Animals for symbolic adoptions

Mountain Lions: A Crucial Species for Biodiversity

Mountain lions, Rose and Sage, are known for their role as a keystone species and less commonly known as an umbrella species. Keystone species is a species on which other species in an ecosystem largely depend. An umbrella species has either large habitat needs or other requirements whose conservation results in many other species being conserved at the ecosystem or landscape level. Mountain lions play a vital role in supporting ecosystems' health and promoting biodiversity.

American Badger

Nocturnal, elusive and seldom-seen, the badger has several sleeping dens within its territory.

Bobcat

A clever, resourceful evening hunter

Cheetah

Cheetahs inhabit the savannah and arid open grassland of Africa, south of the Sahara Arabia, Iran and as far as east Turkistan. Cheetahs are the world’s fastest land animals and are capable of sprinting at speeds up to 70 miles per hour. Unlike other big cats, cheetahs do not roar and have small feet with blunt claws that do not retract. The population of mature cheetah continues to drop. The population last reported was under 7,000 animals.

African Wild Dog

African wild dogs live in widely distributed, fragmented populations throughout the grasslands, savannahs and open woodlands of Africa. African wild dogs sometimes known as the Cape hunting dog, is quite different from the more familiar domestic dog or gray wolf. It has highly specialized sharp shearing teeth, large round ears and only four toes on its front feet, rather than five. Currently, these predators face increasing threats posed by habitat loss and diseases from non-native species.

Burrowing Owl

Burrowing owls unlike most other owls are largely diurnal (active during the day) and live on ground. They perch during daytime at the entrance to their burrows and nest in single pairs, or more commonly, in small colonies. Though they can dig their own burrows, they usually enlarge one dug by a small mammal, such as a squirrel or other rodent. They use their wings, beaks and feet for modifying or creating a burrow. These owls have lost much habitat due to urban or agricultural development.

Desert Tortoise

Your adoption assists The Living Desert in its support of efforts to bring this animal back from “threatened” status under the Endangered Species Act. Their numbers have dropped over 90% in the past three decades due to habitat destruction, introduction of new species, diseases, illegal pet trade, and Raven population growth. The Living Desert Conservation team has been working to restore the ecological health of desert tortoise habitats in the Orocopia Mountains SE of Joshua Tree Park.

Fennec Fox

The fennec fox is well adapted to life in the desert. Its feet have soft fur on the soles to protect them from the heat and aid in walking on loose sand. Its large ears function like radiators to disperse heat. The fox can survive without water for extended periods, taking moisture from food and staying below ground during the heat of the day. The fennec fox mates for life and lives in family units of up to ten individuals.

Giraffe

Giraffes are the tallest animals in the world. Males can grow over 18 feet tall. This is tall enough to look into a second story window. The babies are called calves. Females, after an approximate 15-month gestation period, will give birth standing up. New calves can be over 6 feet tall at birth. Giraffes are listed as vulnerable. It is thought that less than 70,000 remain in the wild and this number continues to drop.

Jaguar

Jaguars have an expansive range, from the Southwest USA to Patagonia. In the USA they have been sighted southwest of Tucson, AZ at approximately 4,000 feet elevation. They occupy a variety of habitats, but generally occur in well-vegetated areas. They are the third largest cat in the world, jaguars may weigh up to 300 pounds and are strong swimmers and climbers. Populations have been greatly reduced in areas where humans have settled.

Meerkat

Meerkats dwell in the savannahs and grasslands of South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Angola. Their diet consists of insects, but they will also eat small vertebrates, eggs and plants. Highly social, a meerkat pack may consist of more the one family group of as many as 10 to 15 individuals. Family members take turns standing guard in a tripod pose, scanning the area for possible predators while others feed. A group of meerkats are known as a mob.

Mexican Wolf

The Mexican Wolf is the smallest subspecies of gray wolves are highly social and mate for life. Females give birth every other year. Breeding occurs in later winter and after a 63-day gestation, some four to eight blind and helpless pups are born in a den. The male hunts to feed his mate during the six to eight weeks nursing period. After a month or so the pups emerge from the den to receive food from both parents and other pack members.

Mountain Lion

Mountain Lions are one of the largest cats in North America, mountain lions (also known as cougars or pumas) can be up to six feet in length, exclusive of their tails. Mountain lions are powerfully built, with large paws and sharp claws. Their hind legs are larger and more muscular than their front legs to give them great jumping power. Mountain lions can jump 18 feet from the ground into a tree, and they have been known to jump 20 feet up or down a hillside.

Zoo Animal - Other

If you do not see the animal you want to Adopt use this link.

Grevy's Zebra

No two zebras look exactly alike, as stripes vary between individuals they may serve as identification, like fingerprints. Zebras are social animals that spend time in herds. They graze together, primarily on grass, and even groom one another. Grevy’s Zebras are the largest of all wild equines. This species is found in northern Kenya, Somalia and eastern Ethiopia. The Grevy’s zebra is listed as Endangered. Its numbers continue to drop throughout it range.

Vaquita

You can help become an important part of The Living Desert’s conservation efforts through our Animal Adopt! Program. Help provide food, health care, and housing for your favorite Living Desert animals by taking wildlife into your heart.

Wallaby

Warthog

YOU ARE an AGENT of CONSERVATION! Your adoption assists The Living Desert in its support of environmental education programs. The combination of speed, they can charge up to 30 miles per hour, and two sets of tusks is enough to fend off most predators. Males fight with frontal contact using razor sharp tusks.

Camel

Dromedary camels have a single hump composed of fat, which stores food for times of need and lips that are thickened to allow consumption of thorny plants. They

Bald Eagle

This Majestic species is named for the conspicuous white head, which, contrary to the name, is in fact fully feathered, and contrasts strongly with the dark brown body and wings.

Leopard

Black Rhino

Black rhino are browsers and have a prehensile upper lip that allows them to easily eat trees and shrubs. They are more solitary than other rhino species; however, females can be found at watering holes, while males stay alone. Together, a group if rhinos is called a ‘crash’.

Coyote

A species of canine native to North America, the coyote is smaller than its close relative, the grey wolf.

Bat

Western yellow Bats are extremely important to our local environment.

Budgie - no plush available

Occupy a range of semi-arid and sub-humid habitats mainly in the interior of Australia.

Monarch Butterfly

Monarch butterflies are critically endangered and need your help! With your $50 or more donation. you will receive a decorative butterfly and a milkweed seed packet.

Hummingbird

Hummingbirds are members of the garden pollinator TEAM!

Bee

There are over 750 species of bees native to California deserts. Some specialize in pollinating specific plants.

Naked Mole Rat

These underground animals are not really naked!

Prairie Dog

In the grasslands across the central and western United States, their intricate underground colonies—called prairie dog towns—create shelter for jackrabbits, toads, and rattlesnakes.

Waldrapp ibis - no plush available

They are among the world's most endangered avian species. Also known as Northern bald ibis.

Happy 5th Birthday Nia!

Black rhino are browsers and have a prehensile upper lip that allows them to easily eat trees and shrubs. They are more solitary than other rhino species; however, females can be found at watering holes, while males stay alone. Together, a group if rhinos is called a ‘crash’.

LION - Capital Campaign Adoption

Join the Pride. By symbolically adopting a lion, you can show your support for The Living Desert's future expansion and growth. African lions are now living on 8% of the land they once occupied. This loss can lead to unhealthy breeding and a reduction in prey.