The Living Desert hosts 25th Zoobilee! gala

Many dressed to the nines for a silver safari at The Living Desert Saturday night.

The zoo and gardens hosted its 25th annual Zoobilee! gala, one of their major annual fundraisers.

People got up close encounters with animals, and a chance to bid on items in silent and live auctions.

Organizers said the event is geared towards helping raise money for the zoo’s conservation and education programs.

“One of the things that we make we can do is provide educational services for teachers in the area,” Allen Monroe, President and CEO of The Living Desert said. “We provide them STEM resources so that the curriculum that they’re teaching their kids can have a zoo flair to it, so they can learn more about the amazing habitats all around here in the desert.”

CBS Local 2’s Brooke Beare served as the gala’s MC.

The event also included a giraffe theme, with the zoo celebrating the Year of the Giraffe.