Fresno zoo wins 2 awards for helping wildlife. Learn about ‘rare achievement’
The Fresno Chaffee Zoo recently won two prestigious awards for its wildlife conservation work.
The Association of Zoos and Aquariums recognized the zoo for one of its exhibits and one of its conservation programs, which the Fresno zoo called “two of the greatest achievements in the zoological and conservation fields.”
“To receive even one of these awards is an honor that many institutions strive for but never achieve,” Fresno Chaffee Zoo CEO and director Jon Forrest Dohlin said in the Sept. 30 news release. “To receive two in the same cycle — for such different and meaningful efforts in the name of conservation — is a rare achievement that reflects the breadth and depth of our mission to inspire people to care for animals, create connections, build community, and save wildlife.”
The zoo thanked its “incredible team, partners, and community” in a post on Instagram, adding, “These awards are YOURS too!”
Dan Ashe, president and CEO of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, praised the Fresno zoo’s “hard work and dedication in achieving this remarkable recognition” of “the best of the best in the global aquarium and zoo community.”
“The work being done at Fresno Chaffee Zoo further strengthens the impact of our entire community and is something Fresno can be proud of,” Ashe said in a statement.
Fresno zoo’s Kingdoms of Asia animal exhibit gets award
The association gave the Fresno Chaffee Zoo its Top Honors Exhibit Award for the “excellence in design, animal care and community-building” of its Kingdoms of Asia exhibit, the zoo said in the release.
Spanning more than three acres, Kingdoms of Asia “transports guests to the lush landscapes of Southeast Asia, featuring expansive habitats for endangered species including Malayan tigers, orangutans and Komodo dragons,” the Fresno zoo said, as well as sloth bears and Asian songbirds.
The exhibit, which opened to the public in 2023, emphasizes “the importance of protecting biodiversity in one of the world’s most threatened ecological regions,” the zoo said.
Kingdoms of Asia “not just a reflection of natural habitats — it reflects human ones, too,” the zoo said. “Working closely with cultural advisors, the zoo created immersive scenes that blend natural and architectural storytelling and layers in oral histories from local community members.”
Kingdoms of Asia was inspired by Cambodia’s famed Angkor Wat temple complex, the zoo said on its website.
Dohlin called the award “a reflection of the incredible passion and talent of our entire team.”
“Kingdoms of Asia is more than a wildlife exhibit — it’s an immersive journey that highlights the rich culture of the people from Southeast Asia,” he said. “We are deeply honored to be recognized by the AZA for this transformative project.”
Fresno zoo honored for efforts to protect California wildlife
The zoo also received the nonprofit group’s Advocacy Impact Award for its involvement with the Coexist with Wildlife, California program.
The public awareness campaign aimed to “bring awareness to hundreds of native California species by highlighting 24 important species to protect in 2024,” according to its website.
The campaign’s launch was timed to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the last sighting of the California grizzly bear — the animal pictured on California’s state flag — just miles from Fresno in the Sequoia National Forest in 1924.
“To commemorate this loss — and to prevent other species from facing the same fate — conservation institutions from across California united in launching Coexist with Wildlife, California and successfully advanced a bipartisan state resolution with lasting impact,” the zoo said.
Fresno Chaffee Zoo called the campaign a “powerful, statewide initiative aimed at protecting California’s native wildlife and preserving the natural spaces they call home.”
Dohlin praised the zoo team and partners “who brought this campaign to life.”
“Coexist with Wildlife, California is a shining example of how advocacy, education and collaboration can drive our vision for a just future where people and wildlife not only coexist, but thrive together,” he said.
This story was originally published October 3, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
