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The Living Desert

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Palm Desert, CA
The Living Desert

Desert conservation through preservation, education and appreciation. The Zoo has been a top destination in the Palm Springs area for 50 years.
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The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens is a nonprofit, accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, ensuring the highest standards of all aspects of animal care, education, conservation, public service, and operations. The Zoo is active in conservation research, habitat protection, breeding programs and education initiatives around the world, as well as in its own community. The Living D

esert is located at 47900 Portola Ave, Palm Desert, CA 92260. Follow us on our other social media channels:

Home
http://www.livingdesert.org

Twitter
http://twitter.com/livingdesert

Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/thelivingdesert/

For more information about The Living Desert, please visit our website at www.livingdesert.org

11/02/2024

Need an excuse to bask in this beautiful fall weather? Looking to 𝘱𝘢𝘸𝘴 the news cycle? Been looking to add more boops and floofs to your feed?🐾

We’re here to help! 🧡

Introducing awwwtumn – a 10-day mini-series packed with pure cuteness and pawsitivity. 🍂😻

Drop a comment to let us know what animals you’d love to see most and check back tomorrow for your daily smile!

📸: Team Member, Chloe S.

11/01/2024

🌍 When animals are rescued from wildlife trafficking, every moment counts. Thankfully, the new Wildlife Confiscations Network is here to help! 🐾 We're proud to be part of this initiative between AZA-accredited organizations and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to provide swift, expert care for confiscated animals. 🦅

10/31/2024

Halloween is for black (footed) cats! 🐈‍⬛🎃🖤

10/20/2024

What do the towering giraffe have in common with the tiniest of torts? 🦒🐢

Our passionate team working to protect their species! The Zoo has more than 200 dedicated professionals working together to care for over 600 animals, maintain 52 beautiful gardens, and oversee 80 acres of public grounds (plus 5 miles of hiking trails!).

From our veterinary technicians and zookeepers to conservationists, horticulturists, educators, and more — it truly takes a ZOO to make it all happen! 🧡

Thank you for being a part of our team and making our mission of desert conservation possible!

10/16/2024

BOO! Who? 👻 There's no boo-hoo's here! 🩹❤️

It might be spooky season, but we’re not scared — because we’ve got a team of superheroes behind the scenes taking care of all 600+ animals at the Zoo! From drawing blood 🩸 and taking x-rays 🩻 to applying casts 🩹, giving vaccinations 💉, performing dental work 🦷, and even conducting physical therapy, they do it all.

Who are these masked heroes, you ask? Our vet techs! Join us in thanking these ZOOper staff members.

10/13/2024

Have you heard? Kids get in FREE at Howl-O-Ween! 🎃

For a limited time, get a FREE child's ticket to Howl-O-Ween with each purchase of an adult's ticket. 𝗨𝘀𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝗛𝗢𝗪𝗟𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘𝗖𝗛𝗜𝗟𝗗 𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗲𝗺.*

Join us on Saturday and Sunday, October 26 and 27 from 9:00am-3:00pm celebrate the season with fun Halloween activities and pop-up experiences as you explore the Zoo, such as:

🍭 Trick-or-treat stations
🦇 ALL-NEW limited-edition animal trading cards
🐍 Bewitching keeper connections
🎨 Free face painting
🖼️ Themed arts and crafts
🎃 Fall photo ops

And more! Don't miss out, book your tickets now for a howling good time!

𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙡𝙪𝙙𝙚𝙙 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙢𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙥 𝙤𝙧 𝙥𝙖𝙞𝙙 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙠 𝙖𝙙𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣. 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘵 𝘓𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘋𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘵.𝘰𝘳𝘨/𝘏𝘰𝘸𝘭

*𝘈𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘥, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘷𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘬-𝘶𝘱 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘥𝘢𝘺. 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘴 𝘷𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘭-𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘥𝘶𝘭𝘵 𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘣𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘳 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘴.

10/05/2024

To save the desert tortoise, we must save their land! 🐢

The Living Desert is working to restore tortoise habitats near the Orocopia Mountains in Southern California to create an environment where the critically endangered desert tortoise population can successfully rebound. Our multi-faceted approach includes:

🌵 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗘𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗙𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀: To support desert tortoises during extended dry periods, we plant essential food sources like the beavertail cactus. These plants not only provide nutrition but also supply much-needed water to desert tortoises.

