Annual Report - Denver Zoo

Past Annual Reports

Looking for the previous year’s report? We’ve got you covered!

125 Years of Evolution in Action

If we’ve learned anything from our beloved wild residents over the past 125 years, it’s that evolution isn’t always comfortable-but it is always essential. With this in mind, Denver Zoo welcomed growth in a multitude of ways in 2021, with milestones of celebrating 125 Years of Love, implementing our Strategic Plan and even reorganizing, as we restructured our Conservation and Education departments to better align with our mission.

We continued to enhance both animal welfare and guest experience with three significant new offerings, including an industry-leading animal hospital and authentic new habitats for our African penguins and Linne’s two-toed sloths. And, with the approval of the RISE Denver GO Bond, we began to chart a course for critical ADA improvements to our pathways and lighting.

All this while enchanting more than 1 million guests during a year of worldwide recovery, and while refocusing our energies on the central passion of everyone in this organization: a duty to protect wildlife and wild places. Here’s where our ongoing evolution took us in 2021.

Bert Vescolani | President and CEO

Conservation Connection

Why Babies Matter

Oohs and aahs aside-every one of our beautiful Zoo babies is part of a worldwide conservation partnership with our AZA colleagues. As the planet’s wild places disappear, zoo-based breeding efforts like the Species Survival Program (SSP) represent many species’ best chance for survival.

Tap or roll over to learn more about each Zoo baby!

Clover + Felix

Eastern Bongos

Baby bongo plays with the herd

Akili

Mandrill

Akili the Mandrill is Growing Up!

Reggie + Cindy

Humboldt Penguins

Wild Milestone: Watch Humboldt Penguin Cindy Grow Up!

Winnie

Asian Elephant

The first Asian elephant to be conceived and born via AI at Houston Zoo, Winnie is the result of SSP efforts using sperm from our very own bachelor, Bodhi.

Read Article

Denver, Diamond + Jonas

Chilean Flamingos

Happy #InternationalFlamingoDay from the five youngest members of our fabulous flock!

Ingot, Ducat + Friends

Panamanian Golden Frog

Extinct in the wild, Panamanian golden frogs exist today only because of conservation breeding programs like ours. In 2021, we successfully bred 63 froglets.

Grand Openings

In 2021, we welcomed some amazing improvements across our 84-acre campus-
representing meaningful milestones in both animal care and guest experience. [dz_slideshow]

Use the dots above to view all 2021 openings.

Donor Profile: Becky Sloan

Becky Sloan has been supporting Denver Zoo for more than two decades and has been a loyal volunteer since 2009. We’re so grateful to count her as part of of our family.

Click below to learn more of her story-and why she’s so passionate about her Zoo!

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