SD Zoo Safari Park,
Apr 30 (Tue) or May 2 (Thur) $10
SD Zoo Safari Park, 15500 San Pasqual Valley Rd., Escondido, CA 92027 (760) 747-8702
Accessible: Yes. A Guests with Disabilities map is available for download on the Safari Park website.
Description: The San Diego Zoo Safari Park, previously known as the San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park until 2010, is an 1,800 acre zoo in the San Pasqual Valley north of San Diego. As one of the largest tourist attractions in San Diego County, the Safari Park is home to approximately 3,200 animals and nearly 1,750,000 plants. It boasts a number of special safari tours as well as numerous wildlife habitats, including Nairobi Village, Condor Ridge, Lion Camp, Gorilla Forest, and Asian Savanna. Our exciting educational tour of Safari Park is titled “Conservation in Action,” and will include an animal presentation and a guided tour of some of the habitats in the Park. We will also learn about the history, mission, and work of the Institute for Conservation Research, the research division of San Diego Zoo Global. You will leave with specific action steps you can take for conservation, as well as a better understanding of the conservation work that San Diego Zoo Global is involved in around the world.
Directions from the SOUTH (northbound): From I-15 North, take the Via Rancho Parkway exit (Exit 27). Go east and follow signs to the Park. From I-5 or I-805 North, proceed to CA-163, then to I-15 North, and then exit at Via Rancho Parkway (Exit 27). Follow signs east.
Directions from the EAST (westbound): From I-8 West take I-15 North to the Via Rancho Parkway exit (Exit 27). Follow the signs east to the Park.
Directions from the NORTH (southbound): From I-5 South on the coast, take the CA-78 East exit at Oceanside, proceed east to I-15 South, exit at Via Rancho Parkway (Exit 27) and follow the signs to the Park. From I-15 inland, exit at Via Rancho Parkway (Exit 27) and follow the signs east to the Park.
Parking: Parking is free for school groups. Just mention the name of our class and school at the parking booth (Rediscovering San Diego/San Diego Continuing Education).
Special Instructions: Upon arrival, please meet and wait at the Log Ring located between RV Parking and Guest Services. Please arrive early so you can sign the roll and we can collect payment—the instructor needs to submit payment to Guest Services prior to meeting with our tour guide. Please note that Zoological Society of San Diego memberships and/or passes may NOT be used in lieu of the tour fee. We are instructed to meet our tour guide at 9:45 a.m. and get ready to begin our tour. We cannot wait for latecomers. If you are late, you will be required to pay full price to get into the park. Once in the Park, please stay on the designated paths, stay with the guide, and respect the animals by keeping your voice quiet. Please do not feed or touch the animals. The tram is part of our discounted Education admission ticket. Please be sure to bring water, hats, and sunscreen, as it can get very warm at Safari Park. Wear appropriate clothing and footwear.
Website(s): https://www.sdzsafaripark.org
A Visit to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park
We proud San Diegans often claim bragging rights about our amazing zoo, which consistently ranks among the best in the world. The San Diego Zoo and its sister zoo, the Safari Park, are extraordinary for a number of reasons:
San Diego Zoo: home to 3,500 rare and endangered animals (more than 650 species and subspecies; more than 700,000 exotic plants in its botanical collection).
San Diego Zoo Safari Park: 3,000 animals (more than 300 species); 1,800 acres of protected native habitat
5 million combined visitor totals annually
San Diego Zoo Global: the largest zoological membership association in the world (250,000 member household representing more than 500,000 people).
Our zoo, managed by the not-for-profit organization San Diego Zoo Global, is also recognized for its impressive zoological research, its conservation projects worldwide (which you will learn a lot more about on your visit), and its education outreach and programs.
Perhaps most important of all, the San Diego Zoo and the Safari Park are models of animal and environment stewardship. As we move forward with life on this amazing Planet Earth, it’s up to us to understand and protect our fellow creatures.
Read on to learn more about the role that zoos have played in improving our relationship with animals and the environment.
