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Lewis the island fox bets you can’t touch your nose with your tongue! 😜🦊Like feline species, canids use their tongues to...
12/18/2024

Lewis the island fox bets you can’t touch your nose with your tongue! 😜🦊

Like feline species, canids use their tongues to groom themselves. Island foxes have long tongues that let them lick dirt and food debris off their pointy snouts.

📸: Keeper Brooke

Alt-text: Lewis the island fox licks his chops. His long, pink tongue touches his nose at the end of his snout as he shoots a cheeky wink at the camera.

Skinks rule. That’s it. That’s the post. 📸: Keeper AddyAlt-text: Close-ups of our prehensile-tailed skinks. In the first...
12/17/2024

Skinks rule.

That’s it. That’s the post.

📸: Keeper Addy

Alt-text: Close-ups of our prehensile-tailed skinks. In the first, a skink hangs onto a branch upside down and looks wide-eyed at keeper Addy’s camera. In the second, another skink happily munches away on green peas in a pod. In the last shot, another green skink looks up as it chews to seemingly shoot us a big lizard smile.

12/17/2024

Being a meerkat can be a dirty job, but our mob doesn’t mind it! 🪱⛏️💪



Alt-text: Our three slender-tailed meerkats dig furiously through a mound of mud as they work to uncover their wormy lunch in this video.

Big bird, tiny wings! 👋🪽The emu is a large, flightless bird with vestigial wings. Their little wings (hidden at the side...
12/15/2024

Big bird, tiny wings! 👋🪽

The emu is a large, flightless bird with vestigial wings. Their little wings (hidden at the sides of their feathered body) grow to be less than 8 inches long, or about the size of the average human hand.

Alt-text: Banjo the emu stands tall on his long legs. His big body is covered in long, brown feathers that conceal his small wings.

Happy ! 🐒🎉December 14 is Monkey Day! We have two different species of monkeys here at the Zoo: the cotton-top tamarin a...
12/15/2024

Happy ! 🐒🎉

December 14 is Monkey Day! We have two different species of monkeys here at the Zoo: the cotton-top tamarin and the white-faced saki!

Alt-text: Pictures of our different monkeys. In the first, Stella the cotton-top tamarin looks at our camera while holding on to a tree branch. In the second, Calabaza the white-faced saki finds a comfy crook in a tree branch to take a pause from climbing.

12/14/2024

Christmas came early for Marta the Amur leopard! 🎄🐆

Marta received an enrichment fir tree with some meat treats to find within its branches to stimulate her problem-solving skills!

📸: Director of Advancement Liz

Alt-text: Marta the Amur leopard climbs about her enrichment fir tree in this video. She bobs and weaves around the tree until she finds her meaty mark and pulls it out of the tree’s clutches.

Why do they call this bird the “tawny frogmouth?” 🪶🤔 These big-headed birds get their “frogmouth” moniker from their par...
12/14/2024

Why do they call this bird the “tawny frogmouth?” 🪶🤔

These big-headed birds get their “frogmouth” moniker from their particularly wide, frog-like beak and mouth! “Tawny” is referential to their woodsy-colored plumage.

Alt-text: A tawny frogmouth sits calmly in its Bird Up! habitat at the Zoo. We see its wide beak closed, big eyes lowered, and ashy brown feathers neatly in order in this close-up.

During the most wonderful time of year, go to holiday lights heaven! 🎄😇⚡ ZooLights is back and in full swing with all-ne...
12/13/2024

During the most wonderful time of year, go to holiday lights heaven! 🎄😇⚡

ZooLights is back and in full swing with all-new light displays! Enjoy this immersive holiday experience featuring thousands of handcrafted silk-covered lanterns showcasing animal and nature scenes that represent wild places from around the world!

Tickets and more information available at: https://www.sbzoo.org/zoolights

Alt-text: ZooLights guests stop for a photo op under a colorful angel wings display with a sign that reads, “Santa Barbara Zoo 2024.”

‘Tis the season for a holiday-themed ! 🦦💙🎄 Alt-text: Pictures of our Asian small-clawed otter waking up to a surprise C...
12/13/2024

‘Tis the season for a holiday-themed ! 🦦💙🎄

Alt-text: Pictures of our Asian small-clawed otter waking up to a surprise Christmas tree enrichment moment in their habitat! We see the otters excitedly approach the spiny bright green and then frolic through its branches as they explore the novel object.

If you’ve never seen a toucan yawn before, now you have! 🥱💤With colorful bills that are 4 times as large as their heads,...
12/12/2024

If you’ve never seen a toucan yawn before, now you have! 🥱💤

With colorful bills that are 4 times as large as their heads, toco toucans let out exceptionally contagious yawns!

