There are two things at the heart of The Living Desert’s mission: educating people about the wonders of the natural world and preserving endangered animals from desert habitats around the globe. For more than 5 decades we have become a beloved Coachella Valley cultural institution welcoming more than 12 million guests to our education and conservation campus.
Each year more than 100,000 school aged children visit The Living Desert from throughout Southern California. For many of them, this is their first opportunity to see both local desert wildlife and animals from deserts around the world. This visit begins a lifelong journey of empathy and caring about wildlife. We work collaboratively with teachers and school districts to provide science-based curriculum to support state education standards.
Allen Monroe, President/CEO
For more than 5 decades we have become a beloved Coachella Valley cultural institution welcoming more than 12 million guests to our education and conservation campus.
The Living Desert is currently involved in more than 80 conservation projects in 12 countries around the world. Our Community-Based Conservation Programs are the model for 21st century efforts to protect endangered species. In addition to financial support, The Living Desert sends veterinary, educator, and animal care specialists to support field conservation efforts.
We have been blessed over the years to have the broad support of our local community, which has allowed us to build, expand, and modernize our campus as we work to develop the conservation organization of the future. Thank you for joining us in exploring how your legacy can build on that foundation.
Be Wonderfully Wild,
Allen Monroe, President/CEO
WAYS TO GIVE
For over 5 decades, The Living Desert’s mission of desert conservation through preservation, education, and appreciation has remained steadfast. As we look to the future, the final phase of a three-part capital improvement initiative will support the growth of the organization, including the development of lion habitats, a state-of-the-art event and conference center, guest dining and marketplace, play and splash-pad, multi-departmental office space, and parking lot expansion.
The $90 million capital campaign, Pride of the Desert, began in 2016 and aims to raise the necessary funds to fulfill this portion of the Zoo’s master plan. The first phase, the Grundhofer Entry Plaza and Appel Gift Shop, and Phase Two, Rhino Savanna and the Sausman Office Complex are now complete. The final phase began Summer 2022, with staggered openings between Spring 2025-Fall 2027.
The Living Desert is a leader in the conservation and preservation of the world’s desert wildlife and wild places. As a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, we rely on the generosity of donors to sustain our operations and expand our commitment. Your gift to this campaign will enable us to further our impact on global wildlife initiatives and accelerate our ability to make a difference for the animals and plants we all love.
ARE A VARIETY OF WAYS TO GIVE!
LION RIDGE
The Living Desert’s deepening commitment to wildlife conservation will be fulfilled through the construction of the new Lion Ridge. Featuring African lions, this stateof-the-art habitat will further interpret the conservation stories of Africa’s biggest cat. Just twenty years ago, it would have been unimaginable to think that the mighty lion would be facing the threat of extinction. However today, lions are facing increased pressures of human development and expansion, such as loss of habitat and prey, which threatens much of their home range, and human-wildlife conflict, which includes wildlife trafficking.
The Living Desert’s commitment to the conservation programs supporting African lions includes leadership and involvement in community-based conservation programs, public engagement and communication efforts, and participation in the Species Survival Plan (SSP), which supports a genetically sustainable population of lions in human care.
The Living Desert’s new Lion Ridge habitat will share the depth of our conservation commitment and empower guests to make meaningful conservation actions to benefit all wildlife.
The Living Desert’s new Lion Ridge habitat will share the depth of our conservation commitment and empower guests to make meaningful conservation actions to benefit all wildlife.
RHINO SAVANNA
The Living Desert’s four-acre Rhino Savanna habitat is an impressive and impactful multi-species habitat featuring black rhino, springbok, waterbuck, pelicans, and more. The state-of-the-art habitat delivers on its promise to be a dynamic and engaging experience for all who encounter it - our animals, guests, and team. With its grand opening in November 2021, Rhino Savanna has helped The Living Desert reach recordbreaking attendance while deepening our conservation impact in African communities and inspiring our guests to become Agents of Conservation themselves.
