Foxpaws Fall 2019

FALL

2019

foxpaws PALM

DESERT

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INDIAN

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board of trustees

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Chairman: Treasurer: Secretary:

Bill Appel * Craig McCollam * Sandra Cooper Woodson * President/CEO & Assistant Secretary:

Allen Monroe *

Jon-Marc Blalock Susan E. Cooper * Melinda Drickey Marylynn Gladstein Patti Grundhofer * Candace Holzgrafe H. Earl Hoover II Suz Hunt Sis Jackson Michael Kiner * Janet Lanterman * Jaishri Mehta Peter Scheer

Michael Schreter Dick Shalhoub * Bill Simpkins BJ Skilling Phillip K. Smith, Jr. * Roger Snoble * Mary Lou Solomon Larry Spicer * Sam Spinello Nancy L. Stegehuis Van Tanner * * Board of Directors PRESIDENT EMERITA Karen Sausman TRUSTEE EMERITUS Curt Ealy Sherman A. Smith SECRETARY EMERITA Mary O. Cone LEGAL COUNSEL Brian S. Harnik Roemer & Harnik, LLP

2019

ADVISORY COUNCIL

City of Indian Wells – Mayor Ted Mertens City of Palm Desert – Mayor Susan Marie Weber City of Rancho Mirage – Councilman Ted Weill Coachella Valley Water District – Jim Barrett and Anthony Bianco Wayne Connor Associates –

Wayne Connor Greater Palm Springs CVB – Scott White and Davis Meyer Sabby Jonathan Bill Powers Judy Vossler Carol Wright ON THE COVER Aerial photo of The Living Desert circa 1972 FOXPAWS EDITORIAL STAFF Project Manager Erin Scott Design May Guzman Lourdes Muñoz

African Wild Dogs

CONTRIBUTORS RoxAnna Breitigan Justin Carmichael Mike Chedester Amy Crabb Emily Culhan Dr. James Danoff-Burg Heather Down Sarah Greely Jan Hawkins Allen Monroe Greg Murphy Erin Scott Daniella Stage Angela Woods

FROM THE PRESIDENT’S DESK

FEATURES

table of contents 01

From the President’s Desk

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Fifty Years of The Living Desert Zoo And Gardens

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50 Things to Experience

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Building Community Conservation Success

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Volunteers are a Voice for Wildlife

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Pawsitively Pawfect

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Ways to Give: Business Memberships

WHAT’S NEW

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Zoo News Wild File Events Calendar Social Butterfly

This coming season marks a special milestone for The

Living Desert Zoo and Gardens as we look forward to a yearlong celebration of our 50th anniversary. Our golden jubilee is special for numerous reasons. Not many non-profit organizations have this kind of longevity and it is a testament to our community support that we have grown and prospered over the last five decades. Our mission of connecting guests with the natural world and telling the stories of the plants and animals that call the desert home still resonates and provides a meaningful purpose.

It is always with pride that we look back at old photographs of what the Park looked like in 1970 and see the improvements that have happened over the years. Like a jigsaw puzzle, each feature that has been added to our campus completes the picture of what a world-class conservation and education organization looks like. Our vision, of course, is that The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens will remain a meaningful and important part of the Coachella Valley community for the next 50 years and beyond.

In those first years, our attendance was just a few thousand guests each season, but those numbers grew quickly. Over the last 50 years, we have welcomed more than 10 million visits from people around the world who wanted to explore nature with family and friends. This past year, a record setting 514,000+ guests enjoyed the Park and of those, more than 100,000 were school-aged children. It is critical that these young leaders have a basic understanding of how nature works so they can make good decisions in the future about the use of natural resources and the importance of protecting our natural heritage. I am proud The Living Desert’s educational programing helps provide that experience for so many.

Fifty years of growth and success at a unique place like The Living Desert does not happen all by itself. It takes a collection of exceptional individuals over the years to build this fantastic institution. A talented staff, dedicated volunteers, community leaders and area philanthropists have all pitched in and used their collective skills, knowledge, and resources to help us along the way. The foundation that has been built here of purposeful mission, community engagement, and financial strength will serve The Living Desert well for the next 50 years.

Allen Monroe, President/CEO foxpaws |

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fifty years. five decades.

our golden anniversary.

