Fresno Chaffee Zoo promotes marine conservation through local efforts

Deep in the heart of the Central Valley, the Fresno Chaffee Zoo is making global conservation efforts local from all over the world.

The zoo is home to over 200 species and is a popular spot for tourists and field trips for local schools.

All of the zoo’s exhibits combine wildlife protection and education about animals from all across the world, prioritizing accessibility for those living in the Central Valley.

Gia Krupens, the communications coordinator for the zoo, said that their mission is to keep conservation at the center of everything they do.

“We work with a lot of local and worldwide partners, so we have lots of global conservation partners that actually do that work on the ground in those natural habitats, and we also have things going on to support conservation here in the Central Valley,” Krupens said.

The zoo’s two water-based exhibits, Stingray Bay and Sea Lion Cove, bring both warm and cold coastal waters to a city over 100 miles away from the ocean.

Nyleah, a Life Support Systems Technician who works with the water systems throughout the zoo, explained that access to naturalistic exhibits like these are critical for both the animals living there and the guests who are visiting.

“Being landlocked here in Fresno, you might not actually be able to visit the open ocean very often,” she said. “So if you get to come here as a family, you see these animals up close, you spend some time with them, I think its important to build those connections for inspiring all of our youth to continue working towards conservation and protecting these natural habitats.”

Through high-quality research, the zoo aims to make each exhibit as realistic and factual as it would be in each animal’s natural habitats. The water systems are a huge factor in every exhibit, but especially Sea Lion Cove and Stingray Bay.

Sea Lion Cove is modeled after Point Lobos, California. The exhibit mimics natural ocean conditions for its three male California sea lions and two female harbor seals, and the system itself contains about 250,000 gallons of water alone.

“Sea Lion Cove is a closed system, and we actually save water because it’s looping through its own filtration line,” Nyleah said.

This is just one of the many ways the zoo promotes conservation. Their wildlife conservation fund supports research projects that are working to preserve wildlife all over the world.

Patrons can support the zoo by donating, becoming a zoo member or even becoming a volunteer – but even just visiting the zoo helps support their conservation efforts.

The Fresno Chaffee Zoo is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. during the winter, and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the summer.