San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance (SDZWA) will march into the 2024 Rose Parade with a float that has a story to tell. SDZWA shared a rendering of its 55-ft, animated display with an “It Began With a Roar” theme. It showcases animals who inspired conservation efforts and helped make the zoo world-famous.
The float’s familiar furry faces include:
- A lion, modeled after Rex, who was on display during the Panama-California Exposition in Balboa Park. His roar is said to have inspired the San Diego Zoo’s creation.
- A polar bear, modeled after Chinook from the zoo’s Polar Plunge habitat, used for conservation research as the species faces threats from climate change.
- An orangutan, modeled after Karen, a Sumatran orangutan born with a heart defect and nursed to health by zoo staff.
The Rose Parade takes place Jan. 1, 2024, at 8 a.m. in Pasadena; it’ll also be broadcast on TV.