10/21/2026
Meet Calamity, the Phoenix Zoo's newest ambassador animal! 🦝
A concerned citizen brought Calamity and her two siblings to the Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center after finding their mother deceased. Southwest Wildlife treated the young raccoons and then deemed them too habituated to humans to release back into the wild.
At Southwest Wildlife, their goal is always to release animals back to the wild. But when an animal has a low chance of survival in the wild, the Phoenix Zoo is grateful to be one of many partners that can provide a safe home for them. The AAR program at the Zoo allows Calamity to serve as an ambassador for her wild counterparts and teach our guests about the important role wildlife plays not only in our backyard, but around the world. Soon guests will be able to see her walking across the Doornbos Amphitheatre stage!
This story is just another reminder of the impact humans can have on wildlife, and the importance of contacting licensed rehabilitators and wildlife sanctuaries when you come across orphaned wildlife. Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center offers a 24/7 Emergency Rescue Hotline that Arizona residents are able to call with questions or concerns about wildlife they come across.