At The Living Desert, we are global leaders engaging the public in behavioral change programs that benefit rhinos and thousands of other species. We work in Tanzania and South Africa to evaluate, inform, and improve outreach efforts to local communities that will promote coexistence with local wildlife. Across all of East and Southern Africa, we train conservationists in conducting social science research that can help improve community support for conservation with our Building Community Conservation Success training workshop. Over six years, we have trained over 525 conservation biologists how to learn from, work with, and promote local communities as Agents of Conservation.
GIRAFFE SAVANNA
The Living Desert’s iconic Giraffe Savanna has mesmerized our guests for over 20 years. This forward-thinking habitat brings guests of all ages right into the savannas of Africa. The opportunity to feed the world’s tallest animal fosters a love and appreciation for giraffe in an entirely new way. The Living Desert is currently home to a herd of 11 giraffes, and over 50,000 guests a year participate in the paid giraffe feeding experience that is offered daily.
Sadly, giraffe are in the midst of a silent extinction and their numbers have decreased almost 40% in the last 30 years. Listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature), giraffe are threatened by human-wildlife conflict and habitat loss. The Living Desert’s commitment to this iconic African species remains steadfast. Through partnerships with field conservation organizations, leadership within the Giraffe SAFE (Saving Animals from Extinction) program through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, and public engagement campaigns, we are working to help protect and save the majestic giraffe.
BIGHORN CAFE AND OASIS SPLASH PAD
To further meet the needs of our guests and growing attendance, The Living Desert is building a new concession and dining outlet, restroom facility, and interactive and playoriented splash pad. The splash pad will be a sustainable amenity that will offer inclusive play oppurtunites for guests. The marketplace dining outlet will offer a variety of food selections, as well as souvenirs and gifts. The marketplace will also be featured as one of the Zoo’s rental event venues.
Located adjacent to our bighorn sheep habitat, guests can learn more about this local species, specially designed for the unforgiving rocky mountain terrain they call home. The Living Desert actively supports the national conservation of this species through the leadership of the Species Survival Plan and local conservation efforts through collaborative efforts with local programs.
Splash Pad
Restrooms
Marketplace Kitchen Outdoor Patio
Bighorn Mountain
CONNIE AND BOB LURIE EVENT CENTER
This truly unique special event and conference center, supported in part by a generous leadership gift from Connie and Bob Lurie, will become the premier destination for events and conferences in the Coachella Valley. Its strategic location next to the Lion Ridge habitat will offer guests an unforgettable experience, combining nature with modern luxury. The center will provide an ideal setting for a wide range of events, from corporate meetings to social gatherings, all enhanced by the captivating surroundings.
One of the standout features of the event and conference center is its 180-degree window views into the new lion habitat, creating a one-of-a-kind backdrop for any occasion. The facility will boast cutting-edge audio/visual technology to support presentations, performances, and entertainment. With the capacity to accommodate up to 500 guests for indoor dining and seating for 250 on the adjacent patio, this remarkable space will offer a perfect blend of comfort, sophistication, and natural beauty.
AUSTRALIAN ADVENTURES
Australian Adventures is an engaging and immersive experience featuring Bennett’s wallabies bouncing alongside exploring guests. Free-flying budgies welcome and delight, along with playful emu, watchful tawny frogmouths, and singing kookaburras.
Yellow-footed wallabies gracefully scale the Australian rock formations, showing off their climbing abilities, and various Australian reptiles bask in the sunny habitat. Guests can discover these special desert species and feel like they’re visiting the incredible land down under!
Many similarities exist between Californian and Australian deserts. Still, the continent’s geographic isolation, long geological history, and diverse climates result in sustaining various animals unique to Australia. Wallabies face numerous threats in their natural habitat due to climate change, leading to a decline in their population to less than 10,000 individuals. To help preserve this species, The Living Desert works closely with the Australian government to house and breed yellow-footed rock wallabies at the Zoo. The Living Desert is honored to be the only U.S. zoo currently caring for a breeding mob of yellow-footed rock wallabies.
