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Opening
The San Diego's zoo had its opening in 1916. -
Lions cubs!
First pair of zoo-born lion cubs are sold to the city of Seattle. -
Remodeling time
Pits are built for the bears along Park Boulevard (across from Indian Village). Completed with cement floors in 1921 with funds from the City Council.
Standard Oil Company and Combined Harvester Company donate their Exposition buildings to the Zoo.
First organized membership campaign carried on during last months of the year. -
New recruits.
First curator of reptiles is Laurence M. Klauber (President of SDG&E and consultant to the Society); serves until 1931.
First Guadalupe fur seals arrive. (First live specimens to arrive in the United States. Brought from Baja by a local fisherman.) “Mrs. Silvergate”, another Guadalupe fur seal, washes ashore at Ocean Beach and is added to the collection. 4/30/1922. Article cites early conservation efforts.
First cage that will house an African leopard is donated by the Hotel-Men’s Association. -
Grand opening
Zoo’s grand opening: 10 cent admission for adult non-members. Children free. Entrance is through the Reptile House (the International Harvester Building from the 1915-1916 Exposition). 1/1/1923.
Intense development of zoo infrastructure, mission and collection. (Related article).
First lion grotto constructed: “Prince“, “Julia”, and “Sara” have a new home thanks to Ellen B. Scripps’ donation. 4/1923 (Demolished in 1999 to build Douc Langur enclosure.)
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New animals!
First snake roundup – $100 in prizes awarded for capturing snakes for the Zoo.
John Spreckles finances a trip to Australia for Zoo Director Tom Faulconer. Koalas “Snugglepot” and “Cuddlepie” are presented as gifts to the children of San Diego from the children of Sydney. (Marks the first foreign exchange. Other animals include: 40 kangaroos, 6 emus, wombats, dingoes, phalangers, birds of paradise, and an echidna.) -
South gate opened
South Gate opened. Entrance fee is raised from 10 cents to 25 cents. All servicemen in uniform admitted for free.
Second Australian expedition successfully completed.
Warehouse burns but all building are insured.
Elk Lodge donates money for a large elk pasturage.
Pools cemented.
Large parrot cage built. Peccary pen and warthog pens built. -
More new animals and buildings.
Grizzly bears born.
First Galapagos albatross.
First Gray mangabey for the Zoo and first for the U.S.
First Babirusa and first Sambar deer.
Construction begun on new Reptile House (still in use) and Elephant Barn. International Harvester Building becomes a cafe. -
New animals, buildings and reproduction by artificial insemination
First artificial insemination of ocellated turkey in the U.S., fourteen hatched.
First captive breeding of the Aruba Island rattlesnake.
Giant salamander “Hon Honsaki” arrives from Japan; grows to be 5′ long.
New birds at the Zoo: Burmeister’s cariama and a pair of crested screamers.
Construction of new buffalo enclosure: one section for African water buffaloes and another for American bison. Old Buffalo Pastures are remodeled for moose (first time at the Zoo). -
A great up grade.
First artificial insemination of ocellated turkey in the U.S., fourteen hatched.
First captive breeding of the Aruba Island rattlesnake.
Giant salamander “Hon Honsaki” arrives from Japan; grows to be 5′ long.
New birds at the Zoo: Burmeister’s cariama and a pair of crested screamers.
Construction of new buffalo enclosure: one section for African water buffaloes and another for American bison. Old Buffalo Pastures are remodeled for moose (first time at the Zoo).
3 cheetahs born at the Zoo. -
70 birthday.
First Kicks for Critters fund raiser.
Avian Propagation Center is established.
First Tundra wolves in San Diego Zoo’s collection.
Photo caravan tours begin at the Wild Animal Park.
Male cheetah “Arusha” is born at Wildlife Safari, Oregon.
“Condorminium” is built at the Wild Animal Park to support condor breeding program.
Ground breaking for HOZ (Heart of the Zoo). -
New place for birds
First successful Mountain anoa birth at Zoo. 9/1990
King Tut dies. 12/30/1990. (related article).
Royal Lipizzaner stallions at Wild Animal Park. 5/1990
Nativescapes Garden, Old World Succulent Garden and Water Wise Garden established at Wild Animal Park.
Bean Award given to Zoo for Francois’ langur propagation program. AZA Award for Tiger River exhibit.
Conservation Medal awarded to Dr. Gilbert Grosvenor (President, National Geographic). -
The biggest donation in the history of the zoo.
Society receives the largest grant in its 83-year history ($7.5 million) from the Beckman Foundation to build new CRES complex at the Wild Animal Park.
Condor Ridge opens at the Wild Animal Park. 13 North American species are featured. 5/2000
CRES hosts international conference, “Genetic Resources for the New Century”, May 7-11, 2000.
CRES expands with addition of 12 post-doctoral fellowships.
New exhibit for porcupines and aardwolves at the Zoo.
Reptile quarantine facility is constructed. -
"The future of zoos"
San Diego Zoo partners with Nature and Culture International (NCI) to protect the Cazaderos Forest Preserve through the Living Forest Carbon Offset Program.
San Diego Zoo hosts a conference of world experts to discuss “The Future of Zoos”.
Conrad Prebys Polar Bear Plunge re-opens at the Zoo after a $1 million renovation.
Board of Trustees approves rebranding the organization’s three facilities as the San Diego Zoo (no change), San Diego Zoo Safari -
The present.
First documented case of a California condor chick fledged in the wild in Mexico in nearly 80 years, the result of reintroduction efforts by San Diego Zoo Global Wildlife Conservancy and conservation group COSTASALVAjE.
The San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research starts its first the Advanced Inquiry Masters Program through a partnership with Project Dragonfly at Miami University;