Zoo Disaster Response, Rescue, and Recovery - ZDR3 USA

08/21/2026

We think it’s *very* chic to support zoological facilities facing disasters. If your facility isn’t a member of the ZDR3 Network, why not?

There is no cost to join, no cost to receive support, and no zoological facility is too small to become a member of the ZDR3 Network.

See the link in comments or Linktree in our About section to learn how to join.

We are Stronger Together

08/18/2026

The Zoological Association of America (ZAA) has an excellent webinar series for zoological professionals. Panelists for this one are Julia Wilder, ZDR3 Executive Director/Co-founder, and Morgan Agostini, ZDR3 Education & Training Coordinator. We hope you’ll join us!

We are Stronger Together

To learn more and register for the webinar see link in comments or in Linktree in our About section.

08/14/2026

This is a wonderful look at the training involved in preparing to move animals, and other smart safety measures they employ. Hats off to Cat Tales Wildlife for demonstrating how they work to protect their staff and animals’ welfare!

We are Stronger Together

08/13/2026

When Animal Ark was threatened by wildfires and requested our assistance, ZDR3 Network Responders at Project Survival's Cat Haven and Monterey Zoo & Vision Quest were the first calls we made. With years of experience dealing with wildfires and animal evacuations in California, leadership and personnel at these facilities are among our most experienced responders on the West Coast.

Evacuations are complicated in the best of circumstances, and having the right teams in place is essential. These ZDR3 Network responders are part of a larger collaborative effort supporting the animals and personnel at Animal Ark. We are so proud that they volunteered their time and expertise to assist colleagues at another facility, and we look forward to sharing more about their story in the coming days and weeks!

That’s the spirit of the ZDR3 Network—and why we are Stronger Together.

08/12/2026

We are relieved to report that the staff and animals at ZDR3 Network member Animal Ark are safe after having to evacuate due to wildfires. Please see their post and go to their page to learn more about what they have been dealing with.

We are so proud that ZDR3 Network responders from Monterey Zoo & Vision Quest and Project Survival's Cat Haven were on scene to assist; their extensive experience dealing with fires in California have given them exceptional expertise they are always so generous to share with other facilities.

We are Stronger Together.

08/10/2026

ZDR3 monitors weather throughout the U.S. and its territories 24/7. This year we boosted our situational awareness with Baron Weather Logic, which provides real-time radar, storm tracking, predictive modeling, and severe weather alerts for specific locations.

As part of our ongoing preparation to assist zoological facilities impacted by disasters, we have been in touch with ZDR3 Network response teams, who have been wonderful about reporting their current response capacity. This allows us to quickly deploy teams and other resources when we receive a request for assistance.

We are Stronger Together

The CSU forecast is in the link in comments, and in Linktree in our About section.

08/06/2026

With more than 230 ZDR3 Network members across 40 states and U.S. territories, we can quickly deploy teams with special skills. Featured here are teams from Fort Worth Zoo, Big Cat Habitat, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, and San Antonio Zoo.

We are Stronger Together

08/04/2026

We really enjoy seeing how ZDR3 Network members, like Frank Buck Zoo, prepare for disasters.

When every minute counts, sometimes seemingly small details can make a big difference.

We are Stronger Together

Recently we were asked what the number placards on the gates of our perimeter fence are for.

These numbers are posted for deliveries, contractors and emergency responders. The numbers are posted both on the exterior of the perimeter fence and on the interior visible to zoo visitors. They allow zoo staff to easily direct those external to our organization, which gate to meet at. Zoo Disaster Response, Rescue, and Recovery - ZDR3 USA

08/03/2026

We are so relieved for the staff and animals at Cat Tales Wildlife!

When we identified nearby wildfires we let them know we were monitoring the fires in relation to their facility, keeping their team in our thoughts, and were available if they needed us.

Sometimes you just need to know someone's got your back. That's the value of being a member of the ZDR3 Network.

We are Stronger Together

08/02/2026

Thank you to Tier 4 Sponsors Animal Park NC, The Dental Coalition for Conservation, Dakota Zoo, Fossil Rim Wildlife Center, IAE International, Indianapolis AAZK Chapter, Longneck Manor, Montgomery Zoo and Mann Wildlife Learning Museum, Southwick's Zoo, More than a Zoo, The Dallas World Aquarium, and Zoosiana.

Sponsors dedicated to our cause make it possible for ZDR3 to carry out the mission of providing aid to zoological facilities, aquariums, sanctuaries, and wildlife centers before, during, and after disasters and crises.

We are Stronger Together