San Diego Zoo

The San Diego Zoo is a world-renowned zoological institution located in Balboa Park, California. It serves as a major center for animal care and scientific study. The zoo is managed by the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, which is a private nonprofit conservation organization. This organization also operates the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, a much larger facility located 30 miles northeast in Escondido.

The zoo is a leader in the field of wildlife preservation. It is currently the most visited zoo in the United States.

The zoo is famous for its innovative approach to animal housing. Instead of using traditional metal cages, it pioneered the use of open-air, cageless exhibits. These exhibits are designed to recreate the natural habitats of the animals. For example, the zoo features an African rainforest and an Arctic tundra.

To keep large animals contained without visible wires, the zoo uses moats. These are deep, open-air water barriers that separate animals from visitors. This method allows for a more naturalistic environment. Many exhibits also use invisible wires or darkened blinds to allow birds to fly freely.

The history of the zoo began with the 1915 Panama–California Exposition. Dr. Harry M. Wegeforth founded the Zoological Society of San Diego on October 2, 1916. He served as the society's president until 1941. In August 1921, a permanent tract of land was set aside in Balboa Park. The city of San Diego owns the animals, while the zoo manages them.

One notable leader was Belle Benchley. She served as the zoo director from 1925 until 1953. For much of that time, she was the only female zoo director in the world.

In 1938, the zoo gained national attention during a difficult animal transport. Two three-year-old giraffes, named Lofty and Patches, were sent from British East Africa. They traveled by freighter for 54 days and survived the Hurricane of 1938 at sea. After arriving in the United States, they spent 16 days at a quarantine station in New Jersey. They were then driven 14 days across the country in a customized 1938 International D-40 truck.

This journey was so famous that it was featured in a 2019 novel titled *West With Giraffes*.

The zoo manages a massive biological collection on its 100 acres of land. It houses over 12,000 animals representing more than 680 species and subspecies.

The zoo is also an accredited botanical garden. It maintains a collection of more than 700,000 exotic plants. These plants are often used to provide food for the animals. For instance, the zoo grows 18 varieties of eucalyptus trees to feed its koalas. It also grew 40 varieties of bamboo for the giant pandas that were on loan from China.

Conservation is a central part of the zoo's mission. In 1975, the Center for Reproduction of Endangered Species (CRES) was founded. This center was later renamed the Division of Conservation and Research for Endangered Species. In 2009, it expanded further to become the Institute for Conservation Research.

The zoo works closely with the Species Survival Plan (SSP) to exchange animals with other zoos. This helps maintain healthy genetic lines. The zoo also works to breed endangered species, such as the red panda. Currently, there are thought to be fewer than 10,000 red pandas left in the wild.

Visitors can explore the zoo through various transportation methods. A guided tour bus travels through 75% of the park. There is also an overhead gondola system called the Skyfari. The Skyfari was built in 1969 by the Von Roll tramway company from Switzerland.

It provides an aerial view of the entire facility. The zoo also features specialized areas like the Monkey Trails. This area replaced older, more restrictive animal houses built in the 1930s. The new exhibits provide much more space and enrichment for primates.