Creature Features

Monday, June 22

While domestic Bactrian camels are fairly common throughout
North American zoos, they are actually remnants of a critically
endangered species, as domestic Bactrian camels and wild Bactrian camels are a genetically separate species! Visit the zoo on Monday, June 22, to meet our domestic Bactrian camel Patrick, and learn about our partnership with the Wild Camel Protection Foundation and what YOU can do help support their wild counterparts. 

Sunday, July 12

Yoga: Weekends in July

Party with our colony of Humboldt penguins during Penguin Palooza! This kid-friendly ice cream party features an incredible array of fun activities, entertainment, free ice cream, kid-friendly foods, music, face painting, and of course, demonstrations with our colony of Humboldt penguins. During the weekends, we will be hosting Yoga with the Penguins to benefit The Nature Conservancy, a global environmental nonprofit working to help preserve and protect the vulnerable Humboldt penguin population and their native habitat. 

Tuesday, July 21

The only bear species native to South America, Andean bears, also called spectacled bear, are an umbrella species for tropical Andes ecosystems! Umbrella species are species that are selected as representatives of their ecosystem when conservation plans are being made. By protecting these organisms, other species that are a part of their ecosystem will also benefit under the same conservation "umbrella." Join us on Tuesday, July 21, to learn about our resident Andean bear Bjorn, and the conservation behind protecting his vulnerable species and native habitat!

Wednesday August 12

As an AZA-accredited facility, the Rosamond Gifford Zoo is an active participant in the conservation of Asian elephants and their habitat. Learn about the work we do with our partner organizations, such as the Elephant Managers Association, and Asian Elephant Support, to see how we leverage our collective experiences and research to support the conservation of this endangered species. We will have an educational and interactive table with informational materials and elephant biofacts to inspire guests to help us protect these magnificent animals. This elephant celebration continues with a party of pachyderm proportions on Saturday, August 15, during Asian Elephant Extravaganza, which will celebrate our Asian elephant herd and the cultural traditions of their native countries.