Living Desert Zoo and Gardens
A nonprofit zoo and desert botanical garden in Palm Desert, California, focused on desert ecosystems, wildlife care, horticulture, education, and conservation.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Living Desert Zoo and Gardens is a nonprofit zoological park and botanical garden in Palm Desert, California, in the Colorado Desert portion of the Sonoran Desert. Formerly known as the Living Desert Museum, it combines animal habitats, regional and international desert plant collections, public education, conservation work, and visitor attractions on a large desert landscape. The institution occupies approximately 1,200 acres, of which about 80 acres are developed for zoo exhibits and gardens. It houses more than 500 animals representing more than 150 species and receives more than 500,000 visitors annually, according to the referenced encyclopedia material. The institution originated in 1970, when trustees associated with the Palm Springs Desert Museum established a 360-acre wilderness preserve in the Low Desert. Its early animal collection was modest, including a kit fox, tortoises, lizards, and two bighorn sheep by 1974. The site subsequently developed into a combined conservation and visitor facility representing desert environments from North America and other parts of the world. A Mojave Garden, designed to evoke the High Desert and Mojave Desert, was constructed in 1974–75. Over time, greenhouses, landscaped botanical areas, animal habitats, educational installations, a model railroad, and specialized gardens were added. The zoo is organized around geographic and ecological themes. African Safari presents wildlife associated with African desert and savanna environments. Wilds of North America interprets regional species and habitats, including animals connected with the deserts and mountains of the American Southwest. Australian Adventures is a walk-through area featuring wallabies, birds, reptiles, and other Australian species. Later additions included exhibits for rhim gazelles, mountain lions, bobcats, badgers, meerkats, cheetahs, warthogs, striped hyenas, giraffes, ostriches, and other animals. Amphibians on the Edge, opened in 2007, highlights frogs, toads, and salamanders. The Endangered Species Carousel and Peninsular Pronghorn Exhibit were added in 2009 and 2010, respectively. The Rhino Savanna opened in fall 2021, following the 2020 opening of Australian Adventures. Its gardens interpret a wide range of desert plant communities, including the Mojave, Chihuahuan, Sonoran, and Colorado deserts. Specialized collections include agaves, aloes, euphorbias, palms, barrel and columnar cacti, ocotillos, prickly pears and chollas, yuccas, cycads, ferns, Madagascar xeric plants, East African plants, and plants associated with local Cahuilla ethnobotany. The gardens serve both as visitor attractions and as living collections that demonstrate desert adaptation, conservation, horticulture, and landscape design. Conservation is a central part of the institution's public identity. Living Desert has participated in efforts to reintroduce peninsular bighorn sheep into local mountain areas and to return Arabian oryx to Oman. It has been accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums since 1983 and is also a member of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums. In 2023, the Animal Care Department voted to unionize, marking a significant labor-development event in the institution's recent history. The organization remains an active nonprofit attraction combining wildlife exhibition, botanical interpretation, conservation breeding and reintroduction, education, and regional tourism.
History
Living Desert Zoo and Gardens began in 1970 as a 360-acre wilderness preserve established in the Low Desert by trustees of the Palm Springs Desert Museum. The project was conceived as a place where visitors could experience desert landscapes and learn about the plants and animals adapted to them. By 1974, the developing institution maintained a small collection that included a kit fox, tortoises, lizards, and two bighorn sheep. A major early landscape project was the Mojave Garden, constructed in 1974–75 to represent the higher-elevation Mojave Desert. The site gradually expanded with greenhouses, botanical collections, designed landscapes, animal habitats, and educational facilities. Its scope evolved from a wilderness preserve and desert museum into a combined zoo and botanical garden, later known as Living Desert Zoo and Gardens. Animal collections expanded through the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s. Rhim gazelles were introduced in 1981. Mountain lions, bobcats, and badgers were added in 1993, followed by meerkats, cheetahs, and warthogs in 1995, striped hyenas in 1998, and giraffes and ostriches in 2002. The Amphibians on the Edge exhibit opened in 2007. The Endangered Species Carousel was built in fall 2009, and the Peninsular Pronghorn Exhibit followed in fall 2010. The North America Trail also includes the Monarch of the Desert exhibit, which houses jaguars. The botanical-garden program developed alongside the animal areas. Regional landscapes interpret the Mojave, Chihuahuan, Sonoran, and Colorado deserts, while specialized collections focus on plant groups and habitats such as agaves, aloes, euphorbias, palms, barrel cacti, ocotillos, yuccas, Madagascar plants, East African plants, cycads, ferns, and native desert species. The Cahuilla Ethnobotanic Garden presents plants connected with the Indigenous Cahuilla people. Other gardens emphasize pollinators, desert food plants, native washes, palms, and landscape-design principles. The institution also developed family-oriented attractions. Its large LGB model railroad began as part of the WildLights holiday program in 1998 and moved to year-round daytime operation in 2000. The layout includes approximately 3,115 feet of track and a large wooden G-scale trestle. The railroad is maintained by volunteers. Conservation has remained central to the organization's mission. Living Desert has participated in the reintroduction of peninsular bighorn sheep to nearby mountains and in efforts to return Arabian oryx to Oman. It became an Association of Zoos and Aquariums member in 1983 and is also affiliated with the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Australian Adventures opened in 2020, and Rhino Savanna opened in fall 2021. In 2023, the Animal Care Department voted to unionize. The institution continues to operate as a nonprofit zoo and botanical garden serving visitors, educators, conservation partners, and the broader desert-region community.
