[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 5640-5641]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL CELEBRATES 100 YEARS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. SUSAN A. DAVIS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 10, 2016

  Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to stand in 
recognition of one of our nation's most iconic institutions as it 
celebrates its 100th anniversary. The San Diego Zoo is one of our 
city's most cherished landmarks, and has been consistently recognized 
among the world's top zoos. But it is much more than a zoo--it is an 
economic driver, it educates thousands of children and teachers, and it 
includes the largest zoo-based conservation research center in the 
world. It is a place where generations of families have come to 
appreciate and celebrate the great significance of our planet's most 
amazing creatures.
  The San Diego Zoo was founded in 1916 by Dr. Harry M. Wegeforth, Dr. 
Paul Wegeforth, Dr. Fred Baker, Dr. Joseph C. Thompson, and naturalist 
Frank Stephens. It began as a sanctuary for animals abandoned after the 
1915-1916 Panama-California Exposition held in San Diego, and it 
quickly became a home for exotic animals donated by private owners, 
purchased from circuses and other zoos, and recovered from challenging 
situations in the wild. It is now one of the largest and most important 
institutions in our city of San Diego and in the State of California.
  Under current President and CEO Doug Myers' stewardship and vision, 
the San Diego Zoo has transformed into San Diego Zoo Global, an 
internationally acclaimed conservation organization. With the mission 
to ``Save species worldwide by uniting our expertise in animal care and 
conservation science with our dedication to inspiring a passion for 
nature,'' this truly global organization aids recovery efforts around 
the world. San Diego Zoo

[[Page 5641]]

Global's Institute for Conservation Research took the lead in saving 
the California condor by designing and implementing a successful 
captive-breeding program. Thanks to their tireless efforts, a species 
that was on the brink of extinction 25 years ago now has a population 
of over 420, with more than 200 living in the wild in California, 
Arizona, Utah, and Mexico.
  San Diego Zoo Global is also investing in the future of conservation. 
Its Global Wildlife Biobank, which stores frozen viable cell cultures, 
tissue samples, and DNA of more than 10,000 individual animals 
representing 1,000 species, is perhaps the most important biological 
vault in the world. This invaluable resource will help San Diego Zoo 
Global in its mission to lead the fight against extinction, and 
researchers, universities, and scientific institutions around the world 
will use it for generations to come.
  San Diego Zoo Global is not only a catalyst for wildlife 
conservation, it is an economic driver, attracting more than five 
million visitors annually and employing our citizens in its parks and 
research facilities. In 2014, a San Diego Taxpayers Association 
research study reported that San Diego Zoo Global had an annual 
economic impact of $1.2 billion--roughly the GDP of Australia. It is 
one of our city's largest and most stable private employers with 1,610 
full-time employees, approximately a quarter of whom have been with the 
institution for more than 20 years.
  In addition, San Diego Zoo Global is making an immediate and lasting 
impact in our nation's classrooms, producing educational materials for 
children and hosting hands-on conservation research workshops for 
middle and high school teachers from around the country. Educating and 
inspiring the next generation to be passionate about wildlife 
conservation is vital for long-term conservation efforts, and it all 
begins with one teacher inspiring one classroom.
  David Attenborough once said, ``People are not going to care about 
animal conservation unless they think that animals are worthwhile.'' 
San Diego Zoo Global and their tireless dedication to saving species 
has not only taught us all that animals are indeed worthwhile--they 
have set a new standard for zoological institutions worldwide to adopt 
and share their commitment to wildlife conservation. San Diego Zoo 
Global has educated generations to appreciate and understand that all 
creatures, from the African elephant to the kangaroo rat, are vitally 
important to life here on Earth--and that we all have a role to play in 
their care and conservation.
  On behalf of San Diego's Congressional Delegation, I graciously 
commend San Diego Zoo Global on their 100th Anniversary, for being a 
beacon for our city of San Diego--driving our economy, educating our 
students, and bringing the world's animals into our lives, our 
classrooms, and our consciousness--and leading the fight to end 
extinction.

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