The local Boy Scouts Troop help with trail building and maintenance projects

“It is our hope that visitors to The Living Desert will never again think of the desert as barren or flat, nor feel careless about the survival of desert ecosystems. In developing an appreciation for the beautiful, the remarkable, and even the frightening aspects of desert animals, we hope to inspire people to save desert wilderness and wildlife.”

- foxpaws, April 1989 In the late 1960’s a group of visionary leaders saw the need to preserve and conserve our Colorado Desert for future generations to enjoy. On March 9, 1970, The Living Desert Association was established as an extension of the Palm Springs Desert Museum (now known as the Palm Springs Art Museum). And so began the early years surviving on an extremely modest budget and reliant upon the talent, skill, and vision of its Board of Governors, with Philip Boyd as Chair, and its newly hired Resident Naturalist and Director, Karen Sausman. Foreseeing a future when development would encroach upon the desert wilderness, the group undertook the task of fundraising, maintaining and developing The Living Desert Reserve, a 360-acre wilderness preserve. foxpaws |

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Karen Sausman, the eager, young naturalist, began the task of developing the Reserve, and what we see today barely resembles what Karen saw when she took over the rough and wild landscape. With the help of local Boy Scouts, the nature trails were cleared and marked for members’ use and enjoyment. The first guide-book was developed for the trail, and soon after, construction began on the visitor’s center, which served as a gift shop, auditorium, exhibit hall, and more.

In 1972, the first animals arrived, a kit fox, named Twix, several tortoises and lizards. Two years later, two bighorn sheep arrived through a partnership with the University of California and California 2

Department of Fish and Game. The construction of the Mojave Garden began in 1974-75, which included a full-scale replica of California’s high desert. At the time this was a new concept in botanical exhibition, which allowed guests to feel completely immersed in distinctly different deserts of the world.

In 1983, The Living Desert had become accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (formerly the American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums), an accreditation we proudly maintain today. The late 1980’s brought record attendance and membership enabling new buildings, enhancements and programming to be added. The 1990’s saw continued attendance growth, new events including WildLights and Howl-O-Ween, and new conservation projects. By 1993, Eagle Canyon was open, completing the North America desert interpretation and welcoming over 90,000 visitors in its first three months. Village WaTuTu debuted to the public in 1999. The giraffe savanna and the state-of-the-art Tennity Wildlife Hospital and Conservation Center opened its doors and viewing windows in 2002.

The 2000’s brought additional growth and development with Gecko Gulch, the Chase Administration Building and Discovery Center. The jaguar habitat opened in 2011, and our most recent butterfly pavilion debuted in 2014. The Zoo’s new entrance, Phase One of Crossroads of Conservation, opened in 2018, and just this last season, we welcomed a record 514,000+ guests to the Zoo. Today, nearly fifty years later, The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens stewards 1,200 protected acres of Colorado Desert. With 35 conservation programs that span 22 countries, we are working to save wildlife and wild places every day. Reaching over 100,000 school-aged children a year gives students the opportunity to learn about and appreciate the deserts of the world. The Living Desert provides the highest level of animal care and welfare and maintains 55 botanical gardens that inspire guests to care for the natural world.

As we reflect on our past, we can see the incredible growth of an organization which could not have happened without our members, donors, volunteers, staff, supporters, and guests. And as

Early days of The Living Desert’s nature trail circa 1970s

The Living Desert in 1970

Member households 260

Visitors 5,000

Operating Budget $10,000 The Living Desert in 2019/2020

Member households 12,000+

Visitors 514,000+

Operating Budget $15 Million

we look to the next fifty years, our focus and dedication to save species is stronger than ever.

From bighorn sheep, Peninsular pronghorn and desert tortoise, to African wild dogs, giraffe, cheetah, The Living Desert is committed to saving species locally and around the world.

Join us throughout 2020 as we celebrate 50 Years of Wonderfully Wild and share our vision for the future.

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As The Living Desert embarks on its 50th Anniversary Celebration, we invite you to experience all the zoo has to offer. We‘ve come up with a bucket-list of things to do during your visits to the zoo. You’re invited to take the next year to see all that you can check off your bucket list. Be sure to use the #TheLivingDesert50 hashtag and share your images with us.

