Fee:	Included with admission
Audience:	Bear lovers of all ages
Location:
Dates:	Thurs., May 8–Sun., May 11
Event Dates & Times:	talks with keepers and researchers daily
Auction:	Mon., May 5–Mon., May 12.
Presenting sponsor:

Calendar: Bear Awareness Days

at the San Diego Zoo

May 8–11
As part of our ongoing effort to raise awareness about endangered species, the San Diego Zoo is hosting Bear Awareness Days, presented by our friends at Mission Federal Credit Union. This year’s event will include our newest ursid residents—two young grizzly bears and a baby panda—as well as information on a new partnership to save the polar bear.

You may think you know all about bears, but there is a much greater diversity in the bear family than most people are aware of. This annual event allows us to highlight all species of bear and the work being done to protect them.
polar bears

The San Diego Zoo works extensively to learn about and conserve bear species. We have more than eight projects with species such as the polar bear, black bear, and giant panda. Our partnership with Polar Bears International will establish a conservation program, “Arctic Ambassadors,” that involves zoos and researchers around the world. So much is happening to bears in the wild and so quickly that we have little time to act to save these species.

During Bear Awareness Days you will be able to watch bears play with enrichment items and be part of special on-site presentations by bear experts. See schedule below.

Click here to view the Bear Awareness Auction items

The auction begins on Monday, May 5, and closes at 4 p.m. PDT on Monday, May 12.

Times	Thursday, May 8	Friday, May 9	Saturday, May 10	Sunday, May 11
9 a.m.	Enrichment Join polar bears Kalluk and Chinook for a morning of enrichment with burlap sack fun!		Enrichment Join the polar bears for snow-filled fun as Polar Bear Plunge is covered by tons of ice. Get there early for the best view.
11:30 a.m.	Keeper Talk Sun bears Listen to an iZoofari Chat with sun bear keeper Lisa Bryant	Researcher Talk Sun bears Listen to an iZoofari Chat with sun bear researcher Suzanne Hall! Read Suzanne's blog about sun bear conservation...	Keeper Talk Polar bears Listen to iZoofari Chats! - With polar bear keeper Kelly Murphy... - With polar bear researcher Megan Owen... Read Megan's blog about polar bear conservation... Read Kelly's blog about polar bear diets...	Keeper Talk Grizzly bears Enrichment Our Mancurian brown bear, Blackie, will find his exhibit converted into a campsite with items donated by REI. Showcasing the power of a bear, the campsite is meant to educate the public about safe camping in bear territory. Listen to iZoofari Chats! - With grizzly bear keeper Hali Anderson! - With Manchurian brown bear keeper Hali Anderson!
1–3 p.m.		Author Reading and Book Signing at the ZooStore: The Panda Who Would Not Eat, by Ruth Todd Evans
1:30 p.m.	Researcher Talk Andean (spectacled) bears Listen to iZoofari Chats! - With Andean bear keeper Hali Anderson... - With Andean bear researcher Russ Van Horn... Read Russ' blog abuot Andean bear conservation...	Keeper Talk Pandas Listen to an iZoofari Chat with panda keeper Kathy Hawk!	Researcher Talk Pandas Listen to an iZoofari Chat with panda researcher Suzanne Hall!	Researcher Talk Pandas

Sign up for a special breakfast with the bears: Pandas, Polars, and Pancakes...

We are proud to partner with San Diego-based Mission Federal Credit Union, our Presenting Sponsor of Bear Awareness Days. The San Diego Zoo's mission during this event is to help promote education and awareness of the bear species, and Mission Federal's mission is to help the Zoo promote animal education and environmental stewardship. The San Diego Zoo and Mission Federal Credit Union—perfect community partners!

Calendar: Bear Awareness Days

at the San Diego Zoo

Click here to view the Bear Awareness Auction items

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