TO THE HUBBARDS FOR THEIR GENEROUS SUPPORT! THANK YOU!
“I support The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens because it is a wonderful neighbor and a treasured asset in our community. Whether we come to feed the giraffes or take a stroll through the beautiful gardens, it is a special place for creating memories with our friends and family.”
- Joan Dale Hubbard
Join us this season as we celebrate our 50th Anniversary of creating memories. Discover all that is new and learn how you may join your BIGHORN neighbors in support of The Living Desert’s vision for the future.
To learn more about the Pride of the Desert capital campaign contact Jan Hawkins 760-346-1483 | ThePride@LivingDesert.org
Hummingbirds & Butterflies
Reopening
ZOONEWS
AZA RE-ACCREDITATION
The Living Desert is proud to share that it has been reaccredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquarium (AZA). To receive accreditation, the Zoo underwent a thorough review to ensure it has and will continue to meet ever-rising standards in categories which include animal care and welfare, veterinary programs, conservation, education, and safety. The AZA requires zoos and aquariums to successfully complete this rigorous accreditation process every five years in order to be members of the Association. The Living Desert has been continuously accredited by the AZA since 1983.
BIGHORN SHEEP CITIZEN SCIENCE PROJECT
For most people when they think of July 4th, they think about a weekend of fireworks and festivity. But for Animal Care Curator Heather Down and Animal Care Specialist Daniella Stage, the 4th of July will now also invoke memories of assisting with conservation, while seeking the thrill of seeing an elusive and majestic native ungulate. The duo took to the rocky slopes and canyons of our desert backyard to spend the long weekend observing the Federally-listed endangered peninsular population of desert bighorn sheep.
The Anza-Borrego Desert State Park (ABDSP) sheep count is the longest-running and most consistent count being done within the peninsular ranges. With the help of fellow citizen scientists, the counts allow ABDSP and California Department of Fish and Wildlife to track long-term trends in sheep abundance, habitat use, and survival rates within the recovery regions. The data accumulated through the annual census is critical to the direction and refinement of the management and recovery effort of this population.
The Living Desert hosts and partners with a variety of citizenscience conservation projects throughout the year. Stay tuned for opportunities to come join the zoo in upcoming projects. It is through your support that together, we can advance the understanding and the conservation of our natural and native world.
NEW DIRECTOR OF PARK SERVICES
Zoo veteran, Mark Miller, has joined the zoo as the Director of Park Services. In this role, Mark will lead all aspects of park and guest services. Mark comes to The Living Desert from Utah’s Hogle Zoo having served there as the Director of Guest Relations. If you see Mark on grounds, make sure to say Hi!
EGG-CITING NEWS AT THE LIVING DESERT
The Living Desert, in partnership with the San Diego Zoo, is investigating an alternative method to head-start desert tortoises in the hopes of improving survival rates. Instead of rearing hatchlings for 2-3 years, the new strategy is to release 6-18 month old hatchlings into improved habitat.
This Spring, biologists brought wild female tortoises to The Living Desert to be induced to lay their eggs. The eggs were placed in incubators and monitored for temperature and humidity throughout the 70-90 day incubation period.
Recently a very ‘egg-citing’ development happened – the first clutch of eggs hatched! The hatchlings will remain under The Living Desert’s care until the temperatures cool, allowing for safer outdoor rearing. Each juvenile will be outfitted with a transmitter, allowing biologists to track movements and survival rates.
This project is one of the first of its kind, and we are incredibly honored to play a part in recovering this charismatic desert species.
Bighorn Sheep Count
Desert Tortoise Hatching
Mark Miller, Director of Park Services
WILDFILE
WONDERFULLY WILD GIFTS, YEAR-LONG ENJOYMENT: A ZOO MEMBERSHIP, AN ANIMAL ADOPTION, OR A TRAIN ADOPTION!
A ZOO MEMBERSHIP, AN ANIMAL ADOPTION, OR A TRAIN ADOPTION!
Looking for that one-of-a-kind gift that’s never forgotten? Look no further. You can give a gift that is remembered all year, and at the same time, helps support The Living Desert’s animal care, education, and conservation programs.
Annual Membership:
Members enjoy a full-year of FREE unlimited daytime admission to the Zoo and Gardens, FREE guest passes, and discounts at food and retail outlets, and events. Plus, they can use their membership at over 150 zoos and aquariums in the U.S. and Canada!
Animal/Train Adoptions:
Your symbolic adoptions make perfect gifts for holidays, birthdays, and graduations! There are several levels of animal and/or train adoptions to choose from to make your selection easier. Adoptions start at $35 and include a personalized certificate and many other benefits.
Call us at 760-346-5694 to order your gifts today!
WINGED WONDERS: BUTTERFLIES AND HUMMINGBIRDS
Back by popular demand, Winged Wonders: Butterflies and Hummingbirds returns this fall. Don’t miss the opportunity to experience walking through a magical garden with colorful native and exotic butterfly species. Expect to see a variety of species, including Monarch, Queen, Zebra Longwing, Giant Swallowtail, Painted Lady, and more! And new this year, hummingbirds will make their long-awaited return.
Admission is $2 for members and $3 for non-members and includes all-day pavilion access.
