and December Hours San Diego Zoo 9 a.m.–5 p.m.*
San Diego Zoo Safari Park 9 a.m.–5 p.m.*
sdzwa.org
N OV E M B E R 2 5
Thanksgiving Day Buffet at the Zoo
Enjoy a sumptuous Thanksgiving buffet at the San Diego Zoo’s Treetops Room. Two seatings are available: 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. or 3:30–5:30 p.m. Call 619-718-3000 or book online. (Z) D E C E M B E R 1 0 –2 3 , 25 –31, 2021; AN D J A N U A RY 1 –2 , 2 0 2 2
Jungle Bells
presented by California Coast Credit Union
Join us at the Zoo until 8 p.m. for holiday cheer with festive lights and decorations, the return of the spectacular Aurora show, special seasonal performances and entertainment, and a variety of treats. (Z) O F F E R E D DA I LY
Discovery Cart Tours
619-231-1515
*Exceptions apply. Programs and dates are subject to change—please check our website daily for the latest information and requirements for visiting. (Z) = San Diego Zoo (P) = Safari Park
42 / SAN DIEGO ZOO WILDLIFE ALLIANCE JOURNAL / NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2021
Enjoy a 60-minute guided tour of the Zoo aboard a deluxe expedition cart, led by one of our knowledgeable guides. Book online or call 619-718-3000. (Z) O F F E R E D S E L E C T DAYS
Early Morning Cheetah Experience
Meet our world-famous wildlife behavior specialists and get an up-close look at one of our cheetahs as they run and play! Call 619-7183000 or book online. (Z)
& December NOVEMBER 25
SAFARI PARK
Thanksgiving Buffet at the Park
Savor a delicious Thanksgiving meal at the Safari Park’s Hunte Nairobi Pavilion. For more information, call 619-718-3000. (P) E V E RY W E E K E N D S TA R T I N G N OV E M B E R 2 6 T H R O U G H J A N U A RY 2, 2022, AND SE LECT W E E K DAYS
Wild Holidays
Go on a holiday expedition of light and travel through places that glow and twinkle with holiday cheer. Fanciful characters, musical entertainment, storytelling and culinary treats round out your evening of holiday festivities. (P) DECEMBER 12
Breakfast with Santa at the Park
Santa Claus is coming— to the Safari Park! Gather your family at the Safari Park’s Hunte Nairobi Pavilion for a bountiful buffet breakfast with the jolly ol’ elf himself. Call 619-718-3000 for reservations. (P) OFFERED SELECT DAYS IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER
Deluxe Wildlife Safari
Spend even more time with your favorite wildlife!
On this 90-minute safari, you’ll venture into habitats representing Africa and Asia for up-close views of giraffes,
rhinos, and many other species. Enjoy amazing photo opportunities while learning about how caring for wildlife
here helps us to conserve them around the world. For ages six and up. Call 619-718-3000. (P)
SAN DIEGO ZOO WILDLIFE ALLIANCE / SDZWA.ORG / 43
Visit the San Diego Zoo Kids website to find out about wildlife and habitats, plus videos, crafts, stories, games, and more! kids.sdzwa.org
Amazing Ants
Carry on Despite their tiny size, leafcutter ants are among the strongest animals on Earth—they can carry 50 times their own weight. That’s like you carrying a motorcycle!
START
D
Leafcutter ants bite foliage into tiny pieces to carry back to their colony. Can you help these tiny workers find their way home?
EN
The right bite
44 / SAN DIEGO ZOO WILDLIFE ALLIANCE JOURNAL / NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2021
Room for everyone A leafcutter ant colony can include up to 10 million ants and thousands of chambers (rooms).
ILLUSTRATIONS BY: AMY BLANDFORD/SDZWA; (CENTER) TRACY SABIN
The leafcutter ant’s jaws are so powerful, they are called “chainsaw mandibles” that can vibrate 1,000 times per second!
First-time mother Cora the southern tamandua (pronounced tuh MAN deh wah) gave birth last summer to a healthy male pup. The pair, along with Cora’s mate Fernando, live at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park and are wildlife ambassadors for their species. Tamanduas, native to Central and South America, are also called lesser anteaters. Photographed by Ken Bohn, SDZWA photographer.
LAST LOOK
SAN DIEGO ZOO WILDLIFE ALLIANCE / SDZWA.ORG / 29
JOURNAL
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance P.O. Box 120551, San Diego, CA 92112
Wildlife Heroes Change the World You can be a Wildlife Hero by making a monthly gift that helps protect vulnerable wildlife, care for countless animals and plants in San Diego and around the globe, and offer hope to the world’s most extraordinary wildlife relying on us to thrive— and survive—each and every day. Your ongoing and continued support fuels critical conservation efforts worldwide, allowing us to leverage your monthly gift and maximize your impact to meet the most urgent needs of wildlife while creating sustainable conservation solutions for the future. Your monthly gift will make a world of difference for wildlife.
Become a Wildlife Hero today at sdzwa.org/hero.
