Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance | Saving Wildlife Together

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Zoo Lights Tickets On Sale Now

Don’t miss Denver’s favorite holiday tradition! Keep in mind, the most popular weekends and time slots sell out quickly, so be sure to jump on tickets right away.

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Colorado Gives Day Donations Are Now Open!

Support veterinary excellence and help offset the cost of providing world-class zoological medicine for our 2,500+ animals.

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Give the gift of wonder! When you gift a membership, your recipient gets early access and discounts for Zoo Lights.

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Holiday Adoption Kits Are Here!

Includes your choice of a plush rhino or capybara—plus a limited-edition DZCA ornament.

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News & Stories

Zoo Tales

November 17, 2025

Home for the Ma-hali-Days

Mahali’s move to Texas has been postponed to spring 2026 to ensure he is comfortable and ready for his final steps of crate training.

Life After Death: A Look into DZCA’s Unique Pathology Pro…

DZCA’s veterinary pathology program plays a critical role in animal care, helping diagnose illness, guide treatments, and improve health for every …

BABY BULLETIN: Introducing Our Lion Cub Quartet

We are delighted to share that our female African lion, Araali, gave birth to four healthy cubs on August 13!

Visit

Make memories and make an impact for animals! Online timed tickets are required for non-members, and children two and under are free. Members can visit anytime, no reservation required!

Conserve

Since 1996, Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance has participated in more than 600 conservation projects in 62 countries spanning six continents. See what we’re working on now, and where.

Support

As a global non-profit conservation  organization, we rely on  your generosity to help fund the  world-class care we provide to our  2,500+ animals—and protect their  wild counterparts around the globe.

Learn

As a leader in conservation education, we understand that experiencing AWE is often the first step in becoming an ally! From Nature Play and Safari Camps to school field trips and Zoo-to-You classroom visits, we cultivate wonder on a daily basis.

@DenverZoo in the Wild

We are saddened to share the news of Grevy’s zebra Ruby’s unexpected passing on Sunday, November 16. Ruby was observed late in the evening of November 15 showing signs of colic, a term for abdominal pain that occurs in equine species. Our dedicated Animal Care and Veterinary Medicine teams immediately acted, treating Ruby with medication that is routine for her symptoms. Ruby’s condition became unstable and despite our best efforts, she did not recover from this episode. A full postmortem examination was performed by our Veterinary Pathologist to fully understand what happened with Ruby and to help support the scientific understanding of Grevy’s zebra around the world.

The Grevy’s zebra is an Endangered species and Ruby’s contribution to the education and care of the species was important at Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance and other organizations where she lived prior to her arrival in 2024.

Though Ruby was only here at DZCA for a short period of time, she was a courageous leader in her herd and adapted quickly to her new environment and to her rambunctious roommate, Dusty the ostrich.

Her presence in the herd will be missed, and we extend our condolences to all teams involved in her care. We invite you to honor her memory by sharing your favorite moments and stories in the comments below. 🤍🖤

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We are saddened to share the news of Grevy’s zebra Ruby’s unexpected passing on Sunday, November 16. Ruby was observed late in the evening of November 15 showing signs of colic, a term for abdominal pain that occurs in equine species. Our dedicated Animal Care and Veterinary Medicine teams immediately acted, treating Ruby with medication that is routine for her symptoms. Ruby’s condition became unstable and despite our best efforts, she did not recover from this episode. A full postmortem examination was performed by our Veterinary Pathologist to fully understand what happened with Ruby and to help support the scientific understanding of Grevy’s zebra around the world.

The Grevy’s zebra is an Endangered species and Ruby’s contribution to the education and care of the species was important at Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance and other organizations where she lived prior to her arrival in 2024.

Though Ruby was only here at DZCA for a short period of time, she was a courageous leader in her herd and adapted quickly to her new environment and to her rambunctious roommate, Dusty the ostrich.

Her presence in the herd will be missed, and we extend our condolences to all teams involved in her care. We invite you to honor her memory by sharing your favorite moments and stories in the comments below. 🤍🖤

Happy #WorldTamanduaDay from Winnie, Santiago and Laird, the three (soon to be four!) tamanduas who call DZCA home.

