The Santa Barbara Zoo is home to 160 species of mammals, reptiles, birds and insects. More than 500 animals are exhibited in open, naturalistic habitats. Following is a list of major exhibits; there are many more than are listed here. SSP denotes that this species' reproduction is being managed through the AZA's Species Survival Plan.
African Veldt
Covering over an acre, the African Veldt exhibit is visible from the Cabrillo bike path and waterfront. A large barn was especially designed for its tall residents - four Baringo giraffes - and keepers feed the animals in elevated troughs from the second floor of the building. Especially popular is giraffe Gemina, who has become famous for her crooked neck. Her condition has not interfered with her ability to give birth, eat normally or interact with the herd, and she continues to thrive in her Veldt environment. Guests can feed these magnificent creatures from a newly constructed deck on weekends and seasonally during the week. Also on view in this space are East African crowned cranes, ground hornbill, and African spurred tortoises. Slender-tailed meerkats are nearby.
Amur Leopard (Endangered, SSP, Not Breeding)
A father-daughter pair of Amur leopards is on view in this area. It is believed that there are less than 35 left in the wild, as they are being hunted for to extinction for their fur. Efforts are underway to request that the proposed Siberia-Pacific Pipeline be re-routed to avoid the animals' only habitat in the wilderness of the largely undeveloped Russian Far East region of Primorye.
California Nature Walk
A wooden walkway connects the Channel Island fox exhibit to another California species, bald eagles, and to the soon-to-be-opened California condor exhibit (see below). It offers stunning views of the Andree Clark Bird Refuge, Santa Ynez mountains and city of Santa Barbara.
Cats of Africa (SSP, Breeding)
Two African lion cubs have been born in this new exhibit, which opened in March 2003 and was designed to accommodate lions in groupings similar to those in the wild, meaning a male and a few females with their offspring. The exhibit is able to house up to six lions and there are currently five animals rotating on exhibit: breeding pair Gingerbread and Chadwick, their second offspring Docha, and the Zoo's senior citizen lioness Kali. Also on view: a pair of highly endangered Black-footed cats. It is hoped that this pair will also breed.
Channel Island Fox (Threatened, Breeding)
Exotic animals aren't the only ones threatened. The Channel Island foxes make their homes just 18 miles off our coast… and now at the Santa Barbara Zoo, where they have successfully bred in captivity. The Zoo has taken a lead in managing the Channel Island foxes' Species Survival Plan, and their exhibit is slated for renovation in the near future. In the wild, the foxes face unique challenges to their survival, including predation by golden eagles, habitat destruction by feral pigs, and canine distemper. Four of the six island fox subspecies have declined by as much as 95% since 1994 and are considered endangered by the US. Fish and Wildlife Service. . The Zoo's foxes come from San Clemente Island.
Chilean Flamingo (Breeding)
The Santa Barbara Zoo recently had its first successful hatching of Chilean flamingos in ten years. The Zoo's 33 adult flamingos produced 14 eggs in 13 nests (an additional egg was placed in an incubator). From those eggs, five hatched. The flamingos are on exhibit directly across from the lemurs at the Flamingo Pool. At first, the chicks have downy gray plumage but soon grow and obtain their distinctive pinkish coloration.
The Crawford Family Penguin House
Opened in June 2006, the former California sea lion exhibit is now home to 14 Humboldt penguins and five Inca terns. The penguin exhibit offers both above-ground and underwater viewing, as well as nesting boxes built in for future breeding possibilities. The adjacent aviary currently features five Inca terns, and will be home to more birds native to the South American area. Humboldts are found along the Pacific coast of South America from Peru to Chile.
EEEWW! Hair Raising Helpers from Around the World
Eeeww! That is the first reaction many people have to the slithery or creepy crawlies we share our world with. They might call them "gross," "scary" or "yucky." These animals may be hair-raising, but they are also big helpers - as bugs, lizards, spiders, snakes all play a part in making human lives better. This exhibit features creatures from Latin America, the American Southwest, Africa and Southeast Asia such as Madagascar hissing cockroaches (push a button to hear their sound), both red knee and pink toe tarantulas, rosy boa, desert hairy and emperor scorpions, Puerto Rican crested toad, tiger salamanders, giant millipede, African fat-tailed and day geckos, Vietnamese walking stick, and Chief, the exhibit's Burmese rock python (nearly 11 feet long - and getting bigger), among many other species.