Winged Wonders Butterfly
Winged Wonders Hummingbird
Adopt An Animal
OCTOBER 16, 2PM
Rancho Mirage Library
71-100 Highway 111, Rancho Mirage
Dr. James Danoff-Burg, Director of Conservation
The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens
KILLING POACHERS IS NOT THE ANSWER: COMMUNITY BASED CONSERVATION AS A MORE EFFECTIVE TOOL
Caring for nature is among the greatest challenges we have, particularly when some of our largest and most charismatic animals such as the vaquita, an endangered porpoise, and rhinos are the victims of escalating rates of poaching. In this talk, Dr. James Danoff-Burg will discuss how the common response of Westerners to poaching will undermine conservation. Instead, he will propose that genuinely engaging communities can better address poaching more effectively than a militaristic approach.
TRAVEL TO THE AMAZON WITH THE LIVING DESERT!
OCTOBER 6 – 18, 2020
President and CEO Allen Monroe will serve as your personal host as you travel the Amazon River and visit Iguassu Falls. Immerse yourself in the largest concentration of the rainforest in the world as you cruise in style on the Amazon Clipper. Daily excursions with expert naturalists will allow you to explore the riparian landscape and the flora and fauna it supports. This trip is limited to 15 people.
To learn more or reserve your spot, contact Amy Crabb at 760-340-4954 or email Travel@ LivingDesert.org. Visit our website at LivingDesert. org/Travel for itineraries.
NOVEMBER 20, 2PM
Rancho Mirage Library
71-100 Highway 111, Rancho Mirage
Allen Monroe, President/CEO
The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens
THE REALITY OF OUR CHANGING CLIMATE AND HOW IT AFFECTS OUR WILDLIFE
Hotter summers, drier grasslands, more frequent and more intense fires. We are experiencing a change in our climate that is threatening our homes, our lifestyles, and, importantly, our wildlife and wildlands. Allen Monroe, President and CEO of The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, will detail these changes, and will share reasons why we should be hopeful. We must, we can, and we will combat climate change – together!
Iguassu Falls Rodrigolab
EVENTS CALENDAR
FALL 2019
TUESDAY, 1
Season Hours Begin
8:00am - 5:00pm with last admission at 4:00pm
G-Scale Model Train Full Display Re-Opens Carousel Re-Opens
Hiking Trails Re-Open
WEDNESDAY, 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
Me and You at the Zoo
9:00am - 10:00am
Me and You in the Garden 10:00am - 10:30am
WEDNESDAY, 2
New Volunteer Open House 9:00am - 11:00am
SATURDAY, 12
La Gran Fiesta 9:00am - 12:00pm
WEDNESDAY, 6, 13, 20, 27
Me and You at the Zoo 9:00am - 10:00am
Me and You in the Garden 10:00am - 10:30am
TUESDAY, 5
New Volunteer Open House 9:00am - 11:00am
WEDNESDAY, 20
Speaker Series with Allen Monroe at Rancho Mirage Library 2:00pm
SATURDAY, 23
Brunch at the Zoo 10:00am - 12:00pm
WEDNESDAY, 16
Speaker Series with Dr. James Danoff-Burg at Rancho Mirage Library 2:00pm
TUESDAY, 26 Fall ZooCamp WildLights - Member Night 6:00pm - 9:00pm
WEDNESDAY, 27 Fall ZooCamp WildLights 6:00pm - 9:00pm
FRIDAY, 29 WildLights 6:00pm - 9:00pm
SATURDAY, 30 WildLights 6:00pm - 9:00pm
La Gran Fiesta
Howl-O-Ween
WEDNESDAY, 4, 11, 18
Me and You at the Zoo
9:00am - 10:00am Me and You in the Garden 10:00am - 10:30am
FRIDAY, 6
WildLights
6:00pm - 9:00pm
SATURDAY, 7
WildLights
6:00pm - 9:00pm
FRIDAY, 13
WildLights
6:00pm - 9:00pm
SATURDAY, 14
WildLights
6:00pm - 9:00pm
FRIDAY, 20
WildLights 6:00pm - 9:00pm
SATURDAY, 21
Brunch at the Zoo 10:00am - 12:00pm WildLights 6:00pm - 9:00pm
SUNDAY, 22 WildLights 6:00pm - 9:00pm
MONDAY, 23
Winter ZooCamp WildLights 6:00pm - 9:00pm
TUESDAY, 24
Winter ZooCamp WildLights 6:00pm - 9:00pm
THURSDAY, 26
Winter ZooCamp WildLights 6:00pm - 9:00pm
FRIDAY, 27
Winter ZooCamp WildLights 6:00pm - 9:00pm
SATURDAY, 28 WildLights 6:00pm - 9:00pm
MONDAY, 30 Winter ZooCamp
TUESDAY, 31
Winter ZooCamp Mildly Wild New Year’s Eve Party
WildLights
SOCIALBUTTERFLY
We love seeing how our members spend their time at The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, whether it’s at a “members only” event, or just a fun day at the zoo.
When you tag a photo on social media that features The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens with the hashtag #TLDmember, we notice! Share your photos and experiences while you’re at The Living Desert. Use #TLDmember in your post, and you may see your photo in the next issue of foxpaws!
For more information, please visit LivingDesert.org/tldmember.
We can’t wait to hear from you!
AUSTRALIAN ADVENTURES: OPENING SPRING 2020!
This spring, be one of the first to hop on over to the Zoo’s new immersive, engaging, and wonderfully wild Australian Adventures. Walk amongst the wallabies, sing with the kookaburras, and lounge with lizards in this delightfully fun new habitat.
More details to come, including member preview opportunities!