1. Become a member of the Zoo 2. Gaze at the beauty in the butterfly pavilion through Australian Adventures coming 3. Walk Spring 2020 4. View an exam at the animal hospital a Nigerian dwarf goat in 5. Groom the petting kraal to The Living Desert’s conservation 6. Donate initiatives 7. Watch the cheetah run 8. Relax at the Oryx Overlook 9. Feed a giraffe married or attend a wedding at 10. Get The Living Desert 11. Eat a churro sundae at the Churro Stop The Living Desert’s app and audio tour 12. Download and explore the awesome features 13. Devour a date shake at Safari Soft Serve a private dinner in the District 14. Host Commissioner’s House 15. Explore the Tanzanian Schoolhouse foxpaws |

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Ruth Marie Photography

16. Shop at the Appel Gift Shop 17. Become a ZooCamper about native flora and fauna 18. Learn at an LDU class 19. Stay overnight at the Zoo with Starry Safari 20. Hike the Eisenhower Peak Trail 21. Adopt your favorite animal 22. Do some bird watching on Zoo grounds 23. Explore the Chase Art Gallery the Tennity Endangered 24. Ride Species Carousel the San Andreas Fault at the 25. Observe Nature Trail Overlook 4

Oryx Overlook

Eggstravaganza

Winged Wonders

26. Watch an animal care training demonstration 27. Listen to an animal care keeper chat 28. Celebrate with your besties at Brew at the Zoo 29. Go on the Spring Eggstravaganza treasure hunt nighttime at the Zoo at 30. Experience Safari Nights 31. Get in the holiday spirit during WildLights Me and You at the Zoo and Me and You in 32. Enjoy the Garden 33. Become a volunteer 34. Get glammed up for Fairytales and Frog Day 35. Adopt a train display 36. Find the wind machine at the Discovery Center 37. Host your birthday party at the Zoo 38. Participate in a citizen science project 39. Go on a behind-the-scenes tour at the Zoo amazed at the smoke trees in bloom 40. Be during June 41. Trick-or-Treat at Howl-O-Ween 42. Size up the columnar cactus to Madagascar in the 43. Transport Madagascar Gardens 44. Watch the Wildlife Wonders Show wildlife on grounds: jackrabbits, lizards, 45. Spot quail, dove, and so much more dressed up to attend the 50th Anniversary 46. Get Gala Celebration your favorite Zoo memory on 47. Share social media #TheLivingDesert50 48. Tour the Zoo on a private safari 49. Smash a penny as a souvenir your friends about being wonderfully wild 50. Tell at The Living Desert 5

Fairytales & Frog Day

East Africa Conservation Workshops Group Photo

building community conservation success

By Dr. James Danoff-Burg, Director of Conservation, The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens

Conservation, as a field, has recognized that field conservation success is highly dependent on the

support, involvement, and inclusion of local people. It is the local community that will ultimately determine the success of any conservation project. Those who live near a natural area, will have a greater impact on it from their daily activities than others coming in from elsewhere. Learning how to most fruitfully involve local people so that both nature, wildlife, and people benefit is clearly the best way forward for conservation success.

In May 2019, Mike Chedester, The Living Desert’s Director of Education, and I implemented two workshops entitled “Building Community Conservation Success” in Kenya and Tanzania. These week-long workshops were designed to help develop the social science capabilities of the Zoo’s conservation collaborators and partners. Most conservationists are trained biologists and are usually quite shy or even intimidated at the thought of interviewing people. Our goal was to lessen this anxiety by giving them the skills to do the essential social science work of conservation. foxpaws |

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In my experience, Kenyan conservation biologists are some of the best trained biological scientists and educators on the continent.

Similarly, Tanzanians are simultaneously the best hosts and are incredibly insightful into challenging problems. A total of twelve organizations participated in the two workshops, of which our hosts Grevy’s Zebra Trust (Kenya) and Wild Nature Institute (Tanzania), along with the African Conservation Centre and the Southern Rift Land Owners have been longterm collaborators with The Living Desert.

