SAN DIEGO ZOO WILDLIFE ALLIANCE

SAN DIEGO ZOO WILDLIFE ALLIANCE
2026 FACT SHEET

WHAT: San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance is an international, nonprofit conservation organization with two leading wildlife parks: the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance integrates wildlife health and care, science, and education to develop sustainable conservation solutions. With a focus on the interconnectedness of the health of wildlife, people, and the ecosystems we share, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance aims to drive conservation outcomes benefiting both people and the planet. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance partners with hundreds of communities and organizations worldwide to address conservation challenges using innovative strategies. The Alliance synergizes skills honed at the Zoo and Safari Park with experience in the field to inspire and catalyze conservation action on behalf of wildlife, working toward a world where all life thrives. 

MISSION: San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance is committed to saving species worldwide by uniting our expertise in wildlife care and conservation science with our dedication to inspiring passion for nature.

VALUES:

• Collaborate: We nurture alliances, bringing together diverse teams, peers, partners and communities to expand and deepen our impact. 
• Innovate: Together we pioneer new ideas and approaches to ensure the long-term health and survival of wildlife and the ecosystems we depend on.  
• Inspire: We share our passion for nature to increase understanding, empathy, advocacy and action for wildlife. 
• Thrive: When we collaborate, innovate and inspire, we help people and wildlife thrive together for a healthy planet. 

WHERE:                   

San Diego Zoo Safari Park
The San Diego Zoo Safari Park, an 1,800-acre wildlife conservation park, is home to more than 3,000 animals representing over 293 species. Located in Escondido, California, the Safari Park welcomes guests to see mixed-species herds of wildlife in expansive savanna habitats. The Safari Park is a vast, accredited botanical garden and arboretum featuring more than 1.3 million plants representing over 3,700 species. Guests are invited to take part in thrilling safari experiences and create lasting memories while supporting San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance’s conservation efforts to save wildlife worldwide.   

San Diego Zoo Wildlife Explorers
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Explorers raises awareness, promotes empathy and inspires a passion for wildlife in a younger audience, including the next generation of wildlife care experts, conservationists and educators. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Explorers provides a vast array of learning and educational opportunities for families, students and teachers to experience firsthand our approach to saving wildlife and support responsible collective action to protect the environment. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Explorers provides free and discounted education programs in San Diego that meet LEAD standards for science curriculum, as well as teacher training. Using powerful storytelling, the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Explorers channel broadcasts enlightening television programming 24 hours a day to more than 400 children’s hospitals and Ronald McDonald Houses around the world—providing joy, comfort, laughter and learning each year to millions of children and their families who are experiencing challenging times and might not otherwise be able to experience the wonders of wildlife. 

CONSERVATION FOCUS: For over 50 years, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance has developed and honed a unique set of skills and strengths that showcases the role of zoos in global conservation efforts. This includes expertise in conservation science, wildlife health and wildlife care, including capacity in conservation technology, ecology, reproductive management, community engagement, disease surveillance, genetic rescue, education, nutrition and care. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance is also home to the Wildlife Biodiversity Bank, which includes the Frozen ZooÒ, an invaluable resource consisting of living cells and nonliving samples that we and our partners use to advance applied science and develop tools that restore genetic diversity and resilience to wildlife populations. 

• African Forest: forest elephant, gorilla, chimpanzee 
• Amazonia: jaguar, Andean bear, giant otter 
• Asia: Sumatran tiger, Javan leopard, Asiatic black bear, giant panda, orchid 
• Australian Forest: koala, platypus 
• Oceans: polar bear, African penguin, California least tern, snowy plover, killer whale 
• Pacific Islands: ʻalalā, ʻakikiki, aga, San Clemente loggerhead shrike
• Savanna: savanna elephant, white rhino, black rhino, African lion, African leopard, giraffe, cheetah, Grevy’s zebra, vulture, cycad 
• Southwest: Quino checkerspot butterfly, monarch butterfly, burrowing owl, desert tortoise, mountain yellow-legged frog, Pacific pocket mouse, thick-billed parrot, coastal scrub oak, Torrey pine, mountain lion, California condor, Stephens’ kangaroo rate, San Bernadino kangaroo rat 

COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS: San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance is dedicated to collaborative conservation initiatives that safeguard biodiversity, reintroduce wildlife into native habitats, mitigate disease, preserve genetic resources, foster human-wildlife coexistence, engage communities, enhance capacity and inspire change through education and outreach. Through its joint efforts with a global network of renowned conservation partners, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance envisions a world where all life thrives. To date, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance has helped reintroduce more than 44 endangered species into native habitats, many of which were born at the Zoo, the Safari Park or at one of the sustainable conservation population centers the Alliance manages and operates.

San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance’s notable multidisciplinary field conservation programs include collaborative efforts to protect savanna elephants, giraffes and leopards in Kenya; polar bears in the Arctic; tigers in Indonesia; koalas and platypuses in Australia; a diverse array of unique wildlife in Southern California and northern Mexico; forest birds on the Hawaiian Islands; jaguars and Andean bears in Peru and giant otters near the Cocha Cashu Biological Station; and gorillas, chimpanzees and other wildlife in Cameroon’s Ebo forest. These programs promote and sustain healthy ecosystems and the recovery of endangered wildlife while providing training opportunities for scientists and resource managers. 

WHO: Wildlife care specialists, veterinarians, nutritionists and other team members at the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, as well as scientists and program managers working around the world, are dedicated to the conservation of plants, animals and habitats to save wildlife through innovative wildlife health, science, recovery and management programs and community outreach. The communications teams including public relations, social media, creative services, media production teams, and more, all contribute to spreading public awareness of San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance’s work. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance members, donors and guests contribute to the conservation work at each of these world-class locations.

CONTACT:
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance 
Public Relations 
619-685-3291 
publicrelations@sdzwa.org   
sdzwa.org  

About San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, a nonprofit conservation leader, inspires passion for nature and collaboration for a healthier world. The Alliance supports innovative conservation science through global partnerships and groundbreaking efforts at the world-famous San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park, both leading zoological institutions and accredited botanical gardens. Through wildlife care expertise, cutting-edge science and continued collaboration, more than 44 endangered species have been reintroduced to native habitats. The Alliance reaches over 1 billion people annually through its two conservation parks and media channels in 170 countries, including San Diego Zoo Wildlife Explorers television, available in children’s hospitals across 14 countries. Wildlife Allies — members, donors and guests — make success possible. 

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