Join us in the Costume Parade & Contest at Boo at the Zoo!

Thu Oct 19 14:16:05 PDT 2023

ANIMAIL - The latest news at San Francisco Zoo & Gardens!
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ZOO HIGHLIGHTS
This Weekend! Boo at the Zoo Presented by First 5 California
Join us for the first weekend of Boo at the Zoo Presented by First 5 California this Saturday & Sunday! Come dressed in costume for our 12 noon costume parade and contest in the categories of Best Animal, Best Family, Judge's Favorite, and Best Toddler costumes. To enter, line up at the flamingo habitat for the costume parade around the Elinor Friend Playground area, then get ready show your stuff to our judges! As a special treat, Chuy Gomez from 102JAMS will host our costume contest this Saturday, October 21st! Stop by and say hello!

Throughout each day, you won't want to miss Halloween treats and pumpkins for the animals and spooky decorations in many animal areas. Be sure to "snap" the animal treat presentation schedule at the Entry Village Gatehouse. Each day at 11:30 a.m., Wildlife Theater will showcase a "Supernatural Species Meet & Greet" for guests to meet a variety of animals up-close. On Sunday, October 22 at 10:45 a.m., line up to be among the first 10 families to participate in the Jack-o-Lantern Jamboree at the Family Farm inside the Children's Zoo at 10:45 a.m. where you can make Halloween enrichment for our barnyard animals. Don't forget to take photos and post on your social media! Use #sfzoo!
Choose Sustainable Palm Oil Candy Products This Halloween

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Your candy choices can make a big difference for wild orangutans, and we are sharing the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo's 2023 guide to Halloween candy that uses sustainable palm oil. The wild populations of critically endangered species like Bornean and Sumatran orangutans, and other endangered species that live in tropical rainforests, are declining rapidly due to habitat loss and deforestation caused by the destruction of their homes for palm oil, used in many products. Sustainable palm oil is produced with the lowest environmental impact possible, minimizing impact to wildlife and the local communities. Check out the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo web page (https://sfzoo.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=05b8326f4402b997fe7a097e3&id=7db5109360&e=7683a9aed3) , and also check the labels - products with the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) trademark shows it contains a minimum of 95% of certified sustainable palm oil. Choose wisely and save wildlife!
First 5 California's Stronger Starts Campaign
First 5 California's latest campaign, Stronger Starts, raises awareness among California parents and caregivers about Toxic Stress Response (https://sfzoo.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=05b8326f4402b997fe7a097e3&id=3602dc966f&e=7683a9aed3) in children 0-5 years old caused by ACEs. The campaign helps parents and caregivers learn about what toxic stress is; the physiological, psychological, and socio-economic effects on children; and how ACEs can lead to its development. To learn more, visit First5California.com (https://sfzoo.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=05b8326f4402b997fe7a097e3&id=a8ba931030&e=7683a9aed3) .
See "Friendly Ghosts" at the Zoo

There are friendly ghosts at the Zoo! Phyllocrania paradoxa is the “ghost mantid,” a species of praying mantis from Madagascar. At around five centimeters in length, it is amongst the smaller mantid species. It sports an elaborate “headdress” appendage that serves to break up its profile and make it look more like a leaf. During Boo at the Zoo Presented by First 5 California, you can spot this ghost in our new Madagascar Baobab Tree exhibit!
HAPPENING THIS MONTH!
International Sloth Day
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Each year, International Sloth Day takes place on October 20, recognizing sloths as an important "umbrella species" and a key indicator of the health and balance of their ecosystem, according to the Sloth Conservation Foundation (https://sfzoo.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=05b8326f4402b997fe7a097e3&id=a7112ae799&e=7683a9aed3) , an organization dedicated to saving sloths in the wild through research and conservation initiatives. Known as the "slowest moving mammals on the planet," they excel at conserving energy. We are home to a Southern two-toed sloth, a species native to Central and South American lowland and mountain tropical forests. they are primarily nocturnal and solitary animals, living high in the rainforest canopies. Because they spend most of their time hanging in trees, their fur grows in the opposite direction of other mammals and has special grooves in it which hosts algae. Though considered a species of least concern by the IUCN, they are extremely vulnerable to deforestation and the illegal wildlife trade.(Photo by May Woon)
International Snow Leopard Day
Another "ghost" animal is the snow leopard, known as the "Ghost of the Mountain" due to their elusive nature and the coloring of their fur, which helps them blend into their snowy, rocky environment. October 23rd marks International Snow Leopard Day, and while they are listed as vulnerable according to the IUCN Red List, their numbers have continued to decline, mostly due to poaching for their fur, and for use in traditional medicines. Climate change, habitat loss and a reduction in their prey also have an impact on their survival.

Our friends at the Snow Leopard Conservancy (https://sfzoo.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=05b8326f4402b997fe7a097e3&id=480facda8b&e=7683a9aed3) work to ensure that snow leopards survive, helping to conserve their habitat through environmental awareness and community partnerships. At the Zoo, snow leopards have served as important ambassador animals since their arrival here in the 1960 through an exchange from the City of San Francisco and Moscow. Since then, SF Zoo's snow leopard breeding program has contributed greatly to the population of snow leopards under human care and through the support of snow leopard conservation efforts.

** SF Zoo Membership Every Day!
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A Zoo Member (https://sfzoo.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=05b8326f4402b997fe7a097e3&id=fd614c5c0e&e=7683a9aed3) enjoys FREE admission 365 days a year while supporting our mission of caring for and conserving animals. Become a Member, gift a Membership or renew your SF Zoo Membership now! Members now receive a 10% discount for all facility rentals and catering events. Thank you for your support!
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