Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance

Spring is right around the corner, which means it's time for our hoofstock baby boom! Not to be outdone by BB, Elsa, our lesser kudu, also gave birth on Friday, March 7. We're delighted to welcome this adorable little girl to our kudu herd! This little calf is a delight and our Animal Care Specialists share that she is 14 pounds, active, strong and intros with the rest of the herd—including sister Ru, half-brother Vinny, dad Machi, cousin Eleanor, and adopted Aunt Betty—are going well! Weather permitting, guests may catch a glimpse of this tiny tot in the the kudu yard. In the meantime, say hello to her in our latest Baby Bulletin, presented by Intermountain Health. Photo Credit: Lead Animal Care Specialist Jordan B. and Animal Care Specialist Laura W.

? Ready, Set, GLOW! ? A brilliant new adventure is here at Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance! Glowing Wild is an all-new immersive lantern experience, lighting up the Zoo from March 13 – May 4! ???? ?? Marvel at larger-than-life botanical and animal lanterns ?? Dare to walk through a giant crocodile ?? Chat with chirping budgies ?? Indulge in exclusive food & drink tasting passports The later you visit, the brighter the glow—so plan for an evening of wonder like never before! ?? Tickets are on sale NOW! Don't miss your chance to experience this awe-inspiring, limited-time event! https://lnkd.in/g9qfV_4e Produced by Tianyu Arts & Culture, Inc. #GlowingWild #DenverZooConservationAlliance #DenverEvents

Baby's first time outside! ?? ?? BB's baby had an exciting day on Sunday as he ventured into his outdoor habitat for the first time. He enjoyed some fun in the sun, briefly met the rest of the herd and explored his new home, all with BB by his side every step of the way. Our expert teams will continue to monitor his progress and determine when he'll head outside next, making sure he gets plenty of rest and all the care a growing calf needs. Guests may catch a glimpse of him outside in the coming days, but in the meantime, you can keep an eye on all the cuteness with our livestream! Watch now and learn how you can help name him: https://lnkd.in/gWBJudwQ Photo Credit: Volunteer Photography Joanne Ashton

?? Continuing Our Women in Conservation Series: Meet Nesha Ikeda! ?? As the Program Director for Thrive Conservation, Nesha is leading the charge in marine conservation on Rote Island, Indonesia—focusing on shark and ray conservation, habitat restoration, and sustainable livelihoods for local communities. Thanks to the Denver Zoo Women in Conservation Fund, Nesha and her team have: ? Planted 600 mangrove seedlings—with 2,000 more growing at their base camp ?? ? Expanded marine conservation classes to 150+ students, inspiring the next generation of environmental stewards ?? ? Engaged entire communities—including local schools, law enforcement, and villagers—in hands-on conservation efforts ?? In a field traditionally dominated by men, Nesha is proving that women’s leadership brings vital empathy, relatability, and inspiration—showing young women in Indonesia that they, too, can thrive in conservation. As she looks ahead, Nesha plans to expand marine education programs and restore critical ecosystems like seagrass meadows. ?? Join us in celebrating Nesha and the incredible impact of women in conservation! ? #WomenInConservation #SavingWildlifeTogether #MarineConservation

???? We had an MVP-worthy visit at Toyota Elephant Passage when Denver Nuggets players Peyton Watson and Dario ?ari? joined kids from the Boys & Girls Club for a special behind-the-scenes experience! Together, they watched Billy the elephant during one of his training sessions and learned how our animal care team uses positive reinforcement training to keep our elephants healthy, enriched, and thriving. From the court to conservation, this unforgettable visit was all about teamwork, learning, and appreciating the incredible care that goes into ensuring the well-being of our animals. Huge thanks to the Denver Nuggets and @bgcaclubs for spending the day with us! ?????? Go Nuggets! #SavingWildlifeTogether #DenverZooConservationAlliance #DenverNuggets #BoysAndGirlsClub #ToyotaElephantPassage

