A Year of Care, Curiosity, and Conservation

Dear Friend,

Some moments stay with us, not because they were planned, but because they were real. A quiet observation in the field. A breakthrough after months of uncertainty. The first time an animal takes a step into a new space.

This year’s Gratitude Report captures those moments from 2025.

Told through the voices of the people doing the work, these “field notes” invite you behind the scenes into the care, curiosity, and commitment that define your Wilder Institute’s Calgary Zoo. From right here on zoo grounds to conservation sites across Canada and around the world, each story reflects what your support made possible this past year. Together, they reveal the work behind the wonder: the everyday acts of care, conservation, and connection that make lasting impact possible.

You are part of something extraordinary. Because of you, animals received world-class care, new life was welcomed and protected, and critical conservation efforts moved forward in meaningful ways. You helped create spaces where people connect with wildlife, and where those connections grow into something lasting.

In the pages ahead, you’ll hear directly from the people behind this work.

You’ll meet the newest member of our gorilla troop, Johari, whose introduction marks an important step for gorilla conservation. You’ll step into the field with teams working alongside communities through the Kinship Program and Wilder Canada Action Plan. You’ll witness discovery in its purest form, with the identification of one of Alberta’s rarest species, the curiously isolated hairstreak.

You’ll also see moments of care and wonder closer to home, from the birth of a Malayan tapir calf to the dedicated work of our Animal Health team, and the everyday experiences that shape how visitors connect with wildlife.

Every story in this report happened because of you. Thank you for making this work and these moments of wonder possible.