At the Las Vegas Zoological Park, we seek to inspire, train, and empower successive generations to care for the world’s biological diversity. Our tools will be our exhibits, science, outreach, and education programs. Ultimately, everything we do must be oriented towards protecting wildlife and other forms of biological diversity so that we, and future societies, continue to enjoy the incalculable benefits of our natural world.
Today, thousands of species are facing extinction, and many fragile ecosystems critical to the well-being of societies around the world are under great strain from human activities. As the challenges of safeguarding the earth’s living heritage grow, so does the Las Vegas Zoological Park’s determination to play a leading role in shaping a brighter future for both people and wildlife.
OUR MISSION
The Las Vegas Zoological Park will start a tradition of protecting; conserving and managing threatened and endangered species. Our conservation department will take a leading role in evaluating threats to species survival and developing effective long-term programs to counter these threats. Our goal will include developing an international reputation for taking a cutting-edge role in animal care and conservation of the natural world. Today, there is an increasing need for conservation programs to guide, teach and motivate people to protect the world’s threatened wildlife and ecosystems. We will inspire and engage children, students, teachers and the general public to make a positive impact on the natural world around them.
We will be known as a membership organization, our drive to reach 10,000 members over the next five-years, representing families, individuals and young professionals, will bring people closer to the Zoo. Our members will not only visit the park, but enjoy our special events, read our magazine, watch our television program, visit our website, creating a new culture while becoming more passionate about the Zoo and its conservation mission.
We thank you for your support by becoming a donor, board member or Society member. You can become a huge part of our future success, make a contribution to the Zoo, and enhance the educational system in Nevada. We look forward to working with you and your support developing this incredible undertaking.
Our History
Bruce Thompson, Founder & Chairman
He didn’t start out to found and run a zoo, but for Bruce Thompson, it has been an unexpected labor of love. What started as regular family trips to zoos around the country has turned into a project to build a world-class zoo in Las Vegas for the very first time. Bruce’s son Jared loved the animals, and on their visits throughout the country, he would ask to see the local zoo, whether it be in San Francisco, Phoenix, San Diego Zoo, or any of the many other places they visit.
After a visit to Phoenix and the fantastic zoo there, Jared asked his father why Las Vegas didn’t have a great zoo, like all of those other cities did. Bruce didn’t have an answer right away but resolved to find out. He asked around among his friends and acquaintances, including the local Men’s Club. Nobody had an answer, other than with jokes about how the strip was the only zoo Las Vegas had. Bruce, with his background in architecture, couldn’t imagine that building a zoo would be too difficult, so he set about making it happen for his son, the residents of Nevada, and the millions of tourist that visit every year.
Bruce had a chat with a friend, Robert “Bob” Leary who was a major player in realty and contracting in Las Vegas, Bruce figured that with their combined expertise, they could get the project off the ground quickly, and he was right!
Coincidentally, Bob’s company had already built an elephant compound for a zoo in Seattle, so they had some experience. Part of that experience included starting work, only to have the elephants themselves pull up polls and cause trouble for the workers. Bob suggested they wait until after the mortgage crisis of 2008 had settled down to start raising money and putting everything in place. On August 14, 2013, Bob and Bruce gather friends and contacts for the first meeting at Mimi’s Cafe in Summerlin, to start planning their zoo.
Bruce’s board membership with BEACON: Business, Educational, Alliance for the Children of Nevada, meant that he was very aware of the educational disparity and issues in Nevada, including low test scores 47th in the union, and very high drop-out rate. To help fix these problems, Bruce believed that infrastructure needed to be in place to properly support children and provide learning opportunities. By building a world-class zoo, children would have access to not just learning about wildlife, but also summer camps, learning labs, career opportunities, and internships. This meant that kids from K-12 and post-secondary students would all benefit from the opportunities offered by the zoo.
Along with education opportunities, the Las Vegas Zoological Park will be fiercely dedicated to the conservation and heath of the animals that live there. The park will be a home for cutting edge research and fieldwork that will pay special attention to the Desert Tortoise and Wild Horses. Native species that face extinction, such as the Sierra Nevada Red Fox, Bighorn Sheep, Gray Wolf and Yellow-Billed Cuckoo will all find an ally in the Las Vegas Zoological Park.
Bruce has extensive experience in the nonprofit world. Along with BEACON, he was also a board member and volunteer with the American Heart Association. Even though some very important players are no longer with the project, including Co-Founder Robert Leary and Trustee Gary Chernay, Esq. who have both passed away in May 2018, Bruce is dedicated to making the zoological park a realty for the people of Nevada.
The Las Vegas Zoological Society was created out of the love of animals shared by a community of concerned citizens in Las Vegas and the surrounding area. As that community has continued to grow, the vision of a 100-acre world-class zoo rising out of the desert gets closer and closer to becoming a reality. This goal can only come to fruition with the support of those who share in this vision. You can help build something that will benefit so many, from students and scientists to Nevadans and the animals themselves. Please make this dream become a reality and add to the rich quality of life for our city and state.
You can make a difference.
When you give to LVZS you help to teach and inspire people to engage in conservation of wildlife, water and habitats. Make your tax-deductible gift today!