On New Year’s Day, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance will participate in the 133rd Rose Parade presented by Honda, with a float representing the organization’s past, present, and future in wildlife conservation—depicting a lion, a California condor, and a rhinoceros.
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance is an international conservation organization with “two front doors”: the San Diego Zoo near downtown San Diego and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park in Escondido, California. The float’s theme, “Creating Wildlife Allies,” brings to life San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance’s commitment to conservation in eight major regions across six continents, with over 200 collaborative conservation partners.
The lion on the float represents the founding of our world-famous San Diego Zoo in 1916, as well as the organization’s commitment to lion conservation efforts. The California condor highlights the Alliance’s groundbreaking work to save this species, including the recent discovery that two female California condors were hatched without any genetic contributions from a male, through parthenogenesis—the first time the phenomenon has been observed in this species. The rhino is the icon of our Safari Park and represents the ongoing work at the Nikita Kahn Rhino Rescue Center to save the critically endangered northern white rhino: where only two individuals of this species remain on the planet.
The planned floral array on the float will illustrate that both the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park are accredited botanical gardens that feature over 2 million plants—and serves as a reminder of San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance’s dedication to plant conservation through its many efforts, including the Wildlife Biodiversity Bank. A flowing waterfall will highlight the vital importance of water — essential to all life on earth. “Hello World,” by Aloe Blacc will be broadcast from the float throughout the parade.
The rotating globe on the float will display the locations of San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance’s eight “conservation hubs.” Surrounding the globe will be eight scientists who work on conservation programs in each of these regions. With more than 200 partners around the world, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance is creating greater outcomes for wildlife, for the next generation, and beyond.
Surrounding the float will be a variety of beloved puppets, who will engage with Rose Parade viewers. Typically seen on grounds at the San Diego Zoo, these performers will entertain the crowds as flamboyant flamingos, giant giraffes, and a rowdy rhino. There will also be several kids walking alongside the float to symbolize the organization’s worldwide educational efforts through San Diego Zoo’s Wildlife Explorers youth program and a fantastic new experience opening across nearly 3.5 acres at the San Diego Zoo in February 2022: Wildlife Explorers Basecamp. This new destination is designed to educate, engage, entertain and inspire empathy towards wildlife in the next generation of conservationists.