The History of Zoos
For most Americans, zoos are part of our culture. Almost every state in the union has at least one zoo, and often it’s a rite of passage to bring our children (and grandchildren) for fun and educational visits.
We don’t know for sure when the first zoo was established, but we have records of pigeons kept in captivity dating back to as early as 4500 BCE. Zoologists suspect that the earliest “zoos” had to do with collecting animals for domestication (“Zoo”).
The ancient Greeks (300 BC) were interested in studying and experimenting with animals, while the Romans (146 BC-500 AD) collected animals for either the arena (you can guess what happened to them), or for private study and enjoyment in garden areas and aviaries.
According to historian Esther Suson (2015), as explorers mapped and discovered the world, they brought exotic animals back to their patrons and monarchs. For example, in the 8th century Emperor Charlemagne collected a small menagerie of animals including elephants from his voyageurs to Asia and Africa.
It makes sense that humans wanted to learn more about animals during the Renaissance and Age of Enlightenment. In the late 1600s, the menagerie at Versailles was an early version of a zoo, where enclosures arranged in a circle allowed visitors to observe collected animals from around the world.
In 1828, the London Zoo was first established for scientific exploration of different and rare animal species. Soon after, the Dublin Zoo got its start in 1828, focusing on the medical study of animals. In the United States, the Central Park Zoo opened in 1860, followed by the Philadelphia Zoo in 1874.
A Shift in Perspective
An interesting shift in perspective about enclosing or caging animals occurred at the turn of the 20th century. We attribute these changes to Carl Hagenbeck, a German animal trainer who lived in the late 19th and early 20th century. His revolutionary approach was to control animals by befriending them. He advocated the humane treatment of animals, and showed the public that animals are intelligent as well as intriguing (“Carl Hagenbeck”).
He was also the first man credited with creating zoo exhibits without cages. In his zoological garden, he placed animals in barless pits, displayed against large panoramas that depicted the native habitat of tigers or polar bears. Today’s most reputable zoos are a combination of caged exhibits and “cageless” displays.
Since the 1930s, there has been an increasing number of open-range zoos. They are kept in large natural areas and confined by moats filled with water (or deep dry trenches, or wire-mesh fence (“Zoo”).
The modern zoo park or safari park confines animals in very large paddocks where either visitors drive their cars, or, as in the case of the SD park, the zoo provides a number of different tours. The environment has been designed to resemble the animals’ natural habitat.
Why Have Zoos?
Some people oppose keeping wild animals in captivity. Recent stories in the press tell of injuries to human visitors, animal deaths, and other disturbing incidents.
But in fact zoos must meet strict licensing criteria, and the safety of animals, visitors, and zoo staff is of primary concern. The U.S. Department of Agriculture licenses roughly 470 zoological facilities across the country (McCarthy, 2019).
The Pros and Cons of Zoos.
What do you think?
If you need more convincing, consider these reasons why we need zoos:
To learn about the lives and behaviors of animals from around the world
To care for and protect animals from around the world
To learn about animals’ lives and behavior
To ensure the reproduction of all species—and especially those who are endangered
To conduct research (most zoos are considered working laboratories). Many collaborate with related research institutes.
To educate the public about wild animals and their habitats
To involve the public in volunteer and advocacy projects
Test Your San Diego Zoo and Safari Park Knowledge
Test Your San Diego Zoo and Safari Knowledge
Zoo Quiz ChallengeSafari Park Specifics
The mission of San Diego Zoo Global is rather simple: help end extinction (Our Mission).
The Safari Park’s role is to focus on animals that live on the African, Asian and Australian continents. Part of the benefit of the open range zoo is the expanse of land devoted to creating a habitat similar to the animal’s native region. This is a win-win on so many levels:
Visitors experience the most rare, majestic, and sometimes endangered species.
Scientists and students have a close-up opportunity to observe animal behavior and study their health.
Safari park researchers collaborate with colleagues across the globe in their mission to protect wildlife and conserve the environment.
