Zoo Boise connects our visitors with animals to inspire and involve our community in the conservation of wildlife worldwide. While we all care about animals and want to protect them in the wild, knowing how to help can be a challenge. So Zoo Boise has redefined itself as a vehicle to help our visitors save endangered species. Now, when families in the Treasure Valley visit the zoo, they just don’t see animals, they help save animals as well.
We are inspired by our donors, board of directors, volunteers, staff, and the people in our community. These are the people who help bring our mission to life.
To celebrate these amazing people, the Friends of Zoo Boise Board of Directors has created the Zoo Boise Wildlife Conservation Hero Award. This award honors those who have gone above and beyond, demonstrating passion, courage, and tenacity in conserving wildlife in Idaho and around the world. It recognizes an outstanding individual or couple who have shown long-term dedication and service in helping shape the activities and successes of Zoo Boise and conservation in Idaho and around the world.
The Friends of Zoo Boise Board of Directors have selected Susie and A.J. Balukoff as the very first Zoo Boise Wildlife Conservation Hero Award recipients. Susie and A.J. have been involved with the zoo and conservation work for decades. Susie joined the Friends of Zoo Boise board in 1999, and served as its President from 2007-2009. Their passion drives both their hands-on work as well as their fundraising and personal donations towards saving animals in the wild as well as the habitats they depend on.
Susie and A.J. will receive the award and make brief remarks at Zoo Boise’s gala event, Zoobilee, held on September 23, 2017. Event and ticket information can be found at https://zooboise.org/events/events-home/zoobilee/.