🌱 𝗘𝗻𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗕𝗮𝗻𝗸𝘀: We're collecting seeds in the Orocopia Mountains, carefully propagating them at our Desert Plant Conservation Center, and replanting them into the field to boost the native plant population. This ensures that the tortoise’s food sources are well-adapted to the local conditions and more likely to thrive.

💧 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: To maximize the benefits of scarce rainfall, we're implementing small changes to the landscape, like building rock structures that slow water down and help it soak into the soil. This supports the plants that tortoises rely on, while also benefiting the broader ecosystem — from small mammals to birds and insects.

By protecting the habitat, we can save the species!💚

09/28/2024

Beak-a-boo! 🦢

Florence is always front and center, sharing the spotlight with the giraffe herd! 🦒

📸: Team Member, Dillon S.

09/25/2024

When the buffet is 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘧! 🍂😋

🐐📸: Team Member, Lucas B.

09/17/2024

You know what they say about birds of a feather… we protect them best when we work together! 🦉

The Living Desert is honored to be able to lend a helping claw to our friends at the Big Bear Alpine Zoo and provide a safe haven for their staff and roughly 50 animals. 🤎

Thank you to the San Bernardino County Communications and The Big Bear Alpine Zoo for sharing the photos of Big Bear.

09/13/2024

Pumpkin season isn't the only thing creeping up on us! 🎃🐈

09/07/2024

Did you know, 16 of the world’s 23 vulture species are endangered or threatened with extinction?

The Living Desert’s conservation efforts extend beyond borders, reaching over 11 countries worldwide! Several of our 80+ initiatives take place in Mongolia's Ikh Nart Nature Reserve, a vital nesting site for the cinereous vulture, one of the world's largest flying birds.

This summer, The Living Desert's staff joined Mongolian researchers in the field to tag young vultures, known as fledglings, and gather data on this unique ecosystem where the Mongolian grasslands meet the Gobi Desert. 🦅

During this ongoing research, we've been able to gather valuable data to better understand their life cycles and survival rates.

Read our latest blog to learn more about this project from one of our field leaders! 🤎

09/06/2024

Banded mongooses might only weigh about 3 pounds, but they sure know how to snack! 🐜

They have an appetite for insects like beetles, earthworms, grasshoppers, and termites. But they are also known to eat scorpions, slugs, snails, and even snakes. 🦗🐍

To break open hard objects, such as eggs or crabs, they will throw the object between their hind legs and into a stone or other hard object! 🪨

📸: Team Member, Lucas B.

09/01/2024

Snoot, there it is! 🐽

Photo of the one and only Paloma by Team Member, Lucas B.

08/24/2024

We cat even with this picture! 😺🧡

📸: Visitor, Nicole Critz

𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘥 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰 𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘥, 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘶𝘣𝘮𝘪𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘱𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘵 𝘓𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘋𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘵.𝘰𝘳𝘨/𝘚𝘶𝘣𝘮𝘪𝘵

08/18/2024

You know what they say, two heads are better than one! 🦢💙🦢

📸: Guest, Eileen Laurette Cox

08/11/2024

Meet Oliver, (un)officially known as the rock potato. 🪨🥔

More officially known as the rock hyrax. 🪨🐻

08/03/2024

GIVEAWAY CLOSED 🚨 and it's not too late to enter! 😉

In case you missed it, The Living Desert is giving away a pair of Zoo tickets! 🎟️

To enter, simply submit your favorite photos and videos taken at the Zoo. Whether it's cute animal photos, fun moments, or stunning landscape shots, we want to see them!

Photos can be submitted to LivingDesert.org/Submit and will have a chance to be featured on our page in the future.🌟

The giveaway ends tonight, good luck!

07/28/2024

We ZOO it for YOU! 🐱

We hope you’ve enjoyed meeting our staff this week and learned a bit more about what it takes to run a zoo! But before we wrap up the week, we can’t forget to thank YOU.

We could not do all we do without your support. So, to show our appreciation, and make sure you can see all this work in action, we’re giving away two pairs of Zoo tickets! 🎟️

To enter:

📸 Send us your favorite photos and videos you’ve taken at the Zoo! Photos can be submitted to LivingDesert.org/Submit and will have a chance to be featured on our page in the future. 🌟

Contest Rules:
Giveaway ends at 11:59pm PST Saturday, August 3, 2024.