The Zoo Safari Park hosts many unique safari experiences, with guided tours by caravan, jeep, and cart to give you an up-close and personal encounter with elephants, giraffes, lions, tigers, kangaroos, cheetahs, and more. There is also a thrilling Flightline Safari (a zip-line ride) as well as seasonal “Roar and Snore” overnight safari experiences.
The San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research
Your visit to the Zoo Safari Park will focus on conservation and research efforts. This world-renowned institute has been around for more than 40 years, with a team of roughly 200 scientists dedicated to studying issues ranging from animal reproduction, disease, and conservation.
You’ll learn much more about the eight areas of research:
Conservation Genetics
Reproductive Sciences
Population Sustainability
Disease Investigations
Plant Conservation
Recovery Ecology
Community Engagement
Biodiversity Banking
Wait—what the heck is Biodiversity Banking? Do I need to bring my debit card?
Just joking. Actually, the Frozen Zoo is one of the “coolest” innovations about the Safari Park.
It sounds a bit science fiction-ish, but it’s for real (think: Jurassic Park). The Frozen Zoo is a vast collection of more than 10,000 living cell cultures, sperm, and embryo (including the extinct species, the po’ouli. The frozen specimens preserved in the lab can potentially produce offspring when used for in vitro fertilization. In fact, this cryo-technology has already produced cheetahs, white rhinos, and more.
The Frozen Zoo is also part of a DNA mapping project called Genome 10K, which aims to sequence the genomes of 10,000 species and help us better understand the biology of endangered species.
These are just a few of projects you’ll learn more about on your visit.
A Plethora of Incredible Videos
Be sure to spend some time perusing the San Diego Zoo Safari Park website before your visit:www.sdzsafaripark.org/
Here are a few to get you started!
Playful Pachyderm...
Baby Giraffe...
Don't forget to read this wonderful newsletter (that dates back quite a few years):
And if that is not enough, did you know that you have 24-7 access to your favorite animal? The zoo provides links to live camera streaming (come to think of it, is that an invasion of elephant privacy?).
Summary
Do you feel inspired to support the noble mission of the zoo? There are a myriad of ways to do so, ranging from monthly giving, memorial gifts, wildlife donations, foundation grants, and even vehicle donation. And of course you can also donate your time as a zoo volunteer.
Works Cited
About San Diego Zoo Global. (2019). Retrieved from: https://zoo.sandiegozoo.org/about/about-san-diego-zoo
“Carl Hagenbeck” (April 2019). Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved from: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Carl-Hagenbeck
Frozen Zoo. (2019). San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research. Retrieved from: https://institute.sandiegozoo.org/resources/frozen-zoo%C2%AE
Leap. (2017). Undercover Tourist Blog. Retrieved from: https://www.undercovertourist.com/blog/san-diego-zoo-safari-park-tips/
McCarthy, K. (March 2019). The 30 Best Zoos in the World. Retrieved from U.S. News: https://travel.usnews.com/gallery/the-30-best-zoos-in-the-us
Our Mission. (2019). The San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research. Retreived from: https://zoo.sandiegozoo.org/our-mission
Suson, E. (August 2015). The History of Zoos. Hankering for History. Retrieved from from: https://hankeringforhistory.com/history-of-zoos/
The Top Zoos in the World. (Sept. 2018). Retrieved from World Atlas: https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/best-rated-zoos-in-the-world.html
Who we are. (2019). The Institute for Conservation Research. Retreived from: https://institute.sandiegozoo.org/
Wilkens, J. (May 2016). How the San Diego Zoo evolved into a powerhouse. San Diego Union Tribune. Retrieved from:
Zoo. (March 2017). Encyclopedia Britannia. Retrieved from: https://www.britannica.com/science/zoo
Writing Activity
Zoos help us learn about wildlife and link us to our own "wild" nature. Here are a few options for reflecting on your experience at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, and sharing stories with your classmates.
1. Share with the group an encounter you had with an animal in the "wild" (loosely defined--could be anything from a backyard coyote to Yosemite deer ). What did you see? How did it make you feel?
2. Okay, here's the class animal metaphor question: What wild animal best describes your character and why?
Here's how to write your reflection:
Click on the link below.
Write your response.
Submit.