#ICYMI: Earlier this month, we shared that Winnie is expecting, marking what will be our first tamandua birth in over a decade! Winnie is trained to participate in her own veterinary care and will continue regular ultrasounds and her signature “walks with Winnie” to stay healthy as she prepares for her early-2026 due date. We’re grateful for the Association of Zoos and Aquariums` Southern Tamandua Species Survival Plan, which helped pair Winnie and Santiago after Laird’s earlier breeding recommendation proved unsuccessful.

Stay tuned for updates on our growing tamandua family, and be sure to send some extra love to tamanduas everywhere today!

Photo Credit: Animal Care Specialists Becca W., Kat E. and Lead Animal Care Specialist Krystin M.

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Happy #WorldTamanduaDay from Winnie, Santiago and Laird, the three (soon to be four!) tamanduas who call DZCA home.

#ICYMI: Earlier this month, we shared that Winnie is expecting, marking what will be our first tamandua birth in over a decade! Winnie is trained to participate in her own veterinary care and will continue regular ultrasounds and her signature “walks with Winnie” to stay healthy as she prepares for her early-2026 due date. We’re grateful for the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' Southern Tamandua Species Survival Plan, which helped pair Winnie and Santiago after Laird’s earlier breeding recommendation proved unsuccessful.

Stay tuned for updates on our growing tamandua family, and be sure to send some extra love to tamanduas everywhere today!

Photo Credit: Animal Care Specialists Becca W., Kat E. and Lead Animal Care Specialist Krystin M.

Mahali is staying home for the Ma-hali-days! 🦛

Earlier this year, we announced that our beloved hippo, Mahali, would be moving to a natural wildlife preserve in Texas, an exciting opportunity for his future and DZCA’s water conservation goals.

Mahali began crate training in August and initially showed great progress, even eating and participating comfortably inside the crate. He was set to depart for his new home this fall, but during the final phase of this crate training, he made it clear to his care team that he was not quite ready yet.

Moving a large animal takes time, and Mahali’s wellbeing is always our top priority. To best support Mahali, and in consideration of approaching winter weather and travel conditions, Mahali’s move is now planned for spring 2026.

Since he’s staying home for the Ma-hali-days, that means there’s extra time to visit everyone’s favorite hippo! Come say hi to Mahali to see him snoozing in his habitat, playing with his boomer ball, or catch a training session in action. His dedicated team will continue to work with him over the coming months to ensure he’s comfortable and prepared for his move. When the time comes, Mahali will be well-supported, resilient, and ready for exciting changes ahead.

Visit the link in our bio to learn more.

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Mahali is staying home for the Ma-hali-days! 🦛

Earlier this year, we announced that our beloved hippo, Mahali, would be moving to a natural wildlife preserve in Texas, an exciting opportunity for his future and DZCA’s water conservation goals.

Mahali began crate training in August and initially showed great progress, even eating and participating comfortably inside the crate. He was set to depart for his new home this fall, but during the final phase of this crate training, he made it clear to his care team that he was not quite ready yet.

Moving a large animal takes time, and Mahali’s wellbeing is always our top priority. To best support Mahali, and in consideration of approaching winter weather and travel conditions, Mahali’s move is now planned for spring 2026.

Since he’s staying home for the Ma-hali-days, that means there’s extra time to visit everyone’s favorite hippo! Come say hi to Mahali to see him snoozing in his habitat, playing with his boomer ball, or catch a training session in action. His dedicated team will continue to work with him over the coming months to ensure he’s comfortable and prepared for his move. When the time comes, Mahali will be well-supported, resilient, and ready for exciting changes ahead.

Visit the link in our bio to learn more.

🍁🦁 Fall Safari Camps Are Almost Here! 🦁🍁

Looking for a fun, hands-on adventure for your young explorer? Our Fall Safari Camps return November 24 & 25—and spots are filling fast!

Campers (Grades K–4) will:
🔍 Discover wildlife up close
🌿 Explore the Zoo on guided expeditions
🧠 Solve real-world conservation challenges
🎨 Learn through play, creativity, and curiosity

Give your kiddo a school-break experience they’ll never forget!
👉 Learn more + register through the LINK IN BIO

#DenverZooConservationAlliance #SafariCamps #FallBreakFun #FutureConservationists

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