SAN DIEGO (July 25, 2023) — The San Diego Zoo has welcomed four capybara pups, born to second-time mother Rosalina and first-time father Bowie on July 23, 2023. Capybaras are precocial—meaning they’re more mature and mobile at birth—so, the four youngsters are already nursing and following mom. Despite their scientific name Hydrochoerus, which means “water hog,” capybaras are not pigs—they are the world’s largest rodent. They are related to guinea pigs, hamsters and mice. Capybaras are found in Central and South America, where they roam swampy, grassy regions bordering rivers, ponds, streams and lakes. The capybara is not currently classified as an endangered species, although it is threatened by deforestation, habitat destruction and illegal poaching. The capybara youngsters are at the San Diego Zoo’s Elephant Odyssey, alongside the Baird’s tapir.
Recent Births and Hatchings Offer Guests Rare Opportunities to Learn About Little-known Species—and Celebrate “Mother’s Day” Every Day
SAN DIEGO (May 11, 2023) – From Arabian oryx to Nubian ibex, and spotted turtles to Amur leopard cubs, the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park are brimming with babies! Every day is “Mother’s Day” and “Babies’ Day,” as a spring baby boom is now providing guests at both the Zoo and Safari Park with remarkable opportunities to see and learn about amazing young wildlife—including an okapi calf, a Matschie’s tree kangaroo joey and a Przewalski’s horse foal at the Safari Park; and Andean bear cubs, Lord Howe Island stick insects and Fijian iguanas at the Zoo.
Babies are always delightful—cute and fun to watch grow—but more importantly, these wildlife youngsters serve as ambassadors for their species. Seeing a baby animal up close provides guests a unique opportunity to connect with them, with the hope that each visitor gains a greater appreciation for the species, and the urgent need to conserve and protect wildlife and native habitats.
The San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, as members of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), participate in the AZA Species Survival Plan (SSP) to maintain healthy, genetically diverse assurance populations of many threatened and endangered species.
Guests visiting the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park can see the newest generation of young wildlife and their doting mothers, while also enjoying special events and activities.
At the San Diego Zoo
Nighttime Zoo May 26-Sept. 4
The San Diego Zoo’s annual after-dark extravaganza—Nighttime Zoo—offers guests live music, entertainment, special events and more while learning more about wildlife from an unusual nighttime perspective.
This summer, two dazzling events will light up the night. "Call of the Night"—a 12-minute symphony of live music, lasers, moving lights, rhythmic acrobats, fog and bubbles—will be presented nightly at Hua Mei Plaza; and "Jambo Dunia!," a 15 -minute spectacular celebrating Africa along Front Street, will be led by the Zoo’s musical act, Chameleons, and showcase festive pageantry with giant, handcrafted puppets.
At the San Diego Zoo Safari Park
Journey into the Wild – all new!
Join the Safari Park’s wildlife care specialists at an all-new conservation presentation—making its debut this month—highlighting a variety of wildlife ambassadors! Species will vary each day and represent San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance’s conservation work in South America (Amazonia) and right here in our own backyard in the Southwest. Journey into the Wild takes place daily at 2 p.m., at Benbough Amphitheater.
Safari Experiences
All summer long, guests at the Safari Park can experience up-close wildlife encounters, entertainment, culinary delights and more, making memories that last a lifetime. For guests looking to upgrade their visit, the Safari Park offers memory-making Safari Experiences, including:
A Behind-the-Scenes Safari, allowing guests to venture deep into the Safari Park, get a closer look at their favorite wildlife and meet the wildlife care specialists who care for them.
A Wildlife Safari is a great way to see antelope, giraffes, rhinos and more from the comfort of a covered, open-air safari truck, and journey into our African savanna habitats with an expert guide.
The Flightline Safari is an exciting zip line adventure, allowing guests to soar like a condor over the Safari Park. Riders travel more than two-thirds of a mile over the Asian and African savanna habitats, above exotic wildlife including wildebeest and antelope.
Roar & Snore Safari is an overnight tent-camping experience in a scenic location that overlooks the East Africa savanna habitat—the Safari Park’s largest—inhabited by giraffes, rhinos, and more.
The Sun Up Cheetah Safari gives visitors a chance to witness the fastest animals on land doing what they do best, before the Safari Park opens. Safari guests take an early morning expedition with an experienced guide and enjoy the remarkable sights and sounds as a new day begins.