Elephant Walk (Endangered, SSP, Not Breeding)
Attractions don't come any bigger than the two female Asian elephants who have resided here since summer 1972. When Sujatha and Little Mac arrived, they stood four feet tall - but as the girls grew, so did their need for space. The height of the barn has been raised twice as the elephants grew to maturity. A renovation completed in 2005 extended the yard, enlarged the pool, brought the surrounding pathways into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and developed a beautiful Asian botanical setting. An "enrichment wall" provides the animals with a variety of stimulating activities; animal care staff can hide food in various cubbyholes. A new dynamic exhibit of Asian pond turtles has been built adjacent to the elephant exhibit; visitors cross a bridge between the two new exhibits.
The Forest's Edge -- Western Lowland Gorilla (Endangered, SSP, Not Breeding)
When The Forest's Edge opened in June 1996, thousands of people lined up to catch a glimpse of its first resident, Max. Shy Max never did venture far outside his indoor space, but none the less captured the hearts of local residents. He passed away in October 2003. His companions, two young siblings Goma and Kivu who joined Max in 1997, have since grown into silver-backed adults and live in an all-male "bachelor troop." The AZA will make recommendations as to whether additional male gorillas will be added to this exhibit.
Giant Anteater (Breeding)
Santa Barbara has had its share of famous animals, but is best known within the Zoo community for its successful breeding program with giant anteaters. These animals have not reproduced successfully in many other zoos, but they seem to like Santa Barbara. When "Grandma," who had produced several offspring, passed away at age 35 in 2001, she had lived longer than any other known anteater. Her passing was eulogized nationally on ESPN during a University of California at Irvine basketball game. (Their University mascot? The anteater.) Today, the breeding program continues with a renovated exhibit and a new pair of giant anteaters. In September 2004 a young male, name Mochila ("backpack" in Spanish), was born and though he eventually got too big for it, he liked to ride on his mom's back.
Gibbon Island (Endangered, SSP, Not Breeding)
Santa Barbara Zoo's white-handed gibbons welcomed the newest member with the birth of a baby in October 2002, and a newly renovated exhibit now houses the family of four. They are particularly active on their island home and their distinctive "whooping" call can often be heard throughout the Zoo.
Lemurs (Endangered, SSP, Breeding)
The Santa Barbara Zoo's symbol for the past 20 years was the black and white ruffed lemur, one of 22 species of lemurs which are all endangered due to habitat destruction in their native island of Madagascar. This species was the first AZA Species Survival Plan species to breed at the Zoo, and there are now 16 SSP species here. This pair recently had twin male offspring, who have grown quickly. Also on view, several active ring-tailed lemurs, also endangered and also part of the SSP breeding program.
Snow Leopard (Endangered, SSP, Breeding)
Zoo guests see spots at this exhibit - two highly endangered, strikingly beautiful snow leopards arrived in early 2005. The 13-year old female, Nepamar, came from the Louisville Zoo in Kentucky and the six-year old male, named Beauregard, from Lake Superior Zoo in Duluth, Minnesota. There may be little spots in the future as they are a Species Survival Plan breeding pair. Found above the tree line in central Asia's dry mountainous country, snow leopards are prized as hunter's trophies and destroyed as predators of domestic flocks. There are estimated to be only 3,500 to 7,000 of these elusive creatures in the wild and 281 are currently in captivity distributed among 75 accredited zoos.
Aviaries
Lorikeet Landing offers a close up encounter with some of the world's most brightly-colored and "talkative" birds. Lories and lorikeets dine primarily on pollen, nectar, and fruit, and have specially adapted tongues and digestive systems in order to process this sweet diet. Zoo guests often have a unique opportunity to view the birds up close -- nectar is often available for sale at the exhibit so visitors can have a "close encounter" with these very sociable birds.
The Tropical Aviary features tropical birds from Africa and South America. There are wading birds such as scarlet ibis and white faced whistling ducks, and perching birds including glossy starlings, and gray tanager. There is also a green-cheeked Amazon parrot, free flying macaws and alligator snapping turtles.
Wings of Asia boasts two waterfalls, a pond and wooden guest walkways offering viewing of ten varieties of colorful and rare Asiatic birds. The exhibit's enhanced slope now allows visitors to view the birds from various perspectives - in tree tops, perching on bushes, swimming in the pond, preening alongside waterfalls, and feeding on the ground.
Coming Soon: California Condors (Endangered, SSP, Not Breeding)
As early as 1986, the Zoo's staff veterinarian was involved with the California condor recovery effort led by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and in 1987 Zoo staff was part of the team that rescued the last bird in the wild. Years of research, care and breeding have now made it possible for these birds to again soar in their native habitats - including the Santa Ynez Mountains, which can be seen in a spectacular panorama from the site of a new Condor exhibit at the Santa Barbara Zoo. The Zoo will become one of only two facilities where the public can view these spectacular birds when this exhibit is opened in the future.
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