Save $3 on Pink Flamingo Day!

Fri Jun 21 08:02:08 PDT 2024

Think Pink!
Sunday, June 23, is Pink Flamingo Day, as we celebrate our fine, feathered Chilean flamingos! Chilean flamingos (Phoenicopterus chilensis) are one of six flamingo species. As part of AZA’s SAFE program (Saving Animals Against Extinction), they are focusing this year on three of the species – Andean, Chilean, Puna (James’s) that live in South America at high elevations of 15,000 ft. and higher. As a proud partner of with SAFE, we support the recovery of these species through research, public engagement and education. In addition, these flamingo species’ wetlands habitats are impacted by lithium mining, the lithium that powers your cell phone battery, so you might want to think twice before upgrading with each new model.

On Sunday, wear pink to receive $3 off general admission when you purchase your ticket on-site at the ticket window! You also won’t want to miss a special flamingo talk by one of our knowledgeable animal caretakers at 10:30 a.m. by Flamingo Lake across from the Leaping Lemur Café. You can see our flock of 41 individuals, the oldest being 48 years old!
95th Anniversary – The People of the Zoo Past & Present
When SF Zoo was in its infancy during the early 1930s, a college degree was not necessary to work here. Many workers signed up for a zoo job through the City, just as they would working in any of the city’s other parks. These early zookeepers’ routines included preparing diets, feeding animals, cleaning exhibits and watching for breeding and other social interactions. Fast forward to today – staff are trained professionals, many with degrees in zoology, biology, veterinary medicine, animal behavior, research and science. Others are specialists in their various fields, not related to the zoo industry, and still others have advanced to their positions from working here for many years.
Today, most aspects of animal caretaking have remained but much has changed drastically as diets, for example, are carefully developed and meet species-specific nutritional guidelines while staff are more engaged in individual animal care. Now, they take a more scientific approach to behavior, providing enrichment to stimulate animals psychologically and physically, monitor health and welfare, providing preventative, neonatal and geriatric care, conduct studies and source scientific data for collaborative work and research projects and importantly, perform conservation work on-site and in situ. Staff also monitor compatibility, introduce new animals and continually observe anything that may be out of the ordinary (i.e., if an animal is not eating for some reason), working closely with veterinary staff. From the late 1920s and 95 years later to today, what hasn’t changed over the years is the profound connection between animal and caretaker, special bonds made and one-of-a-kind kinships
created.
Insect Week
Celebrate Insect Week from June 24-30 by visiting our Insect Zoo, located in the Youth Exploration Zone to see some of the world’s most industrious species up-close – very close! While this special week is one that is mostly recognized in the UK and throughout Europe, we feel there’s always a time and place to celebrate the over one million known insect species worldwide! It’s especially important for us to emphasize how much we rely on insects to pollinate fruits, vegetables and flowers and decompose organic matter. Known as beneficial insects, in addition to pollination, many products we love – including honey, beeswax and silk – are made by bugs!
Of course, there are also insects that are deemed as pests to humans, but other insects also help control them. Ecosystems are kept in balance because of insects, and due to habitat loss, many insect populations – from bees to butterflies to beetles – are in danger of becoming extinct. Around the Zoo, you’ll not only see exotic insect species in our Insect Zoo, which opened in 1979 as the first ever dedicated facility for insects, you can visit the Baobab tree at the Lipman Family Madagascar Center, and you’ll also see migrating butterflies, bees in our gardens and dragonflies flitting here and there. (Photo by May Woon)
It’s Officially Summer!
With the recent Summer Solstice, we are gearing up for an exciting summer with the return of our popular Nature Trail program after a five-year hiatus. Starting Friday, June 28, Nature Trail will be open on Fridays-Sundays through September 1. Located in the Youth Exploration Zone, Nature Trail features a variety of ambassador animals from our Animal Rescue and Conservation Center (ARC) and presented by an enthusiastic and knowledgeable group of summer youth volunteers. Be sure to visit the Nature Trail soon!

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