Orangutan SSP Husbandry Conference Navigation Guide
Schedule, Maps, and information for the 2025 Orangutan SSP Husbandry Conference
Conference dates: August 23 to 28, 2025
More things to do on your visit!
Schedule of Events
August 23
9 am to 5 pm: SSP Steering Committee meeting (closed) at Albuquerque Museum
August 24
9 am to noon: SSP Steering Committee meeting (closed) at Albuquerque Museum
2 pm to 4 pm: Institutional Representatives planning meeting
5 pm to 8 pm: Ice breaker at Explora! Join us at Explora! Science Center & Children's Museum for a unique evening where the exhibits put learning in your own hands!
- Meet for drinks afterwards at Sawmill Market
August 25 to 27
Conservation conscious: the museum is a short five-minute walk from Hotel Albuquerque
8:30 am to 5:30 pm: Presentations with scheduled breaks, lunch, and snacks
Presentations will be held at the Albuquerque Museum, the leading institution for the Southwest's art, history, and culture. Attendees will have access to museum exhibits and preview the Silent Auction items, more details below.
Schedule for Monday, August 25
Schedule for Tuesday, August 26
Schedule for Wednesday, August 27
Silent Auction: the Auction will start as soon as all items have been turned in with their bid sheet, and will end 15 minutes prior to the end of Wednesday's lunch period.
August 28
BioPark day and closing dinner. A fun-filled day starting at the Aquarium and Botanic Garden, and ending at the Zoo, including classes, open houses, exploration and a scavenger hunt! Conference badges required for the below. Food vouchers and transportation to and from the hotel and between the parks will be provided. Full schedule and details:
Jump to Food | Jump to Transportation | Jump to Maps
Aquarium and Botanic Garden
9 am to 11 am: Concurrent sessions held in the Farmhouse and High Desert Rose Garden
11 am to 12:30 pm: Open House at Heritage Farm and Behind-the-scenes at the Shark Tank
Zoo
Enjoy a complimentary carousel ride any time during your visit with your conference badge
1 pm to 5 pm: Cooldown lounge available in Colores building
- 2 pm to 5 pm: Flash tattoo booths inside Colores building. Cost is $80, reservations required
2 pm to 3:30 pm: Open Houses in Rhinos and Elephants
2 pm to 4 pm: Lorikeet Experience
2 pm to 4:30 pm: Open house in Tigers (Asia)
2 pm to 5 pm: Open house in Orangutans
4 pm: Gorilla shift & feeding
5 pm to 5:30 pm: Happy Half-Hour in Asia with free sake station and cash bar
5:30 pm to 7:30 pm: Dinner in Asia on the Elephant Overlook deck
Food
Upon drop off at the Heritage Farm on Thursday morning we will be handing out coffee and burritos, as well as six $5 BioPark Bucks. These vouchers will be accepted at any of the open locations below for snacks and lunches; dinner will be provided in Asia at the Zoo.
Aquarium/Botanic Garden
- Shark Reef Café: burgers, sandwiches, salads, chicken tenders, fish & chips, smoothies, ice cream, and assorted beverages
- Vitex Plaza: assorted beverages and snacks
- Dippin' Dots: Dippin' Dots, assorted snacks and beverages
Zoo
- Jungle Wheels: espresso drinks, smoothies, ice cream (Dole Whip), Icee, pretzels, Dippin' Dots
- Cottonwood Café: burgers, pizza, chicken, sandwiches, pasta, grab & go salads, assorted beverage options
- Cones: ice cream cones, Icee, assorted beverages
- Asia Outpost: assorted beverages, assorted Asian-inspired teas, assorted grab & go snacks
- Matunda Cafe: Icee, assorted beverages, pretzels, churros, build-your-own fruit cup
Transportation
8:15 am to 10:15 am: Bus runs from Hotel Albuquerque to Heritage Farm entrance of the Aquarium & Botanic Garden
11 am to 2 pm: Vans run between Aquarium and Botanic Garden and the Zoo
- Pickup/drop off locations are at the roundabout in front of the Aquarium & Botanic Garden and at the shuttle stop at the Zoo
6 pm to 8 pm: Bus runs from New Mexico BioPark Society office to Hotel Albuquerque
Maps
Things to do in Albuquerque
Culture and Exploration
- Visit Albuquerque - Your hub for planning a trip to Albuquerque! You'll find information on many of the links below, and much more!
- Breaking Bad Tours | Albuquerque, NM, USA - journey through film locations from the iconic TV show Breaking Bad, set in Albuquerque, New Mexico
- History and Ghost Tours of Old Town - take a spooky tour in historic Old Town Albuquerque (up to 25 people per tour)
- Indian Pueblo Cultural Center - New Mexico is home to 19 Pueblos. Learn all about the history of Pueblo culture through authentic museum exhibits, art, dining, and shopping
- National Hispanic Cultural Center - This is the only national cultural institute dedicated to Hispanic culture, arts, and humanities. Explore the art museum, dining, and one of the largest frescos in North America!
- Old Town Albuquerque - A nationally designated historic site that has flown the flag of three nations since it became a village in 1706. Steeped in the rich history of the region including Native American arts & culture, original adobe (mud brick) buildings, and currently home to over 150 independently-owned restaurants, boutiques, museums, and historic lodging.
- Conservation conscious: a short walk from Hotel Albuquerque.
- Sandia Peak Tramway - Take a ride to the crest of the Sandia Mountains, an elevation of 10,378 ft, on the longest aerial tram in the Americas. Enjoy hiking, dining, or just watch the sunset over the city!
- Take a train to Santa Fe - Hop on the New Mexico Rail Runner Express to visit historic Santa Fe, the capital of New Mexico founded in 1610. Originally a province of New Spain, it's the oldest state capital in the U.S. and was the earliest European settlement west of the Mississippi River. It's also the highest-altitude capital in the U.S. at 6.998 feet. A must-see for any history buff visiting the state!
Bars
- Hollow Spirits Distillery
- Painted Lady Bed & Brew | Albuquerque, NM | Breakfast is Overrated | Beer
- Fun for All Ages at Electric Playhouse
Events
- Saturday, August 23: Lantern Festival, 4 pm Albuquerque NM, Light The Night, Desert Sky Lantern Festival, Albuquerque New Mexico, 23 August 2025 | AllEvents
- Saturday, August 23: Dead, Bath & Beyond (spooky goods market), 5 pm Free Reservations
- Saturday, August 23: Albucreepy trolley (A drive on the dark side), 8 pm Tickets
- Tuesday, August 26: Rock concert, The Offspring
- Wednesday August 27: Trivia, Geeks Who Drink at Ponderosa Brewing Company
Dining
Conservation conscience: all within walking distance of Old Town and Hotel Albuquerque
- Blake's Lotaburger – fast food
- Church St. Café – Mexican
- D.H. Lescombes Winery and Bistro – casual bistro, French country cuisine, wine
- Garduño’s (located inside Hotel Albuquerque) – Mexican food
- High Noon – American food
- Little Anita’s – Mexican food
- Old Town Pizza – pizza parlor
- Saw Mill – a local modern dining and shopping experience!
- Seasons Rotisserie – American, steak
- Two Cranes Bistro and Brew – bar, American
- Wild Avocado Cork and tap – bar, American
Contacts
If you need assistance, you can contact Amber Alink (Curator of Elephants and Primates) at 505-235-8559, Lynn Tupa (Associate Director) at 505-366-4237, or Jo Frentzel (Assistant Curator of Primates) at 505-549-0549
Thank you to our sponsors
