Greetings!

For those of you I haven’t had the opportunity to meet yet, my name is Heidi Rahn. Last year, I took on the role of Oregon Zoo director, and while the title is a new one, I’ve been with the zoo for some time now.

From 2013 on, I led implementation of the community-supported zoo bond measure to advance animal welfare, conservation education, and sustainability. Last year, we celebrated the completion of all the improvements made possible by that measure — a decade’s worth of projects that included a state-of-the-art veterinary medical center, award-winning habitats like Elephant Lands and our Education Center. You played a major role in each of these projects, and together we have transformed nearly 40% of the zoo!

Naturally, there is still much to do. Like most places, the Oregon Zoo has weathered some tough times these past couple of years — but the resilience and innovation I’ve seen have been inspiring. My passion has always been conservation. My first internship was at the Center for Marine Conservation in San Francisco, analyzing policy to safeguard sea otters. And I met my husband when we were working to protect endangered butterfly habitat in Wisconsin. I am thrilled to see that same passion among all of our staff, volunteers and supporters. It fills me with optimism.

“With your continued support, we will deliver on our mission of creating a better future for wildlife.”

This is a pivotal moment, for the Oregon Zoo and for the planet, and I am so grateful that you — our partners and donors — are with us on this journey. I know that with your continued support, we will deliver on our mission of creating a better future for wildlife.

Heidi Rahn,
Director, Oregon Zoo