SAN DIEGO (Aug. 29, 2022) – Lucas, a prominent member of the San Diego Zoo’s African penguin colony who was diagnosed with a degenerative foot condition, has a new opportunity to thrive, thanks to intervention by the Zoo’s wildlife heath and wildlife care specialist teams. Team members—with the help of Thera-Paw, a national organization that designs and manufactures rehabilitative and assistive products for animals with special needs—created and fitted Lucas with custom orthopedic shoes made of neoprene and rubber, to prevent pressure sores from developing on his feet and ankle when he stands and walks.

SAN DIEGO (Aug. 22, 2022) —The San Diego Zoo Safari Park has announced the birth of a male southern white rhino calf, born at the Nikita Kahn Rhino Rescue Center. The calf was conceived through natural breeding and was born on Aug. 6 to first-time mom Livia, and father J Gregory. Wildlife care specialists report the calf is healthy, confident and full of energy, and that Livia is an excellent mother, very attentive and protective 0f her offspring.

SAN DIEGO (Aug. 17, 2022) – Orphaned animals of several mammal species suffer socially and physiologically, and even if their mother dies after weaning, they may have lower survival than non-orphans. One physiological consequence of orphaning – stunted growth – had been discovered in humans and chimpanzee orphans.  A new study, published recently in the journal Conservation Physiology, shows that orphaning also stunts the growth of African elephants by an estimated average of 13 centimeters.

SAN DIEGO (Aug. 12, 2022) – A big celebration got underway this World Elephant Day (Aug. 12) at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, as wildlife care specialists and conservation scientists raised awareness of the plight of elephants worldwide, kicked off the Safari Park’s Wild Weekend: Elephants event (Aug. 12–14) and also celebrated the fourth birthday of male elephant calf Umzula-zuli, better known as Zuli.

SAN DIEGO (June 23, 2022) – The San Diego Zoo recently welcomed the birth of a ring-tailed lemur infant at the Zoo’s Conrad Prebys Africa Rocks Madagascar Forest habitat. The female infant was born May 22 to first-time lemur mother, Rindra. Wildlife care specialists report the infant is doing very well, nursing properly and gaining weight.  

SAN DIEGO (May 12, 2022) – A 3-month-old giraffe calf at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park has received a new lease on life, thanks to swift intervention by the conservation organization’s wildlife health and wildlife care teams to correct abnormalities that threatened the calf’s survival. The female youngster—named Msituni (pronounced see tune neee), which means “in the forest” in Swahili— received a pair of specialized giraffe-patterned orthotic braces that attached to her front legs to help correct a hyperextension of the carpi, bones that are equivalent to those in the human wrist.

BOZEMAN, MONTANA (Jan. 26, 2022) – Polar Bears International is supporting a team of researchers from leading zoos and aquariums involved in the Polar Bear Research Council (PBRC) in devising a Masterplan to advance the understanding of polar bear biology and management by participating in scientific research that will help protect the world’s polar bears.

SAN DIEGO (Dec. 9, 2021) – San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance welcomed delegates from Kenya’s Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife, Kenya Wildlife Service, and the Wildlife Training Research Institute, to the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park, as the international nonprofit conservation organization seeks to strengthen its ongoing collaboration with Kenya’s leading wildlife conserver.

Condor parthenogenesis—or reproduction without genetic contributions from a male—takes us by surprise.