Nintendo News: Pikmin Have Been Spotted at the San Diego Zoo, and Nintendo Invites Guests to Join in the Search!

There is growing buzz at the San Diego Zoo’s Denny Sanford Wildlife Explorers Basecamp amid reports of mysterious, brightly colored creatures. And they look a little something like this:

From Oct. 1 through Nov. 28, Nintendo of America and the San Diego Zoo invite explorers of all ages to join the search for these new guests: the small, plantlike creatures of the Pikmin game series, available on the Nintendo Switch family of systems. In this adventure and puzzle-solving series, Pikmin are found in dirt patches, in blades of grass and with the unusual critters that share the world around them — and the Pikmin themselves come in different types, from the fire-resistant Red Pikmin (like the one above) to the Blue Pikmin that can swim. And just like in the Pikmin series of games, kids will be encouraged to grow, gather and guide: grow in their appreciation for the natural world around them, gather pictures and memories of Pikmin in the Zoo, and guide their friends and family through exciting themed locations throughout Wildlife Explorers Basecamp.

Pikmin are loyal, curious creatures that can help guide your expedition around Wildlife Explorers Basecamp. Here are some ways to make the most of your visit:

• Consider visiting in October. The San Diego Zoo celebrates Kids Free Month from Oct. 1 through Oct. 31 by offering children 11 and under free admission with a paid adult ticket.
• Guests visiting any weekend from Oct. 1 through Nov. 24 are encouraged to visit the Pikmin pop-up tent near Spineless Marvels to check in at the My Nintendo kiosk and receive 100 My Nintendo Platinum Points*, redeemable on my.nintendo.com for exclusive digital and physical rewards. Guests are also eligible to receive a Nintendo goodie bag at the pop-up tent after completing a set task, such as photographing a Pikmin in the Zoo!

The San Diego Zoo’s Denny Sanford Wildlife Explorers Basecamp is designed to inspire children to learn about nature, actively play, encounter new species and develop empathy for wildlife. While on the hunt for Pikmin during this special event period, families will uncover all Wildlife Explorers Basecamp has to offer as they interact, climb, scramble and jump in innovative nature play areas. Basecamp offers children and families the opportunity to connect to the natural world like never before and understand the importance of conserving wildlife through a variety of one-of-a-kind experiences with animals.

For more information about how and when you can start your Pikmin search, visit pikmin.nintendo.com/en/news.

Note to editors: Nintendo press materials are available at https://press.nintendo.com, a password-protected site. To obtain a login, please register on the site.

*A Nintendo account is required to receive and redeem points. Terms apply (https://accounts.nintendo.com/term_point).

About Nintendo: Nintendo Co., Ltd., headquartered in Kyoto, Japan, has created franchises that have become household names worldwide, including Mario^™, Donkey Kong^™, The Legend of Zelda^™, Metroid^™, Pokémon^™, Animal Crossing^™, Pikmin^™ and Splatoon^™, through its integrated hardware and software products. Nintendo aims to deliver unique, intuitive entertainment experiences for everyone, manufacturing and marketing video game devices such as the Nintendo Switch^™ family of systems, developing and operating applications for smart devices, and collaborating with partners on a range of other entertainment initiatives like visual content and theme parks. Nintendo has sold more than 5.8 billion video games and over 850 million hardware units globally. From the launch of the Nintendo Entertainment System^™ more than 30 years ago, through today and into the future, Nintendo’s continuing mission is to create unique entertainment that puts smiles on the faces of people all over the world. A wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of America Inc., based in Redmond, Wash., serves as headquarters for Nintendo’s operations in the Americas. For more information about Nintendo, please visit the company’s website at https://www.nintendo.com/.

About San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, a nonprofit conservation leader, inspires passion for nature and collaboration for a healthier world. The Alliance supports innovative conservation science through global partnerships and groundbreaking efforts at the world-famous San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park, both leading zoological institutions and accredited botanical gardens. Through wildlife care expertise, cutting-edge science and continued collaboration, more than 44 endangered species have been reintroduced to native habitats. The Alliance reaches over 1 billion people annually through its two conservation parks and media channels in 150 countries, including San Diego Zoo Wildlife Explorers television, available in children’s hospitals across 14 countries. Wildlife Allies—members, donors and guests—make success possible.