Water You Waiting For? Our Water Main Construction is Complete! ?? For the past several weeks, we’ve been hard at work making major improvements to our campus by rebuilding our water main, thanks to the City and County of Denver and our incredible project partners! We celebrated completing the first phase of this vital project in true Zoo style—with some of our beloved animal ambassadors, a water-themed playlist, and an extra-special ribbon cutting by our llamas, Jorge and Fernando! ?? This project involved several elements to enhance the safety, visibility, and accessibility of our Zoo, ensuring a more sustainable and efficient water system for years to come. A huge thank you to Denver Parks, Denver Water, BT Construction, Lifetime Fences, our contractor partners, and Mayor of Denver Mike Johnston for joining us in this celebration of progress and partnership! Water is one of our most precious resources—not just for us, but for the animals and ecosystems we work to protect! Today’s improvements are an investment in the future of our Zoo and our conservation mission. #DenverZooConservationAlliance #WaterConservation #Sustainability #SavingWildlifeTogether

Baby's first checkup! ?? On March 8, our male giraffe calf had his neonate exam with our dedicated Animal Care and Veterinary Medicine teams. While mom BB waited nearby, our experts gathered important health info, took his measurements, drew blood, gave antibiotic and vitamin E injections and did a full wellness check. We know many of you were curious and we're happy to share that this not-so-little guy is already 5'11" and 157 pounds! He was back with BB within 10 minutes and received plenty of mom snuggles afterward! ?? ??

A Wild Morning at the Colorado State Capitol! ?? We had an incredible time celebrating Zoo Day at the Capitol! Our team, along with some of our amazing Animal Ambassadors, spent the morning showcasing Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance’s work in wildlife conservation, sustainability, Species Survival Programs (SSP), rescue and rehabilitation, and learning and engagement initiatives. A huge thank you to Governor Jared Polis and the Colorado General Assembly for welcoming us and for their continued support of our mission to save wildlife in Colorado and around the world. “On this Zoo Day, we celebrate the Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance and its tireless work to protect wildlife. By welcoming more than 1.5 million guests to the zoo each year, they inspire us all to become more engaged in protecting the natural world, reminding us that even small actions can contribute to a larger movement of positive change. We are proud to recognize the Alliance’s invaluable contributions to Colorado and reaffirm our support for their vital mission-inspiring communities to save wildlife for future generations.” - Zoo Day at the Capitol, Denver Zoo Proclamation It’s always an honor to bring the magic of the Zoo to the Capitol and share the importance of conservation with our state leaders and community! ?? #ZooDayAtTheCapitol #SavingWildlifeTogether #DenverZooConservationAlliance

We're in the home stretch and we need your votes! Toyota Elephant Passage is nominated for "Best Zoo Exhibit" by USA Today's 10Best and voting closes tomorrow. Show your love for Rinny, TEP, and DZCA! Vote now: https://lnkd.in/gCHrYvRJ ??: Animal Care Specialist Ben T.

?Get Ready to Glow Wild!? An awe-inspiring adventure is lighting up Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance like never before! Glowing Wild is our all-new nighttime event featuring larger-than-life lanterns that bring wildlife and nature to life in the most brilliant way possible. ?? Dare to walk through a giant crocodile ?? Chat with chirping budgies ?? Marvel at breathtaking botanical displays ?? Experience stunning flora and fauna from around the world But the magic doesn’t stop there—you can enhance your experience with our exclusive Glowing Wild Food & Drink Passports, giving you access to tasting bites and sips from five unique dining locations! ????? ?? The later you visit, the brighter the glow! Don’t miss your chance to see the Zoo in a whole new light—join us for this spectacular, evening-only experience produced by Tianyu Arts & Culture, Inc. ??? Secure your tickets now: https://lnkd.in/g9qfV_4e #GlowingWild #DenverZooConservationAlliance #SavingWildlifeTogether #DenverEvents