Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance

?? High in the canyons and out on the range, Jamie Begay is charting a new path for bighorn sheep conservation! As a recipient of DZCA’s Indigenous Bighorn Fellowship, Jamie, a Master’s student at Colorado State University, is leading vital research to understand and address disease risk in wild bighorn sheep populations. With the help of her field team, she recently deployed 34 GPS collars across key areas, including Glen Canyon and the Upper and Lower Canyons, while also collecting nasal swabs to test for Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae, a respiratory pathogen of growing concern. Jamie’s community-based approach also includes working closely with local families who graze domestic sheep—recovering three of four domestic sheep collars to better assess contact risk between domestic and wild species. Her work is helping build a stronger foundation for science-based wildlife health management—and we’re proud to support her through this fellowship. ??: Photos by Jessica Fort, Navajo Nation Department of Fish & Wildlife #SavingWildlifeTogether #Conservation #WildlifeHealth #BighornSheep #FieldResearch #ColoradoConservation #STEM #DenverZooConservationAlliance

?? Last week, our veterinary and animal care teams performed a full wellness exam on ChloJo, our beloved Sumatran tiger. She was briefly sedated so our experts could safely assess her overall health, including her reproductive system and dental care. Guests visiting the Helen and Arthur E. Johnson Animal Hospital had the rare opportunity to witness this incredible process firsthand, seeing the level of care that goes into every checkup for our animals. This is just one way we ensure that ChloJo, and all 2,500+ animals at the Zoo, receive the gold standard in veterinary medicine, contributing to their wellbeing and the broader conservation of their species. ?? #Tiger #VeterinaryMedicine #SumatranTiger #SavingWildlifeTogether #DenverZooConservationAlliance #WildlifeConservation #AnimalWellness

We're celebrating a very special birthday today—Lionel is turning 10! This adorable little guy is a Patagonia mara mara and is part of our Animal Ambassador program. His Lead Animal Care Specialist, Krystin M., shares more about why he's truly 10/10: "Lionel is incredibly friendly and very attached to us as his caretakers. He loves to run along with us and is particularly brave when he has us to walk with him. He gets really excited when he’s in a new large space and will sprint (they can run 30+ miles per hour), pronk (jumping off all four legs like an antelope), and dust bathe to show his appreciation. He is also very smart and has learned many ways of making his care easier over the years, including voluntarily participating in acupuncture!" Happy Birthday, Lionel! Please join us in sharing some birthday love for him in the comments below! ?? ??: Animal Care Specialists Lora G., Kassi K., Krystin M., Kelsey R., and Becca W.

Enjoy our all-new immersive lantern experience without the kids! Whether it’s a date night or a fun evening with friends, Glowing Wild Adult Nights on April 3 and May 1 are designed just for kids at heart (21+). Wander through larger-than-life lantern displays and celebrate wildlife and conservation in a whole new light at this kid-free event. ? Tickets for our Adult Nights sell quickly—be ready to grab yours quickly before they’re gone. Get tickets: https://lnkd.in/gv8C_wcK Glowing Wild produced by Tianyu Arts & Culture, Inc. Glowing Wild Adult Night presented in partnership with Denver Westword

???? It’s a boy! ???? We’re hoppy to share that Adelaide’s joey is a little boy! ?? During a special gender reveal hosted by our animal care team, one of our male red-necked wallabies, Alfalfa, pulled the string while Gunnar offered some moral support from the sidelines—and out came a burst of blue confetti! This growing guy is hitting all his milestones, too. He’s been spending more time outside the pouch, curiously exploring his surroundings and stealing our hearts. ?? ??: Animal Care Specialists, Thea M. and Kika H. #Joey #Wallaby #SavingWildlifeTogether #DenverZooConservationAlliance #DownUnder

