Celebrating 100 Years of Wildlife Conservation at the San Diego Zoo

Summer is here and everyone’s looking for fun things to do with the kids, but the hot temps make going to everybody’s favorite place (aka the zoo) a not-so-great idea. Coax the kids to take a nap and stay out past bedtime for a nighttime visit to the San Diego Zoo!

Kids are the best people. They are inherently kind, hold no prejudices. They are delighted with all the little things that you and I seem to overlook every day. The best thing about their sweet little spirits is the fact that they love animals. I came to this conclusion years before Daisy was born. Shawn and I had just gotten married and his family was visiting from Australia. The most memorable place we took them site-seeing was the San Diego Zoo.

There was so much to see. While the rest of my family members were reveling in the beauty of the creatures and the lush landscaping, I was watching little ones bursting with excitement at seeing animals. Perhaps my clock was already ticking?

When Daisy came into our world, the zoo quickly became our favorite place to go together (not counting going to “ShooshiLand,” as she calls it, after karate, of course.) She wasn’t quite 2 years old when we took her on a trip to Australia. She got to walk about fields full of kangeroos and feed them by hand. She even got to pet a baby koala (Yes, they let you do that in Australia. I swear.)

Family Fun

This year, the San Diego Zoo is celebrating 100 years of wildlife conservation with Centennial Summer evenings. It all started with the roar of a lion that caught the attention of a local physician. The majestic creature was among many abandoned after an international exposition in 1916 and thankfully rescued by Harry M. Wegeforth. Moving forward with the good doctor’s vision, the Zoo has established a global initiative to fight extinction, setting the platform for exposing young minds to the beauty of wildlife, instilling in them the crucial role of all lifeforms in the preservation of the planet we call Home.

Daisy wants to be a veterinarian when she grows up. We can’t think of a better way to support her than to teach her how real the threat of extinction is and encourage her to join the global effort to counter the effects on population decline. As her love for animals grows, we’ve considered going on a San Diego whale watching tour so she can hopefully see some aquatic animals up close and personal. I really think she’ll love it. Not to mention we’re already in San Diego so we might as well make the most of the fun attractions.

Now that the temperatures are soaring, the Centennial Summer is the perfect venue for introducing her to conservation efforts. The world looks so glossy and perfect at night, doesn’t it? The beauty of the park is something special under the stars, especially with the cool seaside breeze. Why not take the kids to the zoo after dark?

Maybe we are too busy in our digital world that we forget where we really belong, among the trees, grasslands, by the creeks and rivers. Everywhere we go, we are forever stunned by the effortless beauty of Nature. The little town of Cambria holds a special place in my heart, because Nature seems to flourish there. I know there is always a chance I might catch a glimpse of a mama deer with her dotty fawns again and fall asleep to the serenade of croaking frogs in the creek below. That’s why I wish that all animals lived in a zoo like this one; to protect them from the dangers that await them in the wild. I know of some people who like to go deer hunting during the year and use something like a ar 15 flashlight to catch them during the night. I don’t know what’s worse; doing it altogether or doing it whilst they’re completely unaware. At least here in the zoo, they have the freedom to roam around their surroundings, without the fear of getting hurt. They also have the company of many other beautiful animals. There are plenty of butterflies fluttering about and bees buzzing among rosemary blossoms. The sea air is so easy to breathe and days seem to slow down to a crawl.

Life is short, especially in the city where we are all so busy with our daily routines that we don’t notice time slipping by. It’s the little ones, like Daisy, who remind us to stop and smell the roses. Drop the treadmill and chase a butterfly instead.

Doing our part to ensure a happy, healthy future for our children, all the children of the world is the best gift we can give them. Supporting the San Diego Zoo’s global conservation efforts to fight extinction is the top priority and what better way to do so than to take those little ones to see the beauty of Nature first-hand? Beat the heat and take the whole family to the nighttime zoo experience. You’ll treasure memories of time together forever. It’s the best thing you’ll do this summer.

What’s Your Spirit Animal?

Ever wonder what animal you may have been in another life? Take this quiz to find out what creature matches your personality best. I’m an elephant, which suits me perfectly! I love peanuts, family, a good splash in the pond and don’t mind wrinkles one bit. You can watch your kindred spirit in action via the live cameras.

The Zoo is located near the heart of San Diego’s lively Gas Lamp downtown and is open every day including holidays! Check the site for hours which vary depending on the season. The Safari Park is a must-see and is 35 minutes away from the zoo. Parking is free, so plan your family trip before summer ends!
2920 Zoo Drive
San Diego, CA 92101
Tel (619) 231-1515