ROTARY LUNCHEON: How Zoos Save Endangered Species

Manuel Mollinedo is the former director of the Los Angeles Zoo, San Francisco Zoo and Honolulu Zoo. Prior to his zoological career he was the director of Parks and Recreation for the City of Los Angeles and the City of Austin, Texas.

Manuel has served as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund. He also served on the Association of Zoos and Aquariums [AZA] accreditation commission and is very knowledgeable of the nuances in managing city-operated zoos. He was on the Board of Directors of the International Species Information System, and was a member of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

He has traveled extensively in Africa, South America, Australia, Europe, and Southeast Asia and is familiar with the flora and fauna on all of these continents.

Accomplishments he is particularly proud of are his two terms on the California State Parks and Recreation Commission and receiving the distinguished alumnus award from California State University, Los Angeles in 1998.

His two major personal achievement have been climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro in 2000 and trekking through the Thorung Pass in the Annapurna mountain range of Nepal 2018. His hobbies are snow skiing, hiking, and wildlife photography.

Manuel will talk about how accredited zoos have helped to protect endangered species. At the turn of the last century, the Bronx Zoo helped to prevent the extinction of the American Bison. More recently, the LA Zoo started working to save California Condors. Hear these and other interesting stories on how zoos help to save endangered species.

This is a weekly membership meeting for The Rotary Club of San Francisco, open to all Rotarians, visiting Rotarians, prospective members, and guests.

Each luncheon ticket includes a three-course lunch. Tickets for Club members are $35 each; $30 if you register online in advance. Non-member tickets are $40 each. Payment by credit card or check is preferred. Tickets available for purchase only at the door.