📸: Keeper Alina

Alt-text: Our female toco toucan stretches her big, orange bill open wide as she lets out a yawn while the sun sets behind her.

What is this Chilean flamingo chick whispering to its parent? !Alt-text: A throwback image from September of our newest...
12/11/2024

What is this Chilean flamingo chick whispering to its parent? !

Alt-text: A throwback image from September of our newest member of the Chilean flamingo flock. The cotton ball-looking baby bird sits in its mud nest and squawks as its parent standing over it cranes its head down as if to listen in closely on its chirping.

Gifting a new phone or tablet this holiday season? Don't forget to recycle the old one at the Zoo and help save gorillas...
12/11/2024

Gifting a new phone or tablet this holiday season? Don't forget to recycle the old one at the Zoo and help save gorillas!

Recycling electronics reduces the demand for Coltan, an ore used to extend battery life in cell phones and other handheld devices. Coltan is mined in habitats crucial to gorillas and other endangered species.

Join the Santa Barbara Zoo and 30+ zoos in the Gorillas on the Line program with ECO-CELL to recycle phones, protect the environment, and support gorilla conservation! Simply bring your electronic recyclable with you on your next trip to the Zoo and drop it in the Eco-Cell collection box outside the Discovery Pavilion.

Alt-text: Nzinga the Western lowland gorilla in a close-up photo. The great ape looks out of frame left with a playful expression on his face and what looks like a smirk across his lips.

Blep. 👅 Alt-text: Kisa the snow leopard looks over her right shoulder. She pokes her bright pink tongue out as she does ...
12/10/2024

Blep. 👅



Alt-text: Kisa the snow leopard looks over her right shoulder. She pokes her bright pink tongue out as she does to share a sly Tongue Out Tuesday moment with us.

What’s a capybara’s favorite drink?A CAPY-ccino! ☕(PS: Capybaras have four toes on each of their front feet and only thr...
12/10/2024

What’s a capybara’s favorite drink?

A CAPY-ccino! ☕

(PS: Capybaras have four toes on each of their front feet and only three toes on each of their hind feet! Isn’t that neat?)

Alt-text: Antonio the capybara stands tall for a portrait-oriented photo. He looks at the camera while we look at the number of toes he has on his semi-webbed feet.

He’s a 10, but you may actually die if you touch his skin…Alt-text: Daniel the poison dart pauses between hops. The tiny...
12/09/2024

He’s a 10, but you may actually die if you touch his skin…

Alt-text: Daniel the poison dart pauses between hops. The tiny blue frog contemplates leaping over a branch directly in front of him while a couple of green poison dart frogs ribbit in the background.

: Humboldt penguins have built-in goggles! 🥽🏊🐧Humboldt penguins have a “nictitating membrane,” an extra, clear eyelid t...
12/08/2024

: Humboldt penguins have built-in goggles! 🥽🏊🐧

Humboldt penguins have a “nictitating membrane,” an extra, clear eyelid that protects their eyes when underwater and allows them to see while swimming.

Alt-text: A Humboldt penguin goes for a swim in its pool at the Zoo. In the first picture, it glances in our direction as it swims by. In the second, it points its beak in our direction and makes eye contact with us while underwater!

We wish our bedhead looked like Ralph’s after waking up from a 20th hour of daily sleep… 😪 Alt-text: A portrait of Ralph...
12/07/2024

We wish our bedhead looked like Ralph’s after waking up from a 20th hour of daily sleep… 😪



Alt-text: A portrait of Ralph the African lion looking right at us. Sunlight beams down and highlights the glorious mane that frames his face.

Goat tidings Sven brings to you and your kin! 👁️👄👁️📸: Keeper BrookeAlt-text: Sven the dwarf Nigerian goat disregards per...
12/07/2024

Goat tidings Sven brings to you and your kin! 👁️👄👁️

📸: Keeper Brooke

Alt-text: Sven the dwarf Nigerian goat disregards personal space in these pictures. We see close-ups of Sven’s nose and big eyes as he sticks his face in keeper Brooke’s camera.

Address

500 Ninos Drive
Santa Barbara, CA
93103

Opening Hours

Monday 9:30am - 5pm
Tuesday 9:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 9:30am - 5pm
Thursday 9:30am - 5pm
Friday 9:30am - 5pm
Saturday 9:30am - 5pm
Sunday 9:30am - 5pm

Telephone

+18059625339

Website

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Videos

Being a meerkat can be a dirty job, but our mob doesn’t mind it! 🪱⛏️💪 #MeerkatMonday Alt-text: Our three slender-tailed meerkats dig furiously through a mound of mud as they work to uncover their wormy lunch in this video.

