I attended today's 10 AM virtual roundtable hosted by Paul Baribault, President and CEO of San Diego Zoo Global. Some interesting information included:
Wild Holidays decorations are still up at the Safari Park, even though the park is currently closed. If the park is allowed to reopen in early to mid-January, the event might be extended through the end of January on the weekends.
The Saving the Northern White Rhino project is projected to have a higher budget in the coming year if gate (admissions) and donations increase. The Nikita Khan Rhino Rescue Center still holds 6 adult female Southern white rhinos, as well as 3 calves. Two of the calves were born there: Edward is over a year old and gained 161 pounds in the last 7 days to reach over 2000 pounds. Future is a year old and gained 123 pounds in the last 7 days to reach over 1500 pounds. Both are participating in training sessions alongside their mothers. The third calf was not born to any of the 6 females at the center; instead, Arthur was born to a rhino in the regular field exhibit but he developed an infection and had to be separated. Once he was better, he was not releasable back into the field exhibit (too young and vulnerable still) so he is housed at the rescue center and adult female Libby is acting as his surrogate.
Elephant Valley renovation is still planned to be the next big capital campaign - no surprise since it was just announced recently - but it will only start once funding is in place from donors. After that, construction is projected to be 18-24 months.
No government assistance has been received for the two government-mandated closures since the organization is too large to qualify.