Denver Zoological Foundation

Life sciences: the Denver zoo's mission is inspiring communities to save wildlife for future generations. Our largest program area is caring for our animal residents who connect our guests to wildlife around the world. The Denver zoo is a recognized leader in all areas relating to the highest level of care for our animal collection as we are focused on providing the best nutritional, emotional, social, and physical care possible. With the addition of the lembke family preserve, a 570-acre parcel in weld county, Colorado, the Denver zoo will be able to dramatically increase its holding, breeding, research and reintroduction efforts. Animals at the Denver zoo receive the very best care from their dedicated animal care staff, animal behaviorists, veterinary medicine staff, and zoo nutrition and welfare staff. Our animals are bred under the recommendations of the association of zoos and aquariums' (aza) species survival plan (ssp), which ensures genetic diversity and healthy populations. Animal welfare is everyone's job at the Denver zoo. The Denver zoo is accredited by the aza and conservation certified by american humane.

Learning experiences: Denver zoos conservation learning, conservation engagement, community engagement and community research & evaluation teams aim to help students, families, and communities connect with the environment, become scientific thinkers, and ultimately champions for animals and habitats. The Denver zoo is a one-of-a-kind place where people of all ages and backgrounds can experience the joy and wonders of animals, conservation, and the environment. The conservation learning team provided a variety of in-person learning experiences which were very well received by our local schools and community partners. The Denver zoo had nearly 77,000 participants in education and outreach programs in 2023.

Guest experiences: the Denver zoo exists to help our community connect with wildlife here and around the world so that we can all be part of the solution to helping species thrive. Our passion and reason for being is to inspire communities to save wildlife for future generations. We achieve this by providing an outstanding guest experience each and every day. The Denver zoo monitors and evaluates the guest experience through a mystery shopper program, consistently monitoring online feedback, and extensive guest satisfaction surveys. The Denver zoo continues to make a profound impact, creating meaningful experiences for guests, both at the Denver zoo and off-site in the community, engaging citizens through impactful animal encounters that inspire a lifelong love of science learning. The Denver zoo is a place where guests make local, regional, and international connections, linking people, animals, and nature. The Denver zoo connects people with animals, inspiring them to champion the Denver zoo's mission to inspire communities to save wildlife for future generations. As an accredited association of zoos and aquariums (aza) institution, the Denver zoo is an important resource for the Denver metro region to understand wildlife and the need to conserve the places animals live. The Denver zoo is also american humane certified, recognizing excellence in animal wellbeing. The Denver zoo's guests learn about the important role zoos have as leaders in conservation research. Through up-close experiences, visitors experience a stronger connection to nature, consider their role in environmental problems and conservation action, and see themselves as part of the solution as a result of their visit. The Denver zoo inspires communities to save wildlife for futurer generations. Our community connections program ensures equitable access to the zoo and our wildlife conservation programs for all community members. Through this program, the Denver zoo ensures at least 25% of annual guests enjoy the zoo and zoo programs for free or significantly reduced fees.

Field conservation: the Denver zoo is a zoo-based conservation organization and a dedicated player in the movement to save wildlife. We conduct extensive field work in Colorado and globally for animals and habitats in the wild. Our approach is to work with communities to understand conservation issues, then co-develop sustainable strategies to protect wildlife and wild places. Denver zoo is a leader among zoos in field conservation. In addition to connecting audiences with a wide variety of species at our 80-acre urban campus, we work to protect animals and habitats through three core programs around the world in - vietnam, peru, and in our backyard of Colorado. Additionally, the Denver zoo has begun conservation initiatives in several other world locations including laos, indonesia, rwanda, and uganda. We commit full-time, part-time, and contract staff along with other resources to these programs each year. Using both social and ecological science to identify and understand target species and threats to their survival, we work to mitigate threats by strengthening protected area management, supporting local communities, influencing conservation policy, and building the capacity of individuals and organizations to engage in conservation action.