Christmas came early for Marta the Amur leopard! 🎄🐆 Marta received an enrichment fir tree with some meat treats to find within its branches to stimulate her problem-solving skills! #Caturday 📸: Director of Advancement Liz Alt-text: Marta the Amur leopard climbs about her enrichment fir tree in this video. She bobs and weaves around the tree until she finds her meaty mark and pulls it out of the tree’s clutches.

What’s your favorite interactive light fixture at ZooLights this year? The glowing seesaws? The spectacular swings? Haven’t seen for yourself yet? Check the link for tickets and more information: https://www.sbzoo.org/zoolights Alt-text: A video showcasing the all-new ZooLights! We see amazing animal lanterns lighting up the Santa Barbara night and families enjoying interactive light displays!

All-New! ZooLights 2024
All-New! ZooLights 2024

Have you seen the all-new ZooLights yet?! ⚡🦖🦒🦩 Feast your eyes on thousands of new handcrafted silk-covered lanterns and have a blast playing with the interactive displays at Santa Barbara’s favorite holiday tradition: ZooLights! Tickets are available for dates throughout December. For more information and to get your tickets today: https://www.sbzoo.org/zoolights Alt-text: A video showcasing the all-new ZooLights! We see amazing animal lanterns lighting up the Santa Barbara night and families enjoying interactive light displays!

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us here at the Santa Barbara Zoo! 🦃🍾🍁 Our slender-tailed meerkats are feasting on worms and crickets today! What’s your favorite Turkey Day dish? Alt-text: Our slender-tailed meerkat mob munches on crickets and worms in this reel. They climb over a pumpkin and each other as they feast together happily.

Theo's 5th Birthday
Theo's 5th Birthday

Happy birthday Theo! 🎉🎂🦒 Theo the Masai giraffe is celebrating his 5th birthday today with a delicious salad cake courtesy of his keepers! 📸: Keeper Katie Alt-text: A short video from keeper Katie’s perspective. Katie holds a lettuce leaf “birthday cake” with an herbivore biscuit in the shape of a “5” up for Theo the Masai giraffe to reach down to eat.

ZooLights 2024
ZooLights 2024

Don’t forget! We’re in the thick of Toyota Week at ZooLights! ⚡🐍🦍🦒 As if you needed another reason to check out our best and brightest ZooLights displays yet, it’s also Toyota Week! Now through November 24, drive a Toyota to ZooLights and everyone in your car will get a coupon for a free hot chocolate, courtesy of Gold Coast Toyota Dealers. For tickets and more information: https://www.sbzoo.org/zoolights Alt-text: A video showcasing ZooLights! We see amazing animal lanterns lighting up the Santa Barbara night and families enjoying interactive light displays!

Spend a mellow moment with our matamata friend! 👋🐢 The matamata is a species of freshwater turtle native to the Amazon of northern South America. They take shelter in the leafy mud of slow-moving bodies of water. Alt-text: A matamata turtle slowly moves through the waters of its habitat. It looks at our camera and shares its signature wide matamata smile.

The seasons have changed in Santa Barbara: It’s officially Fennec Fox Fall! 🦊🍂 Alt-text: A reel featuring our fennec fox brothers Phineas and Flynn. The foxes parade around their pumpkin enrichment and poke their heads inside to munch on the crickets within.

ZooLights 2024
ZooLights 2024

Something to ✨𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘯✨ your day: ZooLights 2024 tickets are on sale now! 💡🦜🦍🦒 See the Zoo in a whole new light this holiday season with all-new ZooLights lanterns! Marvel at handcrafted silk-covered lanterns showcasing animal and nature scenes that represent wild places from around the world. For tickets and more information: https://www.sbzoo.org/zoolights Alt-text: A jolly video showcasing ZooLights! We see amazing animal lanterns lighting up the Santa Barbara night and families enjoying interactive light displays!

Fear not! Boo at the Zoo is finally here starting tomorrow, October 18! 👻🎃🦇 Join us at the Zoo for safe trick-­or-treating and “monster-ous” fun across two weekends on October 18 – 20 and 25 – 27 from 5 to 8 PM! Tickets are still available! To purchase and find more information: https://www.sbzoo.org/boo-at-the-zoo Alt-text: A short video showcasing the frightfully fun times at Boo at the Zoo! We see costumed kids and parents enjoying trick-or-treating, mazes, games, and dancing!

It’s an otterly spooooky time of year! ☠️👀🦦 Alt-text: Our Asian small-clawed otters play in their pool in this reel. While they swim, they curiously glance at the skull Halloween decoration that lies on the other side of their observation window’s glass.

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