Adoption Program
Adopt an Animal
By symbolically adopting an animal at The Living Desert, you help support the care and conservation of your chosen species and their habitats. This thoughtful and unique gift option contributes directly to the zoo’s efforts to protect wildlife, ensuring a future where desert ecosystems thrive.
Have questions? Please call us at (760)674-4684 or email [email protected]
Featured Adoptable Animals
The Bobcat
Eagle Canyon
The bobcat is a medium-sized wild cat native to North America. Their short, stubby, and bobbed tails are amongst the most recognizable in the animal kingdom. A bobcat adoption supports onsite care and education programs.
The Meerkat
African Safari
A meerkat is a small, social mammal from the mongoose family found in southwestern Africa. It has a slender body, pointed face, and often stands upright to watch for danger. Meerkats live in groups led by a dominant female and have sandy-grey fur that helps them blend into their surroundings. Adopting one supports on the ground conservation work in Africa.
The African Giant Pouched Rat
The African giant pouched rat is a large rodent native to sub-Saharan Africa. African giant pouched rats are known for their intelligence and incredible sense of smell. They have been used to help uncover illegally smuggled animals and animal products, as well as aid in landmine detection. Your adoption supports The Living Desert’s work with APOPO, the organization dedicated to training these heroes for their important work.
Animal Adoption Tiers
The Living Desert offers various animal adoption tiers, each providing unique benefits and gifts, allowing supporters to enhance their contributions to wildlife care and conservation at different levels.
Advocate
$50
- Official Certificate, Photo & Fact Sheet
Naturalist
$100
- Official Certificate, Photo & Fact Sheet
- Small Animal Plush
Protector
$250
- Official Certificate, Photo & Fact Sheet
- Small Animal Plush
- Name on Adoption Board
- Appreciation Event Invitation
Preservationist
$500
- Official Certificate, Photo & Fact Sheet
- Large Animal Plush
- Name on Adoption Board
- Appreciation Event Invitation
- Golf Cart Tour for 2
Preservation Champion
$1000
- Official Certificate, Photo & Fact Sheet
- Large Animal Plush
- Name on Adoption Board
- Appreciation Event Invitation
- Golf Cart Tour for 2
Conservation Leader
$2500
- Official Certificate, Photo & Fact Sheet
- Large Animal Plush
- Name on Adoption Board
- Appreciation Event Invitation
- Golf Cart Tour for 6
- Keeper Chat for 6
- Behind the Scenes Experience for 6
Adopt a Train
Our Bighorn Railroad™ – G-Scale Model Train Display offers a miniature view of the Coachella Valley’s historic past, complete with real plants and climate zones, and adopting a train supports its maintenance and upgrades, making it an ideal gift for train enthusiasts.
Train Adoption Tiers
Brake Man
$250
- Personalized Train Adoption Certificate
Train Conductor
$500
- Personalized train adoption certificate
- Recognition on the Donor Board
Big Boy
$1000
- Personalized train adoption certificate
- Recognition on the Donor Board
- Message on Train billboard
Hotshot
$2500
- Personalized Train Adoption Certificate
- Recognition on the Donor Board
- Name on display Building on Main Street