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Monday 7am - 1:30pm Tuesday 7am - 1:30pm Wednesday 7am - 1:30pm Thursday 7am - 1:30pm Friday 7am - 1:30pm Saturday 7am - 1:30pm Sunday 7am - 1:30pm

The Living Desert

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Palm Desert, CA
The Living Desert

🦏 600+ Desert Animals
🌱 1,200+ Desert Plant Species
🏜️ 100+ Local and Global Conservation Initiatives
(14693)

The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens is a nonprofit, accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, ensuring the highest standards of all aspects of animal care, education, conservation, public service, and operations. The Zoo is active in conservation research, habitat protection, breeding programs and education initiatives around the world, as well as in its own community. The Zoo has

been a top destination in the Palm Springs area for 50 years. The Living Desert is located at 47900 Portola Ave, Palm Desert, CA 92260. Follow us on our other social media channels:

Home
http://www.livingdesert.org

Twitter
http://twitter.com/livingdesert

Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/thelivingdesert/

For more information about The Living Desert, please visit our website at www.livingdesert.org

05/27/2026

Paws what you’re doing… 🐾☀️ Dog Days are BACK.

With beautiful weather in the forecast, we’re hosting a last-minute "Paw Pup" Dog Day this Friday, 5/29!

Bring your pup for a tail-wagging sniff-ari through the Zoo, stroll the gardens, visit your favorite desert animals, and cool off at our Doggy Pool Pawty splash zone. 💦🐶

For the most comfortable visit, we recommend arriving early and wrapping up your adventure by 1 p.m. before afternoon temperatures rise.

𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝘂𝘁 — 𝗳𝗲𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆’𝗿𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘁.𝗼𝗿𝗴/𝗗𝗼𝗴𝗗𝗮𝘆

A round of ap-paws for everyone who has shared their Dog Day photos with us including:
and (photo 3)
(photo 5)
(photo 7)

05/23/2026

Explorers wanted: ZooCamp starts in just over 2 weeks!

Our three-day ZooCamps offer campers the opportunity to experience wildlife up close, engage in creative arts and crafts, and dive into exciting STEAM-based activities that connect them to the desert like never before.

Programs are available for grades K-10
June 9 – July 2 | 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.

* We’re proud to offer a 90% discount ZooCamp for SNAP and EBT card holders through our Zoo For All program! As always, Zoo members receive 10% off of ZooCamp.

Spots are limited. Register today at LivingDesert.org/ZooCamp!

05/23/2026

What if protecting the planet started in your neighborhood? 🌱🐝

That’s the idea behind this year’s theme for the International Day for Biological Diversity: “Acting locally for global impact.”

And here at The Living Desert, we’re already doing it.

Through our Pollinator Pathways program, we have planted more than 800 plants in 45 native gardens across the Coachella Valley; each one restoring habitat for pollinators, birds, and wildlife while helping build a greener, more climate resilient, and more biodiverse desert for everyone.

Meanwhile, in our Desert Defender Challenge, we are working with local students to turn learning into hands-on conservation by building native gardens at their schools. These gardens not only support local wildlife, but also become outdoor classrooms where students can observe nature, learn about desert ecosystems, and see firsthand how their actions make a difference.

Together, these programs strengthen our local community and also benefit pollinators that migrate hundreds or even thousands of miles — proving that what starts local can, and does, have a far-reaching impact. 🌎

04/27/2026

Not all heroes wear capes… some wear purple 💜

Over the past year, our volunteers donated more than 51,000 hours to support The Living Desert.

Their dedication helps bring our mission to life in countless ways. Each day, volunteers support park operations, animal care, gardens, fundraising efforts, and help create moments that connect people more deeply with wildlife and conservation.

From first-time volunteers to lifelong supporters, this community spans generations — ages 14 to 91 — each bringing their unique talents and skills.

From our staff, our community, and, of course, our animals… thank you for everything you do. Happy National Volunteer Appreciation Month!

