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Santa Barbara Zoo
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Come see the amazing animals and learn about conservation at the Santa Barbara Zoo!
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We hope you have a 𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 great Thanksgiving! 🦎🫛

The Zoo is open today for Thanksgiving, but closes early at 3:30 PM. The last entry time is at 2:00 PM, so please consider visiting early to make the most of your day. Zoo Members are admitted until 2:30 PM.

📸: Keeper Addy
Dapple the prehensile-tailed skink happily chows down on a green bean in the first picture. In the second, Dapple’s jaw snaps shut on the green bean and shows us a toothy grin.
November 27, 2025 at 9:00 AM
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Say hello to Mel the white-handed gibbon! 👋🐵
A photo of Mel (right) and Chanee (left) the white-handed gibbons sitting together on a log bridge on Gibbon Island at the Zoo.
November 20, 2025 at 12:13 AM
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Ask us why they’re called “blue-tongued skinks.” 😜💙

#TongueOutTuesday

📸: Keeper Addy
Melbourne the blue-tongued skink crawls through the grass and pokes out his bright blue tongue at Keeper Addy in these pictures. Melbourne the blue-tongued skink crawls through the grass and pokes out his bright blue tongue at Keeper Addy in these pictures.
November 4, 2025 at 9:51 PM
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We can hardly think of a more appropriate photo to post on Bluesky… 😏

📸: Animal Care Supervisor Ariel
A dark silhouette of a tall, ossicone-bearing animal taken from a low angle. A bright blue and cloudy sky fills the background and beautifully frames the not-so-mysterious mammal.
October 27, 2025 at 8:35 PM
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The Zoo is ecstatic to announce that we’ve won FOUR awards in this year’s Santa Barbara Independent Best of Santa Barbara® Readers’ Poll! 🎉🎉🎉🎉
Educator Whitney smiles as she shows off Mottle the prehensile-tailed skink to a pair of Zoo Campers. Above them hover four badges signifying the Zoo’s honors in this year’s Santa Barbara Independent Best of Santa Barbara® Readers’ Poll.
October 21, 2025 at 7:46 PM
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Things we love to see at the Zoo #9987: Birds seeing us! 👁️👄👁️

First picture 📸: Keeper Addy
Gumdrop the white-cheeked turaco stares at Keeper Addy’s camera while leaning forward with their paintbrush-like crest in the first picture. In the next, Fig the toco toucan matches Gumdrop’s pose, albeit with a much bigger beak. Finally, we see Amelia the bald eagle look our way through the leaves of her habitat’s trees in the last photo.
October 7, 2025 at 12:24 AM
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Today, the Zoo mourns the passing of Dr. Jane Goodall, Dame of the British Empire, UN Messenger of Peace, and founder of the Jane Goodall Institute. A trailblazing primatologist and legendary wildlife advocate, Jane Goodall’s impact on worldwide conservation efforts cannot be understated.
Dr. Jane Goodall (right) answers questions from local news reporters near the Zoo’s giraffe yard as Baringo giraffe saunter in the background.
October 2, 2025 at 1:59 AM
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🖖👅

#TongueOutTuesday
Poppy the California mountain kingsnake explores with her forked tongue as her guide in these pictures. In the first, the black, orange, and white snake makes a lasso of herself as she slides along a branch. In the second, we take a close-up look at her tiny black head, adorable big eyes, and pointy forked tongue.
September 23, 2025 at 11:53 PM
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Paws appreciation post! 🐾🦁 #Caturday

African lions' paws house sharp claws they use to hunt and grip prey. These claws are retractable, a handy adaptation that enables them to walk on their toes as they stealthily stalk their would-be meals.
Ralph the African lion lets his forepaws droop over the edge of a rock face while lowering his maned head in preparation for a catnap in the first picture. 📸: Keeper Ariel Felicia the African lioness rests near her habitat’s observation window and extends her front right forepaw as if to show off a fresh pedicure in the second picture. 📸: Keeper Ariel
September 13, 2025 at 3:43 PM
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September 8 is Iguana Awareness Day! 🦎👀

Iguanas are magnificent reptiles that come in many shapes, sizes, and colors! There are currently 35 different recognized species of iguanas that exhibit different behaviors and adaptations depending on the habitat in which they reside.
A Fiji banded iguana smirks at our camera as it discovers a bright yellow flower in its Tropical Wonders home.
September 9, 2025 at 12:38 AM
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Sharing silly salamander smiles to brighten your day! 🤗
Pictures of California tiger salamanders in their Rattlesnake Canyon habitat at the Zoo. In the first, a salamander stares at our camera with its big, glassy eyes and dirt covering its head. Next, another tiger salamander peeks out of its pool and shoots a smile our way. Finally, we see yet another salamander crawl through the debris of its habitat to curiously get a closer look at us in the last photo.
August 28, 2025 at 10:34 PM
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Giraffe or tree trunk? 🌴🦒🤔

Giraffe are covered in dark, multipurpose spots. These spots act as a form of camouflage, obscuring the giraffe’s outline and helping to conceal the gentle giants from savannah predators.
Theo the Masai giraffe reaches straight up for leaves in a tree, his head and neck perfectly aligning and concealing the tree’s bole behind him.
August 22, 2025 at 11:46 PM
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We’re seeing red… Red pandas that is! 😍🐾🌿

Check out our new video featuring Raj and Ruby, the red pandas of Santa Barbara, and learn all about these unique arboreal mammals from Keeper Joe.

