Working with wildlife as a registered veterinary technician is a one-of-a-kind job.

Plants that bloom in the dark

Fall Fun and Food at the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park

The trailblazing "Zoo Lady" worked alongside San Diego Zoo founder Dr. Harry Wegeforth, and her innovative ideas and dedication to wildlife care continue to inspire us today.

Many animals are just as enthusiastic about sitting in the sun and soaking up some rays, and they exhibit some unique behaviors while they’re doing it.

Helping Mojave Desert Tortoises Survive in a Rapidly Changing World

Check out the cold, hard facts about reptiles and temperature sex determination.

It takes quick action and collaboration to care for wildlife in crisis. We're uniquely qualified to help.

There’s an important part of the San Diego Zoo Safari Park that most guests never see.

SAN DIEGO, PALM DESERT, Calif. (April 15, 2024) – Seventy critically endangered Mojave desert tortoises have successfully emerged from their winter burrows after being reintroduced into their native habitat on Edwards Air Force Base in Southern California. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, the global authority on desert plant and wildlife conservation, are working in partnership with Edwards Air Force Base, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Geological Survey, using headstarting techniques designed to increase the survival rate for young tortoises. The cohort of young tortoises was the first in the program to be reintroduced into the wild after receiving a combination of an indoor- and outdoor-rearing. Within 24 hours of reentering their native habitat, the tortoises were exhibiting positive natural behaviors by constructing new burrows or modifying existing burrows for shelter. Now, six months later, they have emerged after winter brumation—a state of deep sleep specific to reptiles—and are spending more time basking at burrow entrances. Scientists are currently conducting health assessments and replacing radio transmitters on the tortoises to continue monitoring their success and better understand the juvenile age class.