Zoo Partnership Brings Wildlife Wonder to Hospital Beds

Quick Smiles:

• The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance streams wildlife encounters and educational shows to patient rooms.
• The channel now reaches more than 400 medical facilities across 12 countries.
• Young patients can watch live animal cameras and tailored programming throughout the day.

A special partnership is bringing the wonders of wildlife directly to children whose immune systems make a visit to the zoo impossible. The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance offers a 24/7 streaming service that delivers global animal encounters and educational shows to patient rooms.

What began as a local initiative has expanded into a massive network reaching over 400 medical facilities across 12 countries. Approximately 25 million viewers now enjoy high-definition cameras and tailored programming that showcases creatures from around the world.

Many of our patients have weakened immune systems, so they’re unable to go to places like the zoo and the channel has brought the zoo to them.

Margaret Fitzgerald, a unit manager at Rady Children’s Hospital, noted that the impact on young patients is immediate and heartwarming.

I do recall one time there was a little girl who was about 3 and her mom had to go to work, and she was sad because her mom had to go, but then we turned on the zoo channel and she just lit up!

Share this story to celebrate the technology keeping vulnerable children connected to the natural world.

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