American Association of Zoo Keepers San Francisco Chapter

03/19/2025

🚨TOMORROW🚨

Don’t for get to stop by California Fish Grill tomorrow where 25% of your purchase will go towards the Gorilla Fund, so be sure to use our promo code for the event. We will have a member meeting from 6-7pm to talk about Earth Day festivities next month.

Don’t forget to RSVP at the link: https://grouprai.se/e300592

03/05/2025

Reminder to get your brackets in for our March Mammal Madness fundraiser! Email us at [email protected]!
And don't forget to vote on which organization we will donate to!

https://forms.gle/DH3mFA3SGfsHzeCj8

(Yes we did use meta AI for this picture 😅)

03/03/2025

Today, we honor the diversity of life on Earth and acknowledge our shared responsibility in protecting it. Every action, big or small, contributes to safeguarding the future of wildlife. Whether it’s raising awareness, supporting conservation efforts, or making eco-friendly choices, we all have a role to play. 🌍💚

02/25/2025

AZA’s Ungulate TAG Conservation Task Force is shining a spotlight on one of our TAG-Reviewed Conservation Projects: Grevy’s Zebra Trust (GZT)! Located in Kenya and established in 2007, Grevy’s Zebra Trust is the only organization that dedicates 100% of their conservation efforts to the endangered Grevy’s Zebra. They partner with local communities in the Wamba, El Barta, and Laisamis regions of Kenya utilizing community-science based population monitoring and co-designing solutions to species threats. Some of their ongoing conservation efforts include collaborating with Ewaso Lions to make recommendations to infrastructure developers in northern Kenya using science-based recommendations, hosting the Great Grevy’s Rally to utilize a photo census to identify population numbers every other year, and working with local communities for the Grevy’s Zebra Warriors, Grevy’s Zebra Ambassadors, and Grevy’s Zebra Scouts programs.

To learn more about Grevy’s Zebra Trust and their ongoing projects visit: www.grevyszebratrust.org
To learn more about other TAG-Reviewed Conservation Projects visit: www.azaungulates.com/conservation
Photo Credit: Dr. David Kimiti – Grevy’s Zebra Trust Director of Research and Impact

02/25/2025

ARE YOU READY?! Get Your Bracket, Pick Your Champion!The action begins March 10, 2025If you're learning, you're winning at March Mammal MadnessPlayer Portal:...

02/25/2025

"We have exciting news! In an effort to create more networking and more hands-on training opportunities, AAZK is partnering with the Keeper Educational Exchange Program (KEEP) in the UK to bring you KEEP AAZK! The goal of KEEP AAZK will be to facilitate travel for keepers from one institution to another in order to learn and grow.

We are currently in search of 5 interested AAZK Members to serve on the initial task force and then hold positions on the Program Team once it's established.

Would you like to help AAZK facilitate opportunities for animal care professionals to share knowledge and expertise with each other in an amazing way? If so, then please send a letter of interest and updated resumé to AAZK's Executive Board of Directors. The deadline for submission is March 20th, 2025.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Nicole Pepo, Board President
[email protected]

Joseph Nappi, Board Vice President
[email protected]"

02/24/2025

Join us for the 10th Annual competition of March Mammal Madness! Print and fill out your desired bracket, and register with us to play! It only costs $6, and you can pay through paypal, venmo, or pay in person to our Treasure Max. This year we will be voting on which organization we will be donating to, so keep an eye out for our stories. Hope you're ready for a ridiculously good time for a good cause!

https://libguides.asu.edu/MarchMammalMadness/brackets

02/13/2025

No plans for Pal-entines Day? Join your friends at GRAZE and others in the industry for our free monthly virtual support group! We hope to see you there. You can register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwtcuGqrzwsH9Ulsdtm7xpMqrkYHA0sKZ7n?fbclid=IwAR3iBoayNariQ_QndVPdb7V-ajsNzdiW9kZrKmSx0ZSz-2Aetg2dM-7ArVY #/registration

02/08/2025

The AAZKSF Officers would like to offer our condolences to those who cared for the zoo's silverback gorilla, Oscar Jonesy. He was an icon at the zoo and a great ambassador for his wild counterparts.
The unexpected loss can bring up many emotions in us and take a toll on our mental health. We would like to encourage those affected by this unexpected loss to take time for themselves and practice self-care techniques that help you stay grounded.
If you are in need of outside sources, a great resource you can use is contacting Growing Resiliency for Aquarium and Zoo Employees, LLC. They hold monthly virtual support groups and have other crisis response resources available to those in this field.

Much love from the AAZKSF officers

02/07/2025

Check your email for your RSVP link.

📸: Marianne Hale

01/17/2025

Happy Appreciate a Dragon Day! We have a couple dragon residents here at the zoo, the Komodo dragon and bearded dragon. One comes from the islands of Indonesia and the other from Australia, but fossil records show that Komodo’s originated from Australia, too. Then 900,000 years ago, they traveled to Indonesia. In 1912, western scientists learned of their existence and not long after they received the name we know them as today, the “Komodo dragon.” Prior to this they were known to Indonesia as, the “Ora.”

It was discovered last year that Komodo dragons have iron tipped teeth, which protects them from going dull and wearing down. As a top predator, which only hunts with its teeth, you’re gonna want sharp teeth.

Here’s a snap of our resident Komodo Dragon enjoying a special treat last Halloween.

📸: Marianne Hale

01/10/2025

Join us January 16th, during your lunch, and help us kick off our 2025 season! There will be chips, dip, and some sweet treats. AAZK officers will gladly answer any questions you have about joining. Hope to see you then!

01/03/2025

Have you been dreaming about attending the AAZK National Conference? Is there a professional development opportunity you have your eye on? Do you have the perfect idea for a research project? AAZK Grants can help make your dreams a reality! Grant applications are open from January 1st to March 1st.

For more information on our available grants and how to apply, please visit: https://aazk.org/committee/grants-committee/grants/

01/02/2025

Happy New Year from AAZKSF!

10/28/2024