Note: You must add your name and email on the photo submission in order to be considered.

One winner will be chosen at random and notified via DM. Winners must claim the prize within 48 hours.

One winner will receive a total of 2 adult or child daytime Zoo tickets.

US only, 18+. This giveaway is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Instagram.

Winner communication WILL ONLY come from The Living Desert. We appreciate you reporting any fake accounts to Meta.

07/26/2024

It's not just a position, it's a passion. ✨

07/24/2024

How do we ZOO it?

Ever wondered just what it takes to run a zoo like The Living Desert? The short answer is a lot of teamwork! 🤝

With…
🐾 600+ animals in our care
🌸 52 curated gardens
🌳 80 acres of public grounds to care for (+ 5 miles of hiking trails!)
🌍 80 local and global conservation projects

… It takes many hands! 👐

Championing the world’s deserts is no small feat and it takes a wide variety of skills and experts across fields — from animal care to business operations, conservation to guest services, food service to fundraising, and more!

Our Zoo thrives because of the incredible efforts of our hardworking team members. So, please join us in thanking them! Every day, they make an impact and help build a brighter tomorrow for wildlife. 🌵🌍

07/23/2024

It’s ! And, this year, the American Association of Zoo Keepers has chosen a theme centered on “connections” and the importance of the diverse roles that it takes to run a zoo. 🦏🦒🐈

So, stay tuned as we share some insights into what it takes to run a Zoo throughout the week!

And what better way to kick things off than with a “thank you” to our dedicated Animal Care team! Please join us in thanking them this week (and every week!) for the attention, compassion, and expertise they provide as they care for more than 600 animals each day. ❤️🐾

07/21/2024

Sunday's forcast: sunny with 100% chance of camels! 🐪☀️

07/06/2024

Heartwarming story alert! 🦊

On the morning of September 17, 2023, during an annual population survey on San Nicolas Island, a young Channel Island fox was found with a compound fracture in the lower part of her right hind leg.

With the approval of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), our friends at the Santa Barbara Zoo took the pup in for treatment. The Santa Barbara Zoo is well-known for their expertise in the rehabilitation and placement of this near threatened species and cared for her for several months.

After her recovery, the fox — now named Sylvie — was deemed non-releasable and was recommended for placement at a CDFW-approved mainland facility, where she could serve as an ambassador for her wild counterparts. As one of three facilities who care for Channel Island foxes, we welcomed her with open arms.

Sylvie is settling in at her new home at The Living Desert and is becoming acquainted with the other Channel Island fox in our care, Beauregard, AKA “Beau.” The two of them will live together as a non-breeding pair.

Sylvie eagerly participates in training sessions with her care team and is learning cues to take an active role in her healthcare, such as stepping on a scale for regular weight checks. Sylvie loves to climb and can often be found perched in high spots around her habitat.

Stop by Eagle Canyon to meet her and stay tuned for more updates as she gets settled into her fur-ever home! 🧡

07/02/2024

Memo's submission for !

Address

47900 Portola Avenue
Palm Desert, CA
92260

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 5pm
Tuesday	8am - 5pm
Wednesday	8am - 5pm
Thursday	8am - 5pm
Friday	8am - 5pm
Saturday	8am - 5pm
Sunday	8am - 5pm

Telephone

+17603465694

Website

http://www.LivingDesert.org/

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Videos

Crunch, munch, repeat! 😋 Everyone loves a post-Halloween treat! 🪱🦡 #SpookySnacks #ASMR #Coati #TheLivingDesert

They’re heeeeere.👀 With their soft fur and wide eyes, sand cats may look like the ultimate cuddle companions, but don’t be fooled — they are fierce felines! These nocturnal and elusive cats are small, typically weighing between 3-7 pounds, but are excellent hunters, able to prey upon snakes and venomous vipers. 🐍 #SpookySeason #Sandcat #TheLivingDesert

Kip’s perfect fall snack? A pumpkin to-go with a bone on the (in)side! 🎃🦴 #Hyena #Halloween #TheLivingDesert

