SAN DIEGO (May 18, 2023) – Two books published by San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance Press were honored with awards from the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) at their 35th annual IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards™ ceremony on May 5. Author Georgeanne Irvine’s Hope and Inspiration collection children’s book “Raising Don: The True Story of a Spunky Baby Tapir” received a Gold Award in the Young Reader: Nonfiction (8–12 years) category, and author Rolf Benirschke with James Lund received a Silver Award in the biography and autobiography category for  “Saving Wildlife: The Extraordinary Life and Legacy of Dr. Kurt Benirschke.”

Last month, after days of anticipation, Mabel, a 4-year-old pygmy hippopotamus at the San Diego Zoo, gave birth to her first calf.