With every visit to the Zoo and Safari Park this summer, guests become allies for wildlife. With every admission ticket, and each time guests purchase an item or share what they have learned about wildlife and conservation, they help San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance take another step in achieving its mission of saving animals and plants worldwide, and creating a world where all life thrives.
The Cubs, Born at the San Diego Zoo, Increase Population of the World’s Most Endangered Big Cat Species
SAN DIEGO (March 28, 2023) — A birth of twins is exceptional, no matter the species. However, when those twins are Amur leopards—and fewer than 300 of those big cats are estimated to exist on Earth—the births are especially significant. This week, wildlife care staff at the San Diego Zoo announced the birth of two Amur leopard cubs, increasing this rare cat’s estimated worldwide population by two and furthering the nonprofit conservation organization’s ongoing work to save this vital Asian species.
Kaja turned one this month, and his San Diego Zoo wildlife team threw him and his mother a big celebration to mark the occasion. This festive moment is significant, considering the life and death scare that engulfed the pair following his birth last year.
New Generation Of Narrow-Headed Turtles Breathes Fresh Life Into Conservation Program To Save This Rare Species
SAN DIEGO (Oct. 3, 2022) – For more than two decades, conservationists from San Diego Wildlife Alliance have been waiting with anticipation as they watched for the slightest signs of breeding from a rare reptile species. This summer, their patience paid off after wildlife care team members at the San Diego Zoo welcomed 41 tiny Indian narrow-headed softshell turtle hatchlings—becoming the first accredited conservation organization in North America to hatch these endangered turtles, and furthering the organization’s ongoing work to save this vital Asian species.
SAN DIEGO (Aug. 19, 2022) – On International Orangutan Day (Aug. 19), wildlife care team members at the San Diego Zoo celebrated two of the Zoo’s prominent primate residents: Kaja, a critically endangered Sumatran orangutan infant; and his mother, Indah. Following major health complications that left Indah hospitalized after giving birth, wildlife care specialists jumped in to care for Kaja and help nurture him during the critical early weeks of his life. Due to quick intervention, both mother and infant are now doing well, and have since been reunited.
SAN DIEGO (Aug. 4, 2022) — The San Diego Zoo has announced the birth of a Linné’s two-toed sloth at the Zoo’s new Denny Sanford Wildlife Explorers Basecamp. The baby sloth, a female, was born June 25 to mother Xena (pronounced Zee-na), who was born at the Zoo in 2013 and is one of the Zoo’s most popular Rady wildlife ambassadors. Wildlife care specialists report that the young sloth is doing well, instinctively clinging to her mother, nursing and gaining strength each day.
Beginning Wednesday, June 30, San Diego Zoo wildlife care specialists are giving Indah and her infant, Kaja, access to the orangutan habitat to help acclimate to the area. The pair have been spending time together in their indoor habitat, but this is the next step in preparing for them to join the troop.
These sessions will begin before the Zoo is open to guests. If Indah and Kaja choose to stay in the habitat after 9 a.m., they may be viewable to guests. Wildlife care specialists will continue to give Indah and Kaja access to the habitat for the next few weeks and will observe their behaviors.
SAN DIEGO (June 14, 2022) – The San Diego Zoo has announced the birth of an aardvark cub—the first be born at the Zoo in more than 35 years. The female cub, yet to be named, was born May 10 to first-time aardvark parents, mother Zola and father Azaan. Wildlife care specialists report the cub is doing well, and Zola is a caring and attentive mother.
Photos taken on June 10, 2022 by Ken Bohn, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
“We are elated to have this little cub in our care,” said Cari Inserra, lead wildlife care specialist, San Diego Zoo. “She is very active, and was using her sharp claws to dig like an adult aardvark, just hours after her birth.”
SAN DIEGO (May 20, 2022) – The San Diego Zoo celebrated another milestone as wildlife care staff welcomed the birth of a rare male golden takin—the second of this takin subspecies to be born in the Western Hemisphere and the first male. The takin calf, named Jin Tong (pronounced jean tong), and means Golden boy in Mandarin Chinese, was born on March 21 to mom, Bona. The Zoo’s wildlife care specialists performed a comprehensive first exam and confirmed Jin Tong is doing well and adjusting to life within the herd.