Saint Louis Zoo

Behind every blood collection, surgery and health assessment, veterinary technicians are the hands, hearts and steady presence supporting animals through every stage of care here at the Zoo. From tiny tree frogs to enormous elephants, our vet techs provide expert care for animals of all shapes and sizes. 🩺💚 These highly skilled professionals monitor anesthesia, run lab work, take radiographs, assist in procedures and more. Their expertise and compassion help our veterinary team deliver world-class care every single day. This week, we celebrate our incredible veterinary technicians! Thank you for your dedication, skill and care for our animals. #NationalVetTechWeek #VetTechWeek

News worth chirping about! 🪺 The Marianas Avifauna Conservation (MAC) Program was awarded this year’s prestigious North American Conservation Award from The Association of Zoos and Aquariums—and we couldn’t be prouder to be part of it! Led by our partners at Pacific Bird Conservation, this collaboration is giving hope to island birds whose populations have been devastated by the invasive brown tree snake. By carefully moving birds to sanctuary islands free of the predator, the program establishes vital safety-net populations to safeguard species from extinction. The Saint Louis Zoo has been a proud partner in the MAC Program since its inception and has supported conservation efforts in the Mariana Islands since the mid-1990s. Today, our Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Institute continues this work alongside zoos across the country, working together to protect these irreplaceable birds.

#Conservation is a team effort. And every team needs top-notch equipment! Last month, the Zoo Facilities Management Team took a trip to Madagascar where the Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Institute partners with Madagascar Fauna and Flora Group on research and wildlife recovery of native species. Thank you, STIHL USA, for donating equipment to support this visit! These donations helped Zoo staff and partners conduct maintenance, field trainings and start construction on a new botanical garden at Parc Ivoloina — a Madagascar zoo home to thirteen different varieties of lemur. This work directly supports the conservation and protection of Madagascar fauna and flora. #teamwork

We're proud to share that the Saint Louis Zoo has once again earned accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)! Fewer than 10% of the 2,800 USDA-licensed wildlife exhibitors in the U.S. achieve this recognition. The Saint Louis Zoo has been a proud AZA members since 1977. AZA accreditation involves a rigorous, independent review every 5 years by experts that ensure we meet the highest standards in animal care and welfare, veterinary programs, conservation, facilities management, education, safety, and more. Guests can feel confident that when they visit, they're supporting a Zoo that is held to the top standards in the field. This year’s evaluators were especially impressed with the Zoo’s work across three campuses: Saint Louis Zoo, Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Park in development in north St. Louis County and Saint Louis Zoo Sears Lehmann Jr. Wildlife Reserve.

Congratulations to the Zoo’s 2025 Julie Gerlach Volunteer of the Year! 🎉 Last month, the Zoo celebrated Ann Mihanovich for her leadership and contributions as a valued Zoo volunteer. Ann has been part of the Zoo’s docent leadership team for several years, bringing vast animal knowledge and enthusiasm to her role. Ann received her award during the Zoo’s Volunteer Appreciation Event, where Judy Glazer, Ellen Miller, Donna Mills and the Horticulture Volunteer Team also received Volunteer Values Awards. Volunteers are an essential part of our organization, helping connect guests to our animals through education and memorable experiences. Congratulations, everyone, and thank you for everything you do!

Making big strides for #conservation! Last month, Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Institute Executive Director Dr. Lisa Kelley traveled to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) for the Nosa Luta Conservation Planning Workshop facilitated by the IUCN Conservation Planning Specialist Group. There, the Zoo joined more than 15 partner organizations to discuss and advance conservation work for the Nosa Luta, a critically endangered bird only found on the island of Rota. Over three days, workshop participants: - Identified and ranked threats to the species, their causes and impacts; - Evaluated mitigation tactics; and - Discussed the vision for Nosa Luta conservation going forward.   Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Institute partners with Pacific Bird Conservation to protect the Nosa Luta and other endangered bird species. Workshops like this one play an essential role bringing together people with diverse expertise in the CNMI and around the world to share knowledge about these incredible animals. Dr. Lisa Kelley says, “The energy in the room was positive and hopeful. Despite long hours, everyone left energized about what comes next!”

MRI scans aren't just helpful for humans. They can greatly benefit the care of kangaroos (and other animals) too! 🦘 Earlier this year, keepers noticed one of the Zoo's resident red kangaroos, Arla, was less responsive to her surroundings. Our Animal Health team quickly stepped in to perform initial diagnostics and give supportive care. They found Arla was likely blind due to inflammation and hemorrhage in her eyes. Over the next several days, Arla began to improve and better navigate her habitat, but her behavior and vision weren’t quite back to normal. The Zoo's veterinary team decided she needed more diagnostic tests to check for problems with her brain and spinal cord (central nervous system.) Dr. Fred Wininger and his team at The Animal Neurology Center generously donated their time and expertise to help. Arla underwent an MRI scan and spinal tap that, fortunately, both came back normal. Zoo vets placed Arla on a long-term course of steroids to manage the inflammation in her eyes. We're happy to report she is now seeing well again! Arla was successfully reintegrated into the Zoo's kangaroo mob. The cause for her symptoms was never identified, but being able to rule out infectious diseases and conditions such as cancer and encephalitis allowed our team to create an effective treatment plan for her. Her recovery is thanks to our Animal Care team's quick action getting Arla care along with Zoo vets' ability to work with amazing consultants like Dr. Wininger. These partnerships allow us to provide top-notch medical care including advanced imaging for Zoo animals. Next time you’re at the Zoo, swing by the Red Rocks area to say hello to Arla and her kangaroo friends!

We're thrilled to share that our 2024 Wild Lights television ad won a Silver Telly Award! With more than 13,000 global entries, the Telly Awards celebrate the very best in video and television across all screens. A huge thanks to the Zoo marketing and events teams along with our talented partners Paradowski Creative for helping bring the magic of Wild Lights to life! Watch the winning ad here: https://lnkd.in/g8fnDK8N

Looking to plan a memorable, fun and stress-free event for your staff? The Saint Louis Zoo has you covered! Here’s why the Zoo is the perfect choice: ✅ One-stop-shop event planning Our dedicated Events Manager will help coordinate everything—from catering prepared by our executive chef to AV needs, rentals and logistics. 🏛 One-of-a-kind venues Whether you're sipping cocktails under a giant shark in The Living World or hosting a meeting with aquarium views in River Camp, each space is unforgettable. 🦭 ANIMALS! Mix business with fun—visit polar bears and penguins or even book something special like a private Sea Lion Show or stingray experience for your group! 🚂 Zoo experiences Add on engaging experiences like scavenger hunts, private rentals of the train or other attractions, face painters and caricature artists. You can even book an evening gathering combined with beloved Zoo events like Boo at the Zoo or Wild Lights. 📅Let us find you a date. It's that simple. Learn more at stlzoo.org/booking.

Attention architects, engineers and land surveyors! The Saint Louis Zoo invites qualified firms to submit their credentials to be considered for upcoming design and infrastructure projects. Through the Qualification-Based Selection (QBS) process, the Saint Louis Zoo utilizes the Missouri Purchasing Group to post requests for proposals and bid opportunities. Once firms are registered, they will begin receiving notifications for matching solicitations and addenda for Saint Louis Zoo projects. Let’s build the future of conservation together — one design at a time! To participate: ✅ Read the QBS registration instructions: https://bit.ly/3EzJGUb ✅ Visit our online vendor portal: https://lnkd.in/gXtm3nV3 ✅ Choose the free registration option ✅ Navigate to the vendor registration section and enter your firm’s qualifications