???? Happy National Science Appreciation Day! ???? At Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance, science helps power our mission To Inspire Communities to Save Wildlife for Future Generations—here in Colorado and around the globe. From veterinary medicine to climate resilience, every department is rooted in research, innovation, and impact. Science at DZCA includes: ?? Field research on endangered species ?? Cutting-edge veterinary medicine and nutritional science ?? Animal care and wellbeing ?? Ecosystem restoration and resilient horticulture ?? Sustainable infrastructure and waste reduction ?? Conservation education that inspires action ?? Climate adaptation and renewable resources ?? Conservation through One Health - because animals, people, and the environment are all interconnected Science is more than a tool—it's the foundation of our conservation work. Today and every day, we celebrate the knowledge, collaboration, and discovery that helps us create a better future for wildlife and people alike. ?? #NationalScienceAppreciationDay #Conservation #PublicHealth #VeterinaryMedidince #AnimalNutrition #EcosystemRestoration #Horticulture #ClimateAdaptation #Sustainability #WildlifeResearch #ClimateAction #STEM #SavingWildlifeTogether #DenverZooConservationAlliance

We are deeply saddened to hear of the recent passing of Brian Vogt, CEO of Denver Botanic Gardens. On behalf of Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance, we extend our heartfelt condolences and support to Brian’s family, friends and the entire Gardens team. As long-standing pillars of the Denver community, DZCA and DBG have worked together to educate, inspire and enrich the lives of those who visit our beloved institutions. From our tandem efforts in conservation to educational initiatives, our organizations share a common goal: to foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of the natural world. Brian’s leadership and vision transformed DBG into a place of beauty, connection and learning. His legacy will continue to inspire generations, and we honor his impact by embracing our collective commitment to conservation, education, and making a positive impact on our wonderful city. DZCA President and CEO Bert Vescolani shares: “We are saddened to hear of the recent passing of Brian Vogt, Denver Botanic Gardens’ CEO. On behalf of Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance, I extend our heartfelt condolences and support to the DBG family. Brian demonstrated his passion to the Denver community through his visionary leadership and commitment to making culture available to everyone. His impact on the Denver Botanic Gardens is indelible and his presence will be deeply missed by me and countless others who benefitted from his generosity of knowledge and friendship. Our thoughts are with the leadership, staff, volunteers and community of the Gardens as they navigate these challenging moments. As partners in the Denver community and in the important work of our respective organizations, we recognize the invaluable contribution of Denver Botanic Garden to our shared mission of education, conservation and community enrichment. We will continue to work alongside the Gardens and our SCFD partners in these efforts and offer our support—personal and professional—to all those impacted by Brian’s passing.” From all of us at DZCA, we are sending love to all those impacted during this difficult time. ??

Animal Care Specialist Anton M. shared these great photos of our flamingos soaking up the sun and checking out the Glowing Wild flamingo lanterns! ?? ? With this beautiful spring weather and kids Spring Break, it's the perfect time to flamin-go to Glowing Wild! Join us for this evening-only event and wander through vibrant, larger-than-life lantern displays while celebrating wildlife and conservation in a whole new light! Get tickets: https://lnkd.in/gfQb8d5E P.S. For the best experience, we recommend planning your visit for the darker hours of the evening—the later you go, the more impressive the glow!

Join us in celebrating two of our incredible residents on their birthday! ?? Cerah, our curious and clever Sumatran orangutan, turns 7 today, while Vinny the lesser kudu is marking his very first birthday! ???? Watching these two grow, develop unique personalities, and welcome new family members into their troop and herd has been a joy for our animal care team—and our entire Zoo community. Here's to another year of milestones, mischief, and meaningful moments! ?? #SumatranOrangutan #LesserKudu #SavingWildlifeTogether #DenverZooConservationAlliance

Our team is making a global impact for kea conservation all the way from Colorado! ?? By analyzing thousands of images and videos, we’re helping improve conservation efforts for Endangered kea in New Zealand. Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance Logistics Coordinator Jessica Meehan shares more about how she's supporting kea conservation without leaving Colorado. Read more in our latest Zoo Tales: https://lnkd.in/gjQ46kYu #Conservation #Kea #SavingWildlifeTogether