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One of the main goals of the workshops was to build connections and partnerships between the participating organizations. Mary Wykstra, of Action for Cheetahs in Kenya (ACK), noted that, “The workshop assisted the ACK team in learning more about the tools available through surveys and how to improve our use of those tools in a real-life setting. As a bonus to the skill training, the ability to interact with some of our colleagues in a setting away from the field helped me to see the variety of projects in our region that are focused on keeping the community linked to conservation.” As such, conservationists in a region not only become better networked, but also know more about what each are doing, leading to possible collaborations!

Throughout my career, I’ve had the opportunity to lead this type of training at zoos and aquariums across the US, through teaching university classes, and through my Fulbright work in India. It is from these trainings and teachings that I created the workshop content and materials. I wouldn’t normally call workshops thrilling, but I may make an exception here.

Thrilling they were! The 40 participants were amazingly insightful and quickly grasped the concepts.

A few weeks after the workshops, I checked in with the participants. Nine of the twelve organizations had already scheduled field surveyors to go out within the next few weeks, and the other three organizations would begin within the next few months. I am so proud to have been able to work with, and to continue to support, these brilliant researchers as they collaborate with their communities.

The Living Desert plans to do many more of these workshops in the future. Helping to build such an essential set of research tools for researchers and conservationists is among the most important and valuable things I have ever done. With these workshops, we are helping change and improve conservation in Africa, and in a unique and seemingly highly effective manner.

White Rhino

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Donor Spotlight

Volunteers are a Voice for Wildlife

By Justin Carmichael, Volunteer Engagement Manager

The Living Desert was founded nearly 50 years ago by a group of dedicated and

visionary community leaders and volunteers. Today, The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens is proud to have a well-established and tenured volunteer program that offers opportunities for all ages. Over the years, volunteers have made significant contributions to the zoo in more ways than I can list, including nearly 65,000 hours of volunteer service a year.

When asked about the best way to recruit new volunteers, my answer is simple: it’s our amazing volunteers! Yes, volunteers are one of the best ways to find new volunteers.

Guests of The Living Desert will interact with several volunteers during their visit, and often ask, “How did you become a volunteer here?” Most volunteers will talk with family or friends about their experience here too. This often includes a collection of photos on their phone to support these stories and before you know it, they have someone excited.

We are very proud of the work our volunteers accomplish year-round at the Zoo! Our volunteer corps is an integral part of our operations, guest engagement and experience, and in sharing our mission. The best compliment a volunteer can receive is to inspire someone else to volunteer.

If you want to help us inspire others, please come to our upcoming Volunteer Open Houses to learn how you can get involved.

Wednesday, October 2, 2019, 9:00am - 11:00am Tuesday, November 5, 2019, 9:00am - 11:00am Tuesday, January 7, 2020, 9:00am - 11:00am foxpaws |

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Wild African Dog Puppies 2 July 29, 2019

Born April 24, 2019, the six African wild dog puppies at

The Living Desert are just so doggone cute! Now running, playing, and roughhousing around their exhibit, the puppies are growing every day.

June 12, 2019

The five male puppies and one female puppy were born to first time parents, Beatrix and Kiraka. Each puppy’s name pays homage to African National Parks that were either historically home to African wild dogs or still have small populations. At one time, it was estimated African wild dogs roamed in large numbers in 39 countries across Africa; however, today, the species has likely been eliminated from as many as 20 of those countries.

The five male puppies are named Chobe, Arli, Zabouma, Faro, and Digya. The one female puppy is named Mikumi.

They are beginning to develop their own personalities and habits.

The puppies are the result of a Species Survival Plan (SSP) breeding recommendation.

There are fewer than 6,600 African wild dogs, also known as African painted dogs, left across the entire African continent.

These beautiful, unique, and fascinating social animals are now restricted to small populations in a handful of countries. In Zimbabwe, The Living Desert actively supports Painted Dog Conservation, which works to promote human coexistence with painted dogs and other similar carnivores.

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Interesting Facts About The Litter: - At four months old the puppies each weighed approximately 23 - 27 pounds.

- Since their birth, they’ve had four well-baby exams which allowed the veterinarians and animal care team to evaluate their well-being and weight, and give vaccines.

- The puppies will learn how to be a member of the pack from each other and mom and dad.

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July 18, 2019

Ways to Give: Business Memberships

By Greg Murphy, Corporate Giving & Special Events

Does your business appreciate our business? As The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens continues to grow, you can increase your business and brand awareness AND show your support of desert conservation, preservation and education by joining as a Business Partner.

