Saving Endangered Species Worldwide 🧊

From neon dragons to living cells on ice, the future is bright because of you! NOTES FROM THE FIELD | 2025 | No. 6

Resembling tiny neon-colored dragons, vivid green and blue Fiji iguanas scamper high in the lush treetops of Fiji’s tropical islands. Rarely seen on the ground, they move from tree to tree on overlapping branches, hanging on with their sharp claws and using their long tails for balance. With a diet of mostly flowers, leaves, and fruit, they play a critical role in dispersing seeds throughout their ecosystems. Unfortunately, these critically endangered reptiles face threats to their survival, including habitat loss, invasive species, and illegal wildlife trafficking. For six decades, we’ve worked closely with partners across the globe to save, protect, and care for Fiji iguanas. Today the San Diego Zoo is home to the largest conservation breeding colony outside Fiji. With your help, we recently collaborated with partners from Spain and Fiji to rescue a group of Fiji iguanas from illegal wildlife trafficking. Our conservation work, both here and in our Pacific Islands Conservation Hub, has led us to pivotal moments like this, where we put our expertise into action to secure a brighter future for wildlife. You make lifesaving moments like this possible, and we are forever grateful for you.

EXPERTISE TO THE RESCUE

A BOLD NEW CHAPTER As we celebrate the Frozen Zoo 50th anniversary, a trailblazing initiative critical to our conservation impact around the globe, we look forward to what’s possible over the next 50 years. What began as a bold vision has grown into the world’s most extensive wildlife biobank, safeguarding over 11,500 living genetic samples. And this Endangered Species Day we affirm our promise to conserve the world’s wildlife by announcing our commitment to lead the biobanking of all endangered species worldwide by 2075. Together, with you by our side—the possibilities are endless as we embark on this next chapter in conservation.

FROZEN FOR THE FUTURE

MEET THE COLONY Sleek, athletic, and equally adept at sea, on land, or in the sky, white-breasted cormorants are the triathletes of the bird world. Worldwide, seabird populations have dropped 70% over the last 70 years. However, at the San Diego Zoo, the colony of white-breasted cormorants has increased nearly ninefold over the past decade, thanks to insights gained from their native ecosystems.

BY AIR AND SEA

IN THE BANK Feathers and antlers are naturally shed by wildlife every day. Ordinary items like these can be surprisingly powerful tools to help our partners investigate wildlife trafficking, and our Wildlife Artifacts bank is home to items just like this. We’re marking the 50th year of our Wildlife Biodiversity Bank and its six subcollections, including this key conservation resource.

BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION

Your monthly gift will make a world of difference for wildlife. Friend, your ongoing support makes a lifesaving difference for vulnerable wildlife. As a Wildlife Hero, your monthly gift will take us further as we work together to reintroduce species and make a brighter future possible for Fiji iguanas, white-breasted cormorants, bats, and other wildlife through our eight Conservation Hubs across the globe. And as a Wildlife Hero, you’ll reintroduce hope to the extraordinary wildlife relying on us to thrive—and survive—each and every day. You make it all possible, and we’re forever grateful for you. WILDLIFE HEROES CHANGE THE WORLD.

BE A HERO

DONATE

Your support saves wildlife. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance is an international conservation nonprofit and a registered 501(c)(3) organization. Tax ID# 95-1648219. With more than 100 years of wildlife care expertise and partnerships around the globe, we are saving, protecting, and caring for species worldwide. Follow along on our mission to save wildlife

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