04/16/2026

Rats…to the rescue?

That’s right, these HeroRATs are trained to identify illegal wildlife products, offering a promising new tool in the global fight against wildlife crime.

In partnership with APOPO APOPO, The Living Desert is proud to showcase this unique training program and offer guests an interactive opportunity to meet these heroes!

03/27/2026

𝙭𝙚·𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙝·𝙞·𝙡𝙤𝙪𝙨: adapted to a hot, dry climate/habitat or to conditions where moisture is scarce.

Join us this Saturday, March 28 from 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. to celebrate these desert survival experts and:

🌿Shop a selection of 70+ species of xeric plants
🌺 Get insider tips from our horticultural pros
🌵 Explore our gardens with expert-led tours

FREE for members or with paid park admission.

Dig in at LivingDesert.org/Xero

03/21/2026

We’re unleashing the fun once again… 🐾🐶

By popular demand, Dog Day returns to The Living Desert on 3/30, 4/17, and 5/03! 🌵🐕

Grab a doggy “paw-sport” for your well-behaved, leashed pup and get ready to explore the sights, sounds, and smells of the Zoo together. At The Living Desert, we celebrate the special bond between people and animals — and there’s no better way to experience it than side by side on this one-of-a-kind day. 🧡

Spots are limited, so fetch your tickets before they’re gone at LivingDesert.org/DogDay.

Who are you bringing with you to the Zoo?

03/15/2026

Looking for a way to beat the heat this week?☀️

Come down to the Oasis Splash Pad — the coolest spot in town. 😉

Open daily from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., included with Zoo admission.

03/10/2026

Today, we made the difficult decision to say goodbye to a beloved member of The Living Desert family. Memo the jaguar, age 14, was compassionately euthanized after a rapid decline in his health.

Memo recently developed a kidney infection, a condition that is unfortunately common in aging cats of all sizes. The Animal Care and Veterinary teams partnered with several outside specialists and arranged for a mobile CT unit to come to the Zoo and assist with his evaluation. Unfortunately, the results revealed Memo was in renal failure, an irreversible condition.

Since then, the Zoo’s care team worked tirelessly to ensure Memo’s comfort and wellbeing, closely monitoring him and conducting regular health and wellbeing assessments. Despite their extraordinary care, during the past few days his condition declined sharply and it was clear his quality of life was severely compromised.

We know this is painful news for our entire Zoo family; staff, volunteers, members, and guests alike. Determining the right moment to say goodbye to an animal is never easy and decisions like this are not taken lightly. Still, providing animals with a peaceful passing, free from suffering, is the final act of care we can provide for our animals.

Thank you to everyone who cared for him, learned from him, admired him, and honored him. Memo made an enduring impact on all of us, and he will be deeply missed.

If you have photos, videos, or memories of Memo, we invite you to share them with us in the comments below. Guests visiting in the coming days will also have the opportunity to share their memories and messages with his care team at the jaguar habitat.

03/08/2026

The ZooTeens need your help!

This summer, The Living Desert’s ZooTeens have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to travel to Mongolia and work side-by-side with our conservation team at Ikh Nart Nature Reserve — and you can help them on their journey!

The ZooTeen program empowers young people who are passionate about wildlife to explore careers in conservation, zoology, and environmental stewardship.

Please considering donating to their Mongolia travel fund or bidding in our online auction. For more information, visit LivingDesert.org/ZooTeensinMongolia and LivingDesert.org/MongoliaAuction.

Address

47900 Portola Avenue
Palm Desert, CA
92260

Opening Hours

Monday	7am - 1:30pm
Tuesday	7am - 1:30pm
Wednesday	7am - 1:30pm
Thursday	7am - 1:30pm
Friday	7am - 1:30pm
Saturday	7am - 1:30pm
Sunday	7am - 1:30pm

Telephone

+17603465694

Website

http://www.LivingDesert.org/

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