- 2023
Animal Care Department unionizes
[1]Employees in the Animal Care Department voted to unionize.
- 2021
Rhino Savanna opens
[1]The Rhino Savanna habitat opened in fall 2021.
- 2020
Australian Adventures opens
[1]The walk-through Australian Adventures habitat opened.
- 2010
Peninsular Pronghorn Exhibit built
[1]The Peninsular Pronghorn Exhibit was constructed in fall 2010.
- 2009
Endangered Species Carousel built
[1]The Endangered Species Carousel was constructed in fall 2009.
- 2007
Amphibians on the Edge opens
[1]A dedicated exhibit for frogs, toads, salamanders, and other amphibians was added.
- 1998
Model railroad begins
[1]The model railroad opened as part of the annual WildLights holiday program.
- 1983
AZA accreditation and membership
[1]The zoo became a member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
- 1981
Rhim gazelles introduced
[1]Rhim gazelles became part of the expanding animal collection.
- 1974
Early animal collection documented
[1]The developing gardens housed a kit fox, tortoises, lizards, and two bighorn sheep.
Products and positioning
A conservation-oriented desert zoo and botanical garden that connects regional desert ecology with international desert wildlife, horticulture, education, and family tourism.
Zoo habitat
African Safari
A geographic animal area presenting wildlife associated with African desert and savanna environments. It forms one of the institution's principal continental exhibit zones.
Zoo habitat
Wilds of North America
A habitat area focused on North American wildlife and desert-region ecology, including species connected with the American Southwest.
Zoo habitat · 2020
Australian Adventures
A walk-through Australian habitat opened in 2020. It includes an aviary, wallabies, reptiles, kookaburras, and other Australian species, giving visitors an immersive encounter with the continent's wildlife.
Zoo habitat · 2021
Rhino Savanna
A rhinoceros-focused habitat opened in fall 2021 as a major recent expansion of the zoo's animal facilities.
Botanical garden
North American Desert Gardens
A collection of recreated desert plant communities representing the Mojave, Chihuahuan, Sonoran, and Colorado deserts. The landscapes interpret regional geology, elevation, plant adaptation, native washes, and Indigenous ethnobotanical knowledge.
Botanical collection
Specialized Desert Plant Collections
Focused gardens include agave, aloe, East African, euphorbia, aviary oasis, barrel cactus, hummingbird, Madagascar, Mexican columnar cactus, ocotillo, opuntia, palm, primitive, sage, sheep food, smoke tree, Sonoran arboretum, yucca, and butterfly and wildflower collections.
Family attraction · 1998
Living Desert Model Railroad
An LGB model railroad with approximately 3,115 feet of track. It includes multiple train lines and a large wooden G-scale trestle and is maintained by an all-volunteer team.
Marketing campaigns
- 1998WildLights
United States · Coachella Valley
A seasonal holiday program that originally featured the institution's model trains during evening operation. The railroad later became a year-round daytime attraction.
Outcome. The model railroad continued beyond its initial seasonal use and became a permanent visitor attraction.
- Peninsular Bighorn Sheep Reintroduction
Southern California
A conservation effort involving the return of peninsular bighorn sheep to local mountain areas.
- Arabian Oryx Reintroduction
Oman · International conservation
A conservation program supporting the return of Arabian oryx to Oman.
Brand decisions
2023
Animal Care Department votes to unionizeOtherBackground
Animal-care employees pursued collective representation.
Action taken
The Animal Care Department voted to unionize.
2021
Open Rhino SavannaProduct launchBackground
The institution continued expanding its animal-habitat portfolio.
Action taken
Opened the Rhino Savanna in fall 2021.
2020
Open Australian AdventuresProduct launchBackground
The zoo expanded its geographic exhibit program with a dedicated walk-through habitat for Australian wildlife.
Action taken
Opened Australian Adventures with wallabies, reptiles, birds, and related exhibits.
Sources2 sources
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