San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance

NOTES FROM THE FIELD | 2024 | No. 12

For most of us, as the sun sinks lower on the horizon, our days wind down and we prepare for a night’s rest. But for nocturnal wildlife, their “days” are just beginning. With acute eyesight, heightened senses of smell, and sharp hearing, many species are adapted for life after nightfall.

All species play a crucial role in maintaining the health and delicate balance of their respective ecosystems. Even so, nocturnal wildlife can often be misunderstood because of the unique skills that enable them to thrive after dusk. Bats use echolocation to navigate in the dark, while pit vipers and big cats have finely tuned advantages for hunting, such as specialized eyesight and the ability to track prey by sensing their heat.

With you by our side, we’re fostering coexistence between wildlife and the people that live alongside them through our eight Conservation Hubs. This October, you can discover these astonishing adaptations firsthand with HalGLOWeen at the San Diego Zoo and Autumn Festival at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. In the meantime, slither in to explore more about species that showcase their superpowers when the sun goes down.

PRIMED FOR PRECISION

SUPER SCAVENGERS

While they aren’t nocturnal, vultures’ adaptations are perfect for clean-up duty. “New World” vultures from North, Central, and South America have distinctive bald heads and necks, which reduces the risk of picking up diseases when they scavenge for food. Soar into our Amazing Wildlife podcast for more interesting tidbits on vultures and how we’re collaborating to protect them.

BIRDS OF PREY

TRICKS FOR A TREAT

These astonishingly efficient hunters may not be what you expect. They’re patient, alluring, and stay firmly in one spot, waiting for their prey to come to them. That’s because carnivorous plants mostly feed on small insects unlucky enough to land on them. Stop by the San Diego Zoo’s Carnivorous Plant Greenhouse for an up-close look at some of this incredible flora.

IT'S A TRAP

WHO GLOWS THERE

From the ocean’s surface down deep to the seafloor, unexpected wildlife illuminate the dark. Bioluminescence, the chemical reaction where living organisms produce their own light, allows species to communicate, escape predators, and even attract mates. We’re working to protect the aquatic ecosystems they rely on through our Oceans Conservation Hub.

LIGHT IT UP

                                                                                            WILDLIFE HEROES
CHANGE
                                                                                            THE WORLD.
                                                                                        

John, your ongoing support makes a lifesaving difference for vulnerable wildlife. As a Wildlife Hero, your monthly gift will bring us further as we work together to protect big cats, vultures, carnivorous plants, and other wildlife with unusual adaptations. And as a Wildlife Hero, you’ll bring hope to the extraordinary wildlife relying on us to thrive—and survive—each and every day. You make it all possible, and we’re forever grateful for you.

Your gift today will make a world of difference for wildlife.

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San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance is an international conservation nonprofit and a registered 501(c)(3) organization. Tax ID# 95-1648219.

With more than 100 years of wildlife care expertise and partnerships around the globe, we are saving, protecting, and caring for species worldwide.

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Photo Credit | splendens/iStock/Getty Images Plus

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