San Diego Zoo

San Diego, CA, U.S.A.

About San Diego Zoo

San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance is an international, nonprofit conservation organization with two front doors: the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park.

The Alliance supports innovative conservation science through global partnerships. Through wildlife care, science expertise and collaboration, more than 44 endangered species have been reintroduced to native habitats. Annually, the Alliance reaches over 1 billion people, in person at the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park, and virtually in 150 countries through media channels, including San Diego Zoo Wildlife Explorers television programming in children’s hospitals in 14 countries. Wildlife Allies—members, donors and guests—make success possible.

The San Diego Zoo was founded on October 2, 1916, by Harry M. Wegeforth, M.D.

It integrates wildlife health and care, science, and education to develop sustainable conservation solutions. Conservation is at the heart of everything the San Diego Zoo does.

Mission Statement
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance is committed to saving species worldwide by uniting our expertise in animal care and conservation science with our dedication to inspiring passion for nature.

San Diego Zoo
The 100-acre (40-hectare) Zoo is home to more than 3,500 rare and endangered animals representing more than 650 species and subspecies, and a prominent botanical collection with more than 700,000 exotic plants. It is located just north of downtown San Diego in Balboa Park.

Giant pandas at San Diego Zoo

The San Diego Zoo has had a love affair with giant pandas ever since the visit of Basi & Yuan Yuan for 100 days in 1987. After years of red tape and tons of application paperwork, the San Diego Zoo and China agreed on a 12-year research loan of two giant pandas, Bai Yun and Shi Shi, who arrived at the Zoo in 1996. A brand-new exhibit area was built for the breeding pair, which has since been expanded and renovated and iwas called the Giant Panda Research Station. Hua Mei, the first surviving panda cub born in the United States of America was born in 1999. Male Shi Shi moved back to China in 2003 and was replaced by Gao Gao.  In 2008, the panda loan was extended for another five years and it was renewed for a second time in 2013. Bai Yun had 5 cubs with Gao Gao in San Diego. Bai Yun and her last cub Xiao Liwu, returned to China in 2019.

In June 2024 a new panda couple Yun Chuan & Xin Bao took residence at the San Diego Zoo. They made their public debut on August 8, 2024.

    Latest News

    San Diego Zoo

    Xiao Liwu weaning update

    2014-02-25

    Suzanne Hall, a senior research technician for the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research, wrote this update on weaning Xiao Liwu: After many days of short separations, giant pandas Bai Yun and Xiao Liwu were doing well. Both bears had a few hours each morning to be on their own, and both spent that […]

    Weaning Xiao Liwu

    2014-02-01

    Suzanne Hall, a senior research technician for the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research, wrote this blog about weaning Xiao Liwu: When a giant panda cub is totally weaned from his mother in the wild places of China, one of two things likely happens: either his mother runs him off with aggressive behavior, as […]

    San Diego Zoo’s Yun Zi ‘returned’ to China

    2014-01-13

    Yun Zi arrived safely at the CDC Dujiangyan Base of CCRCGP on January 11, 2014. The male panda is the fifth giant panda born at the San Diego Zoo to move to his parents native country to participate in the giant panda breeding program and the first to return to CCRCGP’s new CDC Dujiangyan Base. […]

    Yi Lu Ping An (Have a Good Trip), Yun Zi

    2014-01-11

    Suzanne Hall, a senior research technician for the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research wrote this goodbye blog for Yun Zi: The time has come to say goodbye to our good-natured young panda, Yun Zi. Yesterday, January 9, 2014. He embarked on his most momentous adventure yet—a move to his homeland. After crating up […]

    Yun Zi’s last Medical Exam in San Diego

    2013-12-19

    It was a heartfelt farewell for San Diego Zoo’s veterinary team, who have been taking care of giant panda Yun Zi his entire life here at the zoo. With the utmost care, they carried out his very last checkup on December 17, making sure he is sent to his homeland in the best of health. […]

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