Who says dogs are the only ones who get to play with sticks? 🦌 Crush, the kudu, “spars” with anyone he can — including a nice bundle of branches! 🌿

Don’t be a scaredy cat — join the fun this weekend at The Living Desert’s Howl-O-Ween celebration! 🎃🐈‍⬛ Happening this Saturday and Sunday, October 26 and 27, from 9:00am to 3:00pm, this event is packed with fall festivities and is FREE with your membership or park admission. 🍬 Enjoy trick-or-treating, themed keeper talks, face painting, a NEW family-friendly haunted house, tons of photo ops, and more.🦇 And don’t forget… tomorrow is your last chance to receive a FREE child’s ticket (ages 3-17) for Howl-O-Ween with your purchase of an adult ticket! Use code HOWLFREECHILD at checkout to redeem.* Don’t ghost us — come join the fun! 👻 *Offer valid until midnight on October 24, 2024. This promotion is valid with the purchase of full-priced adult tickets only and cannot be combined with other offers or discounts.

Meet Nick: Your new BFF! 🐢 Are you thinking about adding a desert tortoise to your family? For over a decade, The Living Desert and the California Turtle and Tortoise Club (CTTC) have been dedicated to rehoming pet tortoises in the Coachella Valley, ensuring wild tortoises stay wild and pet tortoises find caring homes. 💚 Are you interested in Nick, or any other adoptable desert tortoise? Email [email protected] for more information! #DesertTortoiseWeek #DesertTortoise #TheLivingDesert #Adopt

Curious about what it takes to care for the headstart desert tortoises? 🐢

Just two tiny torts, trying to take a bite! 🐢🥬 #DesertTortoiseWeek #DesertTortoise

It’s #DesertTortoiseWeek! 🐢 Every ecosystem has a keystone species — the “glue” that holds everything together. In our region, the Mojave desert tortoise serves this critical role, influencing over 360 species by providing shelter through its burrows. Unfortunately, the desert tortoise is facing significant challenges, including habitat loss, off-road vehicle activity, and increased predation by ravens, especially near human development. Follow along all week to learn more about this essential species and the ongoing efforts to safeguard their future. #DesertTortoise #MojaveDesertTortoise #TheLivingDesert

You know what they say about birds of a feather… we protect them best when we work together! 🦉 The Living Desert is honored to be able to lend a helping claw to our friends at the Big Bear Alpine Zoo and provide a safe haven for their staff and roughly 50 animals. 🤎 Thank you to the San Bernardino County Communications and The Big Bear Alpine Zoo for sharing the photos of Big Bear. #TheLivingDesert #BigBearAlpineZoo #LineFire

It’s TORTally the best time of the year! 🐢 The newest cohort of desert tortoise eggs have arrived — and are already hatching — at The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens for their head start! 💚 Together, with our partners at the @sandiegozoo Wildlife Alliance and @edwardsairforcebase, we’re working to support the critically endangered desert tortoise population by giving these hatchlings a “headstart.” Over the next six months, the hatchlings will be raised in a temperature-controlled environment with a nutrient-rich diet, allowing them to grow to the size of three-year-old tortoises. This increase in size helps to make them less vulnerable to predation and boosts their chances of surviving to a reproductive age after their release next year. Be sure to follow along as we share more updates from the “tiny torts” in the coming months!🐢🧡 #TinyTorts #DesertTortoise #CaliforniaConservation #TheLivingDesert

🌵 + 🐢 = CHOMP 💚 Desert tortoises are herbivores, and primarily eat grasses, flowers, fruits, and cacti. Thanks to these moisture rich foods, desert tortoises rarely, if ever, have to drink fresh water! #DesertTortoise #TheLivingDesert

When it’s not your birthday... but you really love cake! 🤫🎂 #Springbok #CAKE #TheLivingDesert

How many fingers are down? 🫰🧡

Have no fear, the snakes are meant to be here!🐍 The desert’s scaly friends might have a bad rep for being scary or creepy, but they’re actually vital to our ecosystem! (Not to mention cool!) 🌵 Hear from Keeper Natalee on how to co-exist with our slithering neighbors. #TheLivingDesert #Coexistence #Snake #Desert