Our reach into the community this past year included:

top zoo 514,000+ 12,000+

top ranked zoo in America (24/7 Wall St. survey of Yelp ratings)

annual attendance (100,000+ school-aged children)

member households or businesses

51,500+ 42,000+ 76,500+

monthly e-newsletter subscribers

Facebook, 19,333 Instagram and 6,371 Twitter followers

monthly website unique page users (high season)

A $500 Business Partner membership features the following benefits: - Dual membership to the Zoo - 20 guest passes for staff or clients (valid for one year; additional passes available at a discount) - Discount on facility rentals for staff or client

appreciation events - Member discounts (Gift Shop, CafĂŠ & Grill, and signature events) - Business Partner recognition opportunities - Members-only event invitations

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For increased benefits and recognition, sponsorship opportunities are available and range from investments of $1,000 to $150,000. Sponsorship opportunities include animal habitats and gardens, signature park events like Howl-O-Ween, WildLights and Brew at the Zoo, as well as fundraising events, including the annual gala.

To learn more, please contact Greg Murphy, Corporate Giving & Special Events, at 760-346-9584 or GMurphy@LivingDesert.org.

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THANK YOU! TO THE HUBBARDS FOR THEIR GENEROUS SUPPORT! “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 13

S AV E T H E D AT E

GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY GALA

SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 2020 5:30 – 8:30 PM COCKTAILS AND DINNER DESSERT AND DANCING TO FOLLOW

HONORING THE PAST

BUILDING OUR FUTURE

&

Butterflies Hummingbirds

Reopening

ZOONEWS ZOO NEWS 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. foxpaws |

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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.

Mark Miller, Director of Park Services

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 17

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!

Adopt An Animal

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 Hummingbird

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.

Winged Wonders Butterfly

Admission is $2 for members and $3 for non-members and includes all-day pavilion access. foxpaws |

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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.

Iguassu Falls Rodrigolab

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.

NEW CONSERVATION SPEAKER SERIES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH RANCHO MIRAGE LIBRARY OCTOBER 16, 2PM Rancho Mirage Library 71-100 Highway 111, Rancho Mirage

NOVEMBER 20, 2PM Rancho Mirage Library 71-100 Highway 111, Rancho Mirage

Dr. James Danoff-Burg, Director of Conservation The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens

Allen Monroe, President/CEO 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.

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!

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EVENTS CALENDAR OCT 2019

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, 16 Speaker Series with Dr. James Danoff-Burg at Rancho Mirage Library 2:00pm SATURDAY, 26 Howl-O-Ween 9:00am - 12:00pm Winged Wonders & Camel Connections Opening 9:00am - 4:00pm

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

La Gran Fiesta

THURSDAY, 31 Howl-O-Ween 6:00pm - 8:30pm

WEDNESDAY, 2 New Volunteer Open House 9:00am - 11:00am

NOV 2019

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

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MONDAY, 25 Fall ZooCamp

TUESDAY, 26 Fall ZooCamp WildLights - Member Night 6:00pm - 9:00pm WEDNESDAY, 27 Fall ZooCamp WildLights 6:00pm - 9:00pm

Howl-O-Ween

SATURDAY, 30 WildLights 6:00pm - 9:00pm

FRIDAY, 29 WildLights 6:00pm - 9:00pm

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DEC 2019

WEDNESDAY, 4, 11, 18 Me and You at the Zoo 9:00am - 10:00am Me and You in the Garden 10:00am - 10:30am

SATURDAY, 21 Brunch at the Zoo 10:00am - 12:00pm WildLights 6:00pm - 9:00pm

FRIDAY, 6 WildLights 6:00pm - 9:00pm

SUNDAY, 22 WildLights 6:00pm - 9:00pm

SATURDAY, 7 WildLights 6:00pm - 9:00pm

MONDAY, 23 Winter ZooCamp 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

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

TUESDAY, 24 Winter ZooCamp WildLights 6:00pm - 9:00pm THURSDAY, 26 Winter ZooCamp WildLights 6:00pm - 9:00pm

WildLights

SOCIALBUTTERFLY SOCIAL BUTTERFLY 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!

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NON-PROFIT ORG. US POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO.149 PALM DESERT, CA

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!