The Santa Barbara Zoo is located on near the ocean in
Santa Barbara, California
Santa Barbara (, meaning ) is a coastal city in Santa Barbara County, California, of which it is also the county seat. Situated on a south-facing section of coastline, the longest such section on the West Coast of the United States excepting A ...
. It was built on the site of what was known as the Child Estate. It has more than 500 animals in numerous exhibits, including
capybara
The capybara or greater capybara (''Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris'') is the largest living rodent, native to South America. It is a member of the genus '' Hydrochoerus''. The only other extant member is the lesser capybara (''Hydrochoerus isthmi ...
and
California condors, and was known for having had a
giraffe
The giraffe is a large Fauna of Africa, African even-toed ungulate, hoofed mammal belonging to the genus ''Giraffa.'' It is the Largest mammals#Even-toed Ungulates (Artiodactyla), tallest living terrestrial animal and the largest ruminant on ...
with a crooked neck. It has a few non-animal attractions, such as the
narrow gauge
A narrow-gauge railway (narrow-gauge railroad in the US) is a railway with a track gauge (distance between the rails) narrower than . Most narrow-gauge railways are between and .
Since narrow-gauge railways are usually built with Minimum railw ...
Zoo Train, complete with a pair of
Chance Rides C. P. Huntington locomotives
A locomotive is a rail vehicle that provides the motive power for a train. Traditionally, locomotives pulled trains from the front. However, push–pull operation has become common, and in the pursuit for longer and heavier freight train ...
. The zoo first opened in August 1963.
Exhibits
''African Plains'' or ''African Veldt'', is an African themed habitat that houses giraffes,
Sulcata tortoises, and
meerkat
The meerkat (''Suricata suricatta'') or suricate is a small mongoose found in southern Africa. It is characterised by a broad head, large eyes, a pointed snout, long legs, a thin tapering tail, and a brindled coat pattern. The head-and-body ...
s.
''Australian Walkabout'' is an Australian theme habitat (opened in 2022) where visitors can experience the land, animals, and traditions of
Australian Aboriginal culture
Australian Aboriginal culture includes a number of practices and ceremonies centered on a belief in the Dreamtime and other mythology. Reverence and respect for the land and oral traditions are emphasised. The words "law" and "lore", the latter ...
. It is home to
western grey kangaroo
The western grey kangaroo (''Macropus fuliginosus''), also referred to as a western grey giant kangaroo, black-faced kangaroo, mallee kangaroo, sooty kangaroo and (when referring to the Kangaroo Island subspecies) Kangaroo Island grey kangaroo, i ...
s,
Bennett's wallabies,
emu
The emu (; ''Dromaius novaehollandiae'') is a species of flightless bird endemism, endemic to Australia, where it is the Tallest extant birds, tallest native bird. It is the only extant taxon, extant member of the genus ''Dromaius'' and the ...
s. People can also look inside birdcages and check out the
laughing kookaburra,
tawny frogmouth, and
sulphur-crested cockatoo
The sulphur-crested cockatoo (''Cacatua galerita'') is a relatively large white cockatoo found in wooded habitats in Australia, New Guinea, and some of the islands of Indonesia. They can be locally very numerous, leading to them sometimes being ...
s.
''Cats of Africa'', which features
African lions and
fennec foxes, is another African themed habitat opened in 2003.
[ Built on a hillside, the area's fennec fox exhibit is at the top of the slope, with the lion exhibit on the slope itself. The lions are visible from a platform near the fennec fox exhibit.
''The Forest's Edge'' houses two male Western lowland gorillas. The exhibit opened in 1996][ and has a glass-walled viewing area as well as an overlook from a replica ranger station. The zoo is the first one that will add gorillas to their exhibit in the present's future.
''California Trails'' exhibits California condors,]bald eagle
The bald eagle (''Haliaeetus leucocephalus'') is a bird of prey found in North America. A sea eagle, it has two known subspecies and forms a species pair with the white-tailed eagle (''Haliaeetus albicilla''), which occupies the same niche ...
s.[ The condor aviary can be viewed from two sides, including on an elevated path lower on the hillside, past the bald eagles, and leading to ''The Forest's Edge''.
''The Crawford Family Penguin House'' opened in June 2006.][ It houses a colony of Humboldt penguins and has above- and underwater viewing. In the rest of the exhibit area are Inca terns and other coastal South American birds.
* Amazon tree boa
* American alligator
* Chinese alligator
* Desert rosy boa
]
Giraffes
Masai giraffe, native to Africa, south of the Sahara, have become pregnant and successfully given birth at the zoo. Considered genetically valuable they are shared with other zoos.
Gemina (July 16, 1986 – January 9, 2008) the "crooked-necked giraffe" was one of the most popular animals at the Santa Barbara Zoo. A Baringo giraffe, she was born with a straight neck at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. At the age of three she developed a bend in her neck. The zoo's veterinarian said that despite her deformity, "Gemina led a very typical existence and was treated as a normal member of the herd. She did not appear to be in discomfort and exhibited normal giraffe behaviors."
Gemina was humanely euthanized at the age of 21 years. "Consistent with the challenges of old age," she had lost her appetite and experienced a decline in quality of life. It is believed that her deformity was not a cause of the condition that led to the decision to euthanize her.
Conservation
Under a 2023 collaboration agreement with California State University Channel Islands, the zoo plans to open a conservation outpost on their campus with classroom and meeting spaces, conservation staff offices and facilities for animal care, containment and breeding. The zoo participates in the protection of western snowy plovers, southern sea otters, western pond turtles, red-legged frogs, and monarch butterflies.
In popular culture
Gemina was featured in an episode of the television program '' Miracle Workers'', in which she was credited with inspiring a child with scoliosis
Scoliosis (: scolioses) is a condition in which a person's Vertebral column, spine has an irregular curve in the coronal plane. The curve is usually S- or C-shaped over three dimensions. In some, the degree of curve is stable, while in others ...
.
The Santa Barbara Zoo was featured in an episode of '' Behind the Bash'' in March 2006, when Giada de Laurentiis visited a catered wedding taking place at the zoo.
References
External links
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Parks in Santa Barbara, California
Buildings and structures in Santa Barbara, California
Zoos in California
Tourist attractions in Santa Barbara, California
Zoos established in 1963