Sioux Falls Zoo & Aquarium (SFZA) hosted its annual adults-only after-hours fundraiser on Thursday, June 26. The evening included animal encounters, a wildlife-centered silent auction, incredible food, and some big news, including the birth of a snow leopard cub, a new partnership with San Diego Wildlife Alliance, and info about the next phase of the We Can’t Wait campaign.
Snow Leopard Cub Birth: A cub was born in the early morning of May 23 to mom, Denali. Denali arrived in Sioux Falls in 2024 on a breeding recommendation with Strut, SFZA’s male snow leopard. Both are first-time parents. This is the first snow leopard cub born on the Great Plains Zoo campus in 21 years. Cub’s sex will not be known until a future vet checkup.
Denali has been an attentive, caring mother. She and the cub are spending crucial bonding time in a private den. Guests can see Strut on exhibit most days, but it will be several weeks before Denali and the cub will be viewable to the public. Watch Great Plains Zoo social media for updates as our cub grows.
“Denali successfully giving birth to a healthy cub is a very special success story for zoo staff, specifically the snow leopard keepers,” said Carnivore Area Supervisor Angie Blommer. “It’s impossible to keep the snow leopard population healthy or sustainable without cub births, so every birth is very, very important for the future. Knowing that we’re successfully helping their population, as well as bringing joy to our staff and visitors who will watch it grow up, is very special for us. Denali is a phenomenal first-time mother, and I am very, very proud to watch her care for her cub so well.”
Denny Sanford Reciprocity Program: In tribute to Denny Sanford’s generosity to SFZA and San Diego Wildlife Alliance (SDWA), our zoos have entered into an unprecedented partnership. The Denny Sanford Reciprocity Program will allow members of Sioux Falls Zoo & Aquarium who live in South Dakota and nearby counties to visit San Diego Zoo and San Diego Safari Park for free. In return, SDWA members can visit the Great Plains Zoo campus for free. Members of SDWA’s leadership team were present at Zoofari, along with Mr. Sanford, for the announcement.
“Being able to offer access to one of the best zoos in the world adds incredible value to SFZA memberships,” said SFZA CEO Becky Dewitz. “We know that admission reciprocity within the AZA network is a popular perk for our members as they travel the country and visit other zoos, and the addition of San Diego Zoo – exclusively for our members – is thrilling!”
Find more information here: Denny Sanford Reciprocity Program.
We Can’t Wait Campaign Update: SFZA announced the team that will assist in raising the next $12 million toward We Can’t Wait’s $25 million fundraising goal. These funds will help support three upcoming phases of construction – Butterfly Garden, Education Center, and Aquarium. SFZA intends to break ground on the Butterfly Garden this fall, with projected completion in 2027. Groundbreaking dates for the Education Center and Aquarium will be announced at a later date.
“The We Can’t Wait campaign has incredible momentum,” said SFZA COO Audrey Otto-Pepper. “The level of involvement from our local business community, the deep commitment of our board, and the confidence of new and longtime supporters of our zoo and Butterfly House, shows belief in our vision for a one-campus organization that will bring enhanced quality of life to our area, and serve as a beacon of wildlife education and fun for decades to come.”
Learn more: We Can’t Wait: A Campaign for ReZoovenation.