Mission
The mission of the Zoological Society of San Diego promotes the conservation of endangered species and the habitats in which they live

 The Zoological Society of San Diego is a conservation, education and recreation organization dedicated to the reproduction, protection and exhibition of animals, plants and habitats. The foundation for these activities is provided by the Society’s extensive animal collections and plant collections at the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Wild Animal Park which include endangered species from around the world. Animal health and nutrition at these parks are monitored by on-site veterinarians and their expert staff. At the Zoological Society’s research arm, the Center for Reproduction of Endangered Species (CRES), 100 scientists, technicians and students work to further the conservation of animals, plants and endangered ecosystems. In addition to laboratory work, the Society also promotes in situ conservation via its field programs in key areas and "hotspots" in China, the Pacific Region, the southwestern United States, the Caribbean Islands, South America, Africa and elsewhere. CRES is also home to the Frozen ZooŽ, the world’s largest collection of genetic and reproductive material from endangered animals. 

Project Frozen Zoo 

One of the largest collections of its kind, the Frozen ZooŽ contains living frozen skin cells, nucleic acids DNA and RNA from these cells and other frozen tissues and is a precious and irreplaceable resource for the future. Nowhere else on Earth can one find the genetic material of over 500 Przewalski's horses, 150 western lowland gorillas, 80 black rhinos, 22 Queensland koalas, 19 Bornean bearded pigs, and the cells and DNA of many other species available for scientific study.

As a result of the efforts undertaken to utilize the banked samples in the Frozen ZooŽ, a collection of karyotypes of hundreds of species of mammals and, including at last count, the G-banded karyotypes of over 150 species of mammals has been assembled. This collection promises to provide new insights into development, gene expression, and the processes that produce the wondrous diversity of mammalian life. 

The Frozen ZooŽ makes feasible a variety of studies that are prerequisite for the development of primers and comparative data sets that give scientists the ability to undertake studies of animals in the field using noninvasive methods of sampling. Such studies serve to demonstrate the very real feasibility of linking the science and conservation efforts of zoos--as ex situ repositories of biological diversity--with the effort to conserve species and the habitats that sustain them. Studies at of chromosomes of African black rhinos, the mitochondrial DNA of mountain and eastern lowland gorillas, and the nuclear microsatellite loci of giant pandas offer fulfillment of this potential.

International Conservation

The Research Staff

The work of the CRES divisions ranges from molecular biology to pathology, whole animal physiology, behavior, ecology and application conservation. This broad approach benefits animals in the Society's collections as well as endangered species in other zoos. Our laboratory programs are also linked to in situ conservation projects around the world: in China, the Pacific region, southwestern USA, South America, the Caribbean, Africa and elsewhere.

Conservation Projects in the Field

The Zoological Society of San Diego supports projects for the conservation and scientific study of endangered species worldwide. Because resources are limited, efforts are concentrated in a number of areas where the Society has long-term interests, either because of involvement with in situ programs or because of the nature of the Society's collections. These focal areas are China, the Pacific Islands, Southwestern United States, South America, and the Caribbean Islands.

Fieldwork on endangered species is, by its very nature, time-consuming and demands a long-term presence, especially if lasting benefit to endangered species is the aim. However, at best, the Society's CRES scientists, curators, veterinarians, and educators can visit projects for a few weeks or months each year. They collaborate with other organizations to support in situ conservation.

The San Diego Zoo

Located in beautiful Balboa Park, the 100-acre World-Famous San Diego Zoo was founded by Dr. Harry Wegeforth in 1916. This colorful and extremely enterprising San Diego physician started the collection with a handful of animals left over from the Panama-California Exposition. Today, the San Diego Zoo cares for more than 4,000 individual animals representing 800 different species. Its collection of animals, as well as its plant collection of over 6,500 species, is acknowledged as one of the finest in the entire world.

Featured exhibits include Ituri Forest, Scripps Aviary, Gorilla Tropics, Polar bear Plunge, Rain Forest Aviary, Bonobos, Giant Panda Research Station, Tiger River and Sun Bear Forest.

The San Diego Wild Animal  Park
Located 32 miles northeast of the Zoo near the city of Escondido in north San Diego County, the San Diego Wild Animal Park is 20 times larger than the Zoo. It is also a completely different experience than a visit to the Zoo. The 1,800-acre wildlife preserve, which allows visitors to view herds of exotic animals as they might have been seen in their native Asia and Africa, was established in 1969 under the directorship of Dr. Charles Schroeder. It opened its gates to the public in 1972 and has grown more impressive ever since. Today, the Park has over 3,500 animals representing 260 species, and is also an accredited botanical garden. 

Featured exhibits include Condor Ridge, Heart of Africa, Lorikeet Landing, Wgasa Bush Line railway, The Hidden Jungle, Kilimanjaro Safari Walk, Kupanda Falls Botanical Center and the Nairobi Village.

Details of hours of operation, admission prices, membership schemes and additional guest services are available on-line.

 The E-Zoo contains, staff interviews, photo galleries and live vide web cam images of animals within the collection. The Kid Territory page contains links to a range of educational material. A calendar of special events and catalogue of press releases are also available.