San Diego Zoo's Pandas, Polar Bears Go Mobile with Mobile App

New App Provides Animal, Planning Information for Zoo's Fans and Visitors

     Just in time for the holidays, the San Diego Zoo is giving its fans the chance to take the world-famous Zoo with them wherever they travel this season. Launched today, the new mobile application gives users access to animal information, photos and videos.

     The app also features real-time streaming of the Zoo's Polar Cam and its recently upgraded high-definition Panda Cam. This new app is powered by leading self-service mobile app platform Mobile Roadie for the iOS and Android operating system.

     For those planning to visit the Zoo, the new app can also provide real-time information on the Zoo's animal presentations, shows, dining choices, gift shops and ticketing options. Users can also explore exhibits for the Zoo's more than 4,000 animals. The Map shows points of interest within the Zoo including guest services, shopping, dining and a walking trail of the Zoo's exhibits. In the app's Google map feature, users can get customized directions to the Zoo.

     Fans and visitors can also share their experiences by posting comments and stories on the Fan Wall.

Six Bears, Two Species, One App

     The Conrad Prebys Polar Bear Plunge is home to three adult polar bears: Kalluk, Tatqiq and Chinook. With the new San Diego Zoo app, polar bear fans can watch these white giants dive and swim around their pool, lounge on the sandy "shore" of their summer tundra exhibit or sit on the rock outcroppings and munch on vegetables - their favorites are carrots. And on the days when they have their favorite balls to play with, Kalluk can be seen "dribbling" against the glass, to the delight of on-ground guests on the other side.

     The Zoo's giant pandas have the largest online following of the species and recently had their Panda Cam upgraded to high definition. The four new cameras can capture all of the eating and sleeping action from these black-and-white bears. Female Bai Yun, male Gao Gao and two-year-old male Yun Zi each have their own exhibit and the camera tracks whomever is most active.

     "This is our gift to all the fans and guests of the San Diego Zoo," said Ted Molter, corporate director of marketing for San Diego Zoo Global. "This app gives people greater access to the Zoo when they're planning their visit or spending a day with us. We expect that the mobile access to our live animal cams, combined with detailed descriptions and beautiful images, will add up to family-friendly entertainment and an educational resource that can be used again and again."

     "The San Diego Zoo has delighted and educated the millions of people who have walked through its front gates," said Michael Schneider, CEO, Mobile Roadie. "We are honored to be powering the app that is going to bring the joy and wonder of the San Diego Zoo to animal lovers' smartphones everywhere."

     The application is available now for download at the iTunes App Store and the Android store. Search for "San Diego Zoo" or go to http://road.ie/sandiegozoo to download.

     The San Diego Zoo Global Wildlife Conservancy is dedicated to bringing endangered species back from the brink of extinction. The work of the Conservancy includes onsite wildlife conservation efforts at the San Diego Zoo, San Diego Zoo Safari Park, San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research, and international field programs in more than 35 countries. In addition, San Diego Zoo Global manages the Anne and Kenneth Griffin Reptile Conservation Center, the Frozen ZooTM and Native Seed Gene Bank, the Keauhou and Maui Hawaii Endangered Bird Conservation Centers, San Clemente Loggerhead Shrike Breeding Facility, Cocha Cashu Biological Research Station, the Desert Tortoise Conservation Center, and a 900-acre biodiversity reserve adjacent to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. The important conservation and science work of these entities is supported in part by The Foundation of the Zoological Society of San Diego.

About Mobile Roadie

     Mobile Roadie (www.mobileroadie.com) is a powerful self-service mobile app engagement platform that allows anyone to create a fully customizable iPhone or Android app in minutes.

     Apps created on the Mobile Roadie platform are professional, effective, and most importantly, drive fan engagement.  Mobile Roadie powers over 2,000 apps with more than 13 million end users for brands worldwide including Katy Perry, Madonna, Taylor Swift, The Beatles, Linkin Park, Chris Brown, P!nk, Bon Jovi, Avril Lavigne, Drake, Harvard Law School, Wynn Las Vegas, Dallas Mavericks, Washington Redskins, Miami Dolphins, and World Economic Forum. Mobile Roadie is headquartered in Los Angeles with offices in London.