S.D. Zoo Safari Park's Rose Parade Float Is Award Winner

SAN DIEGO COUNTY, CA — San Diego Zoo Safari Park’s float won the award for most outstanding use of animation in the 134th Rose Parade this week in Pasadena.

The float, a flower-covered masterpiece with a “Celebrating 50 Years of Conservation” theme, featured moving depictions of such park icons as baby rhino Neville and his mama, and Msituni the giraffe, granted life-saving mobility thanks to custom-made, leg braces.

“We are humbled and honored to receive the Animation Award, but more importantly, we are grateful the Rose Parade gave San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and our Safari Park an opportunity to bring our conservation message to a global audience,” said Paul A. Baribault, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance president and chief executive officer.

The San Diego Safari Park joined Monday's legendary Tournament of Roses parade, which kicked off 2023 on Pasadena's Colorado Boulevard with floats, bands, equestrians and music groups.

The Safari Park’s float's animation clearly was a stand-out, as creators designed life-like, head-turning rhinos and giraffes bending down to "drink" from a flowing waterfall.

Featured float creations depicted Neville, the third, southern white rhino born at the Escondido park — a triumph for the animal specialists, and Msituni (pronounced see tune neee), the giraffe that captured hearts after it was born unable to walk and later recovered thanks to round-the-clock care and custom giraffe-sized orthotic leg braces. Also highlighted in float-fashion were a pair of African crowned cranes and a lush landscape recreating the park's gardens.

Riding aboard the open-air safari truck were Safari Park wildlife care specialists, veterinarians, conservation scientists and guides, the facility's executive director, Lisa Peterson, and "young children representing the next generation of conservationists," S.D. Zoo Wildlife Alliance officials said.

“Conservation starts with people — and at the Safari Park, we are able to make a connection between our guests and wildlife every day," CEO Baribault added. "Our hope is that connecting people to wildlife will inspire them to help support our mission and our global conservation programs to protect endangered wildlife.”

Prior to this year, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance had a float in the Rose Parade in 1996, in celebration of the Zoo’s 80th anniversary; and in 2022, celebrating San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance’s global conservation efforts, according to officials.

Along with San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance's award for animation, the Tournament of Roses lauded other organizations in such float categories as most beautiful, most whimsical/amusing and most creative. See full list of winners here.

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