The Birds and the Bees
Fearless and Fascinating
Just up the trail is an aviary for one of the world’s great bird spectacles, a colony of carmine bee-eaters. In the wild, carmine bee-eaters nest in burrows they carve
Your last stop in the Africa Forest Canopy takes you over a wooden bridge to experience up-close views of the ratel, or honey badger, one of Africa’s most fearless, intriguing, and secretive mammals. They are in constant motion yet are one of the most difficult animals to see in the wild.
Under the Forest Canopy
at the San Diego Zoo
Help Us Meet the
Rady Challenge
Your Impact: It Takes a Village to Create a Forest! Dog and Cat Canyon is one of the few remaining places in the Zoo that needs a major remodel for our animals and for the benefit of our guests. With your heartfelt generosity, the Africa Forest
PHOTO BY KEN BOHN, SDZG PHOTOGRAPHER
in cliffs and earthen riverbanks. Some colonies have used the same cliff face for many generations—up to 80 years! At the Zoo, our bee-eater colony will also have a mudbank nesting habitat.
Haven for Hornbills Nearby is an open forest habitat for a comical-looking bird with a booming voice: the southern ground hornbill. At 2½ feet tall, this bird, which can live up to 50 years in zoos, is the largest hornbill species in the world. Ground hornbills nest in hollow logs and tree cavities, so their new digs at the Zoo will provide them with those perfect places to raise their young.
Flying High in the Forest You will stroll beneath the wings of more than 20 bird species, with colors spanning the color spectrum, in a spacious walk-through aviary. One of the least colorful birds in the aviary is the most active and impressive: the sociable weaver. These diligent dynamos build the biggest nests in the world, some of which are a century old. The Zoo’s sociable weaver colony is one of just two outside Africa.
Canopy—as well as other regions within Africa Rocks—will transform our aging assortment of exhibits into a magical journey through a land of awe-inspiring wildlife.
For more information, visit sandiegozoo.org/africaforest
San Diego businessman and philanthropist Ernest Rady has stepped up with a significant gift to help us create Africa Rocks. He pledged a $10 million challenge grant if the Zoo can raise $20 million in matching funds. Any dollars you contribute to Africa Forest Canopy in Africa Rocks will take us one step closer to meeting this challenge and renewing one of the oldest areas of your San Diego Zoo.
SAVE THE DATE May 4, 2014
Safari Park Half Marathon and 10K safariparkhalf.com
June 21, 2014
Rendezvous In The Zoo Gala (R•I•T•Z) sandiegozoo.org/ritz
You can help secure the future for wildlife!
Heritage Guild By creating a Charitable Gift Annuity or leaving the Zoological Society of San Diego in your will or trust, you can help protect wildlife. To receive more information, please call 619-744-3352 or visit our website at zoolegacy.org.
SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL
SANDIEGOZOO.ORG
27