Zoological

ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF SAN DIEGO[1]

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The Zoological Society of San Diego is a not-for-profit organization that operates two exhibition facilities – the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Wild Animal Park – and the department of Conservation and Research for Endangered Species (CRES). The San Diego Zoo is a 100-acre park that is home to 4,000 rare and endangered animals representing more than 800 species and subspecies and has a botanical collection with more than 700,000 exotic plants. The Wild Animal Park is a 1,800-acre wildlife sanctuary that is home to more than 3,500 animals representing more than 400 species and has a botanical collection that represents 3,500 species and 1.5 million specimens. CRES, founded in 1975, is one of the largest zoo-based research centers in the world. CRES is dedicated to preserving and protecting rare and endangered wildlife and habitats.

Founded in 1916, a 12-member board of trustees governs the Zoological Society of San Diego. The board is self-perpetuating, electing its own members. Officers of the Board include a president, vice president, treasurer and secretary. A society executive director, hired by the board of trustees, is the chief executive officer. Associate directors, hired by the executive director, are in charge of departments and programs: animal collections and exhibits, education, conservation and public service, zoological research, auxiliary services, facilities, and membership and fund raising. In addition, volunteers provide a range of services to the zoo's education and public relations functions. These volunteers include docents trained by the education department staff to serve as zoo tour guides, teach classes, and to staff touch carts on zoo grounds.

The Zoological Society of San Diego is the largest zoological membership association in the world, with more than 250,000 member households and 130,000 child memberships, representing more than a half...