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Boris Herrera-CDF

A Global Gathering for Galapagos

31 July 2025 📍 Houston Zoo

The Charles Darwin Foundation is celebrating 65 years of groundbreaking conservation work in the Galapagos Islands and we want you to be part of it!

A Global Gathering for Galapagos at the Houston Zoo

Join us at the Houston Zoo

Join Dr. Rakan (Zak) Zahawi, Executive Director of the Charles Darwin Foundation, alongside friends and supporters of the Galapagos Islands, to celebrate 65 years of groundbreaking science and conservation in the enchanted islands!
We are partnering with our longtime friends at the Houston Zoo for a special evening at their stunning Galapagos Exhibit—an intimate gathering among sea lions and giant tortoises.
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Carlos Espinosa-CDF

Save the date

A gathering for galapagos: Hope for biodiversity

Thursday, July 31st | 6:00 PM Central Time (UTC-5)

Houston Zoo – Galapagos Exhibit
6200 Hermann Park Dr, Houston, TX 77030

This exclusive gathering is limited to 100 attendees.

Will you be one of them?


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Attend as a Guest

Reconnect with a community of biodiversity champions at the Houston Zoo’s stunning Galapagos Exhibit. Secure your spot by making a donation.

Suggested donation: $100 per guest / $50 per student

A limited number of free tickets are available from the Sponsors of the event. Contact Jim Boyle at jim.boyle@fcdarwin.org.ec for more information.

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Bernie Jacome

Join as a Host

Take your support a step further. As a host, you will be able to connect with fellow supporters of biodiversity and conservation and be prominently featured in our event marketing campaigns — a testament to your commitment to safeguard one of the world’s most unique ecosystems.

Contribution: $500 per person / $1,000 per couple

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Jaime Fajardo-CDF

Become a Sponsor

Make a lasting impact as a Sponsor with a gift of $5,000 or more. In thanks, enjoy exclusive perks—including VIP access at the event and a behind-the-scenes experience in Galapagos, with private tours and visits to the Charles Darwin Research Station.

To learn more about sponsorship opportunities, please contact our Chief Development Officer, Jim Boyle

The Houston Zoo’s Galapagos Exhibit

The Houston Zoo’s Galapagos exhibit is the first major showcase of its kind, immersing visitors in the distinctive landscapes and oceanic habitats of the enchanted islands. Highlighting the region’s remarkable wildlife, the exhibit emphasizes Galapagos as a symbol of unique species, fragile ecosystems, and the urgent need for conservation efforts. Featured animals include the Galapagos tortoise, Humboldt penguin, California sea lion, and bonnethead shar–species that represent the broader marine and coastal environments connected to Galapagos.


Sponsors

Silver Sponsors:
Donna F. Cole

Bronze Sponsors:
Anne & Albert Chao


The Host Committee

Donna F. Cole – Event Chair

Takako Alsford, Joni Baird, Judge Teresa & Dr. Peter Chang, Anne & Albert Chao, Flora Choy, Steve Dukes, Sydney & Sheryl Evans, Kathy Gondo, Robert Gondo, Mandy & William Kao, Ken Ripper & Deborah Kainer, Sylvia & Matt Kerrigan, Nobu Kobori, Connie Kwan-Wong, Alta Monroe & Sherman Lee, Y. Ping Sun & David Leebron, Joe'l Mafridge, Jim & Marie Merryman, Michelle Mower, Gordon Quan, Randy & Sue Sim, Soledad Tanner, Elaine & Leon Zhang


Special Guests

Coming soon



Boris Herrera-CDF

HOPE FOR BIODIVERSITY

The Urgency of Protecting Biodiversity—And Why Galapagos Matters

We are facing a global extinction crisis—1 million species are at risk, and wildlife populations have dropped by 73% since 1970 according to the Living Planet Report.

The loss of biodiversity goes beyond species disappearing—it disrupts entire ecosystems, weakens natural resilience, and jeopardizes human survival by impacting food security, water, climate stability, and public health.

Galapagos is home to more than 1900 species found nowhere else on Earth. From flightless cormorants to marine iguanas foraging at sea, giant tortoises roaming volcanic craters, and penguins swimming north of the equator, the islands hold some of the planet’s most unique wildlife.

However, climate change, invasive species, and human activity are pushing these species toward extinction. With more invasive species than native ones, Galapagos faces a critical moment—but there is still time to act.

Protecting Galapagos is more than saving a unique ecosystem. It’s a chance to prove that conservation works and that, even in the face of a global extinction crisis, we can protect biodiversity—and offer hope for our planet’s future.

31st July

Galapagos Exhibit 📍 Houston Zoo

See you there!

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