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Making the Best Zoo for the World

2023 Annual Report

We pride ourselves on being one of the best zoos in the world ...

a place where we provide quality care for animals and one-of-a-kind experiences for guests. What’s equally important is creating the best zoo for the world, meaning how our work can generate a ripple effect of positivity. Here are just a few stories to demonstrate how by working together, success can happen, and lives can be changed.

Scimitar-horned oryx no longer “extinct in the wild”

In December 2023, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List reclassified the scimitar-horned oryx from “extinct in the wild” to “endangered.”

This accomplishment was due to the collaborative partnerships with organizations around the world. In addition to the Saint Louis Zoo, partners included the Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi (EAD), Fisheries and Sustainable Development representing the Government of Chad, Sahara Conservation, the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, the Zoological Society of London, The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, and Fossil Rim Wildlife Center.

The scimitar-horned oryx was recognized as extinct in the wild in 1991. Unfortunately, this was not the only species under threat of extinction in the region, so as early as 1989, zoos worldwide came together to bring awareness around the plight of the endangered species of the Sahara and begin recovery and reintroduction programs utilizing their expertise in breeding and animal care. Our Zoo was the incubator and U.S. base of operations during the development of Sahara Conservation and one of 21 zoos supporting its core operations. In 2007, our Zoo helped organize the repatriation of zoo-born scimitar-horned oryx and addax into fenced reserves in Tunisia.

The reintroduction project in Chad began in 2016 to grow a healthy and self-sustaining population in its natural habitat. During the reintroduction process, telemetry collars were placed on many of the oryx to track the herd’s location. There were 285 oryx reintroduced into the wild in Chad, with herd number increasing to more than 600 scimitar-horned oryx, with multiple second-generation births!

While there is still a lot of work to be done, this is a huge conservation win.

Guests contribute record donations for Change for Conservation program

The Change for Conservation program offers Saint Louis Zoo guests an opportunity to donate an extra dollar to support conservation with every purchase at participating food and retail locations. We had a record-breaking year in 2023. In total, staff from Lakeside Cafe, Safari Gift Shop and Treetop Shop raised over $180,000 to aid our conservation work! While the funds are important, what team members provide is valuable conversations and awareness to our guests, and that is priceless. We are grateful to our staff and donors who make the Change for Conservation program possible!

Sensory-Friendly Nights offer inclusive experiences at Zoo events

The Saint Louis Zoo is a resource to the whole St. Louis community and beyond, and to reflect our drive to be an inclusive place for all, we offer several Sensory-Friendly Nights during popular events, such as Boo at the Zoo and Wild Lights. These were a big hit in 2023, with 2,400 tickets sold.

One story especially touched our hearts. A family attended Sensory-Friendly Night at Wild Lights, and their daughter has attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), sensory processing disorder (SPD), is deaf and has a service dog. Here is part of the message that the mother wrote to us after the event:

“We had an absolutely incredible evening, and for the first time ever, we were able to go out as a family without having to worry for a single second about [our daughter]. Not only was the music calm and quiet to the point she wasn’t overwhelmed, the paths were clear and easy to walk around, many of the guests also had children or family members who were similar so we didn’t have anyone watching us or staring, not a single person attempted to pet or interact with her service dog, and EVERY SINGLE employee we interacted with was BEYOND amazing … Last night was such a gift for our family, and we are so thankful.”

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