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San Francisco Zoo reports Penguin roundup, new endangered species and revived education programs
Summary
San Francisco Zoo staff told the Recreation and Park Commission Feb. 20 about Lunar New Year events, a relaunch of the Little Learners program, the annual penguin health roundup and recent arrivals of several endangered species.
Ingrid Russell, a member of the San Francisco Zoo's conservation and wellness department, briefed the Recreation and Park Commission Feb. 20 on the zoo's recent programs and animal care work, including a penguin health roundup and several new arrivals of endangered animals.
Russell said the zoo hosted Lunar New Year performances and a free day for Chinatown residents. The zoo also relaunched its Little Learners program, offering live, early‑childhood sessions via Zoom, and held an adults‑only "WOO at the Zoo" event exploring mating and breeding behaviors.
The annual Penguin roundup gave veterinary staff a chance to examine all 51 Magellanic penguins in the collection. Russell said each bird received a body‑condition assessment, eye and foot checks, weight measurements, nail and beak trims as needed, and vaccination against West Nile virus; staff also scanned birds for ingested metal objects found in exhibit pools.
On conservation, Russell said the zoo welcomed 26‑year‑old Western Santa Cruz giant tortoises — a Galápagos species that is critically endangered — as well as a red‑fronted macaw and two yellow‑naped Amazon parrots, all part of the zoo's ongoing endangered‑species work. She said the zoo's education and live‑stream offerings have drawn renewed interest, with more than 160 signups for the relaunched Little Learners series.
Russell closed by thanking partner organizations and noting that the zoo's public programs aim to connect diverse communities to conservation work.