Watch the latest YouTube video here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHqP...
August 13, 2025 at 6:37 PM
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The Henkel’s leaf-tailed gecko has mastered the art of hangin’ out! 🤙🦎😎

These Madagascan lizards live their lives in the trees, using their namesake camouflage to avoid predation and pounce on the insects and invertebrates that make up their diet.
Pictures of a Henkel’s leaf-tailed gecko in its Tropical Wonders habitat. We see a wide shot of it clinging to the observation window glass with its head pointed towards the floor in the first picture. Next, we get closer with a head-on view of the gecko flattening itself against the glass as it holds its inverted pose. Finally, an extreme close-up reveals the folds of the gecko’s front left foot pad.
July 31, 2025 at 7:48 PM
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It’s the last day of National Zookeeper Week, and we’d like to invite you to join us in expressing our sincerest gratitude to our keepers!

📸: Director of Animal Care Kristen Wieners
A group photo of the Santa Barbara Zoo animal care team sharing a meal together on the Veranda deck outside of the Australian Walkabout.
July 27, 2025 at 1:11 AM
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Tropical Wonders is officially OPEN! 🦎🌺🗺️

We anticipate a day full of oohs and aahs as you explore the Zoo’s newest space featuring tropical animals from around the world!
Photos of Tropical Wonders! In the first, Zoo staff stand proudly outside the Tropical Wonders and Field Outpost 2 facade. Next, we see a wide shot inside Tropical Wonders as guests explore the bright and colorful space. In the third picture, Tropical Wonders explorers gaze into an animal habitat while ducking under a crawl-through tunnel. Finally, we see delighted guests enjoying their walkthrough of the beautiful Thomas & Nancy Crawford Tropical Aviary in the last picture.
July 25, 2025 at 5:47 PM
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Our zookeepers wear their love for wildlife on their sleeves …literally! 🐒🎨🖋️ #NationalZookeeperWeek

Tattooing has been practiced for thousands of years, and this powerful, artistic form of self-expression and celebration is alive and well today. In order of appearance, we’d like to spotlight:
July 24, 2025 at 1:14 AM
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It’s National Zookeeper Week! 🤠🙌🐒
Photos of our animal care pros leading keeper talks all about the Zoo. In the first, Keeper Ellie shows off a tawny frogmouth stumping on her arm to a crowd of Zoo guests. Next, Keeper Ryan stands tall while giving a talk at the Amur leopard habitat. Finally, Keeper Addy leans on a handrail and admires a Malagasy sacred ibis during an aviary keeper talk.
July 21, 2025 at 6:14 PM
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A wonderful addition to the Zoo is coming soon! 🌴👀

Save the date! Tropical Wonders is nearing completion and will open to the public on Friday, July 25!
Sneak peek photos of Tropical Wonders at the Zoo! In the first, we see the Tropical Wonders sign outside of the Thomas & Nancy Crawford Aviary. Next, we peer into the space a see keepers evaluating habitat foliage. Next, we spy a bright pink bench with punch out text that reads “Save wildlife and wild places.” Finally, Keeper Addy waves at us from within one of the Tropical Wonders habitats.
July 18, 2025 at 9:52 PM
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Meet Nugget the Chilean flamingo! 👋🦩

Nugget was born with an impaired foot that required amputation. After a successful procedure, our Animal Care & Health team designed and hand-sewed a custom “shoe” for Nugget to maintain her quality of life.
Nugget the Chilean flamingo looks back at our camera as she flamingles with the rest of the Chilean flamingo flock while sporting her signature grey bootie on her right leg.
July 15, 2025 at 5:54 PM
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Happy birthday to you, Raj! 🥳🎂3️⃣

Raj the red panda celebrated his 3rd birthday today at the Zoo! He and Ruby the red panda had a blast opening presents full of tasty omnivore biscuits scattered around their habitat by Keepers Meghan and Nakita.
Pictures from Raj the red panda’s 3rd birthday party. In the first, Raj tears through some red tissue paper in a gift bag. In the second, we see a birthday banner that reads, “Happy 3rd birthday Raj!” as Ruby marches along a wooden beam in the background. Next, Raj charges headfirst (literally) into another gift bag. Finally, we get a close-up of Ruby sniffing more red tissue paper in the last photo.
July 8, 2025 at 12:25 AM
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Happy 4th of July from American bald eagles Avalon and Amelia! 🇺🇸🌭🦅
Photos of American bald eagles at the Zoo. In the first, Avalon leaps from one branch to another with her wings outstretched. In the second, Amelia calmly perches on a lower branch and lifts her head proudly on the 4th of July.
July 4, 2025 at 7:44 PM
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The water’s fine! 🏖️🐊
Xiao the Chinese alligator floats through the waters of her crystal clear pool. We get a look at her whole body resting in the shallow end of the pool in the first picture. In the second, we zoom in to focus on just the top part of her head above the surface of the water.
June 30, 2025 at 7:47 PM
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Blue lizards ...coming soon to the Zoo with ocean views! 💙🦎

Tropical Wonders, formerly known as Eeeww!, is nearing completion and will open to the public in mid to late July.
A studio photo of a Grand Cayman blue iguana climbing a vertical tree branch. It pauses to tilt its head towards the camera. The Tropical Wonders logo appears in the bottom left corner of the frame.
June 26, 2025 at 9:40 PM
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Little critter, little blep! #TongueOutTuesday 👅

Slender-tailed meerkats average about 20 inches in length from head to tail. Their tails make up just under half of their total length, measuring approximately 7 to 10 inches in length.

📸: Keeper Ariel
Katili the slender-tailed meerkat sits upright on her hindlimbs and pokes out her little pink tongue while making eye contact with Keeper Ariel’s camera.
June 24, 2025 at 5:39 PM