SAN DIEGO (July 13, 2023) – After more than two years of dedicated work, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance conservationists are achieving success breeding a critically endangered coastal bird: the milky stork. This breeding program is part of an 11th-hour effort with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Taxon Advisory Group (AZA TAG) to assist the last remaining individuals of the species living in North America—helping them successfully reproduce, and bolster the world’s population of milky storks. 

SAN DIEGO (July 7, 2023) – In the mid-morning hours of July 6, 2023, guests to the San Diego Zoo were treated to a rare and remarkable sight. Red panda Adira entered her outdoor habitat in the Zoo’s Asian Passage with someone new: her small and curious 1-month-old cub. This milestone was immensely significant, as the new cub is the first red panda born at the Zoo since 2006, and this marked the first time staff and guests were able to get a glimpse of the youngster outside its den.

It takes an innovative, comprehensive approach to bolster Hawaiian bird populations and ensure their future.

SAN DIEGO (June 6, 2023) – Researchers are currently tracking over 40 wild ‘io, also known as Hawaiian hawks, on Hawai‘i Island with lightweight, solar-powered GPS transmitters. This work is part of a collaborative effort to conserve this beloved species and one of its natural prey—the ‘alalā. Researchers with San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and the State of Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources – Division of Forestry and Wildlife are collaborating on this effort as part of a large-scale GPS tracking program to better understand the extent to which ‘io move across the island and how they utilize different habitats. With the new insights that are gathered, scientists will be better equipped to conserve this iconic raptor, and simultaneously glean critical insights to aid in the future reintroduction of the ‘alalā, also called the Hawaiian crow, to their native habitats. The aim is to ensure that both ‘alalā and ‘io can coexist in their native habitats, as they previously did for many years.

SAN DIEGO (June 1, 2023) – The San Diego Zoo Safari Park is celebrating a conservation milestone with the birth of an endangered Matschie’s tree kangaroo—only the second time this species has been born at the Safari Park. The female joey, named Kikori, was born to mother Arona and father Bek, at the end of August 2022 at the Safari Park’s Walkabout Australia.

SAN DIEGO (May 23, 2023) – The 25 African penguin residents of the Dan and Vi McKinney Penguin Habitat at the San Diego Zoo are starting their Memorial Day weekend festivities early by doing what penguins do best—swimming. The endangered birds, along with schools of sardines that share their habitat, zipped to and fro through the salty waters of a vast 275,000-gallon pool before eating breakfast and relaxing on the rocky beach.

SAN DIEGO (May 19, 2023) – Bedtime can wait this summer, when the San Diego Zoo brings back its annual after-dark extravaganza—Nighttime Zoo. From May 26 through Sept. 4, guests can explore the Zoo at night and enjoy a host of family friendly entertainment, live toe-tapping music and extraordinary summer treats, while learning more about wildlife from an unusual nighttime perspective.  

SAN DIEGO (May 17, 2023) – The San Diego Zoo Safari Park has welcomed a new lion to the pride: Bo, a 7-year-old male African lion. Earlier today, Bo curiously explored his new home at the Lion Camp habitat, showing confidence as he became comfortable in his new surroundings. Bo will eventually lead his own pride when he is introduced to the three female lions who reside at Lion Camp—Malika, Zuri and Amira.

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.”

Take a closer look at how we're rebuilding sustainable populations of critically endangered wildlife in the Pacific.