Arizona Sonora Desert Museum

The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, located near Tucson, Arizona, is a fusion experience of a zoo, botanical garden, art gallery, natural history museum, and aquarium. Founded in 1952, the 98-acre facility is dedicated to interpreting the natural history, plants, and animals of the Sonoran Desert. The museum is home to more than 200 animal species and 1,200 kinds of plants.

Visitors to the museum can participate in many interactive experiences, including live animal presentations, docent-led tours, art classes, and stargazing nights. The museum's Raptor Free Flight exhibit, where native birds of prey fly so close that visitors can feel the brush of feathers, is a crowd favorite. Additionally, the museum offers numerous educational programs and events for children and adults, enhancing the understanding and appreciation of the desert environment.

The museum is actively involved in wildlife conservation and research efforts, focusing on native plants and animal species. It manages several conservation programs, such as the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum Bighorn Sheep Project and the Mexican Gray Wolf Recovery Program. It also contributes to environmental education, promoting knowledge and appreciation of the Sonoran Desert.