Central Coast Zoo

11/08/2026

One of our new zookeepers takes great pictures! Isn't this a good one of our beautiful Bolivian Gray T**i monkey, "Chiquita"?

11/07/2026

🎶🐾A WILD THANK YOU TO THE ATASCADERO COMMUNITY BAND! 🐾🎶

The Central Coast Zoo Foundation was thankful to receive a special donation yesterday from the Atascadero Community Band!

Through their recent Critter Pitter Patter event held in October, the Band brought music and community together for a wonderful cause, raising funds to benefit the Central Coast Zoo Foundation! and support our beloved Zoo!

On behalf of the Central Coast Zoo Foundation Board, the entire Zoo team and of course the Zoo animals, THANK YOU to the Atascadero Community Band for your generosity and support!

🎵Your music makes a difference, and that's something worth celebrating! 🐾🧡



Photo L-R: Band Member Suzanne Mostafa and Kathy Jorgens, Zoo Director Dr. Cynthia Stringfield, Band Member Tate Pflum, Band President Joyce Rabellino, Foundation President Angela Cisneros, Foundation Member Alison DePaolis and Brook Hatcher.

11/04/2026

DOUBLE YOUR IMPACT by Joining the Barbie Butz Wildlife Circle! 🐾

We are so proud to honor a true local champion! 🌟Barbie Butz, a dedicated community leader and fierce zoo advocate, has been a cornerstone of our community for decades, from founding the Atascadero Lakeside W**e Festival to her years of dedicated service with our Parks and Recreation Commission.

To celebrate her incredible legacy, the Central Coast Zoo Foundation has launched the Barbie Butz Wildlife Circle. This new annual giving program is dedicated to advancing our mission of conservation, education, and community enrichment—values Barbie has championed throughout her life of service.

We invite you to join this legacy and become a founding member. You’ll be investing directly in the future of the Central Coast Zoo and helping us provide world-class care for our animals. ✨

BENEFITS OF JOINING:
🧡Sneak-peeks of new exhibits
🧡Exclusive group tours with zoo staff
🧡Invitations to donor appreciation events
🧡Special recognition in our annual report

🎁Double your impact: All gifts to the Barbie Butz Wildlife Circle made through December 1, 2026, will be matched dollar-for-dollar!

Ready to join? Go to CentralCoastZoo.org/Donate or click the link in our bio to become a founding member of the Barbie Butz Wildlife Circle today.

10/31/2026

Happy Halloween and Congratulations to our Zoo Boo Costume Contest Winners! Thank you to all who entered and to Pure Pediatric Dentistry, MGP Coatings and 5 Star Rain Gutters for sponsoring Zoo Boo. Come on over to the zoo today to continue the Halloween fun - kids in costumes will get a candy treat in the Gift Shop!

10/30/2026

We had a blast at Pumpkin Smash! Animals enjoyed pumpkins of all shapes and sizes. Young meerkat Bowie spent time inside their pumpkin, fosa Shelby demonstrated how sharp her claws are, and the mongoose lemurs tasted theirs.

We had amazing donors for pumpkins! Thank you to San Luis Obispo Botanical Gardens and Nicole at The Pumpkin Patch for beautiful decorative pumpkins and to Avila Valley Barn for some amazing jack-o-lantern pumpkins.

Come on by the zoo to continue celebrating Halloween through the weekend - kids in costumes will get a candy treat in the gift shop!

10/25/2026

Come join us Sunday 10/25 from 10-1 to see what the animals do with their pumpkins!

10/24/2026

It's ZOO BOO PART TWO! The zoo will be closing early today at 3p.m. to prepare for ZOO BOO from 4-7. We had SO much fun last night, don't miss it!
There is still time to buy tickets for tonight! Tickets can be purchased in person at the Zoo Gift Shop and will be available at the door.
Don't have dinner plans yet? Quesadilla Gorilla will be here with something warm and cheesy for the whole family.

10/24/2026

It's National Veterinary Technician Week! Our Registered Veterinary Technician Diana takes care of all our animals here at the zoo, here she is doing a dental cleaning on Shelby the fossa. Diana also works at Cerro Alto Specialty and Emergency Hospital. Thank you Diana for all you do for all the animals!

10/23/2026

It's ZOO BOO DAY! The zoo will be closing early today and tomorrow at 3p.m. to prepare for ZOO BOO.

There is still time to buy tickets for both nights of fun. Tickets can be purchased online or in person at the Zoo Gift Shop. Tickets will also be available at the door.

Don't have dinner plans yet? Quesadilla Gorilla will be here with something warm and cheesy for the whole family.

10/19/2026

We are so proud to honor a true local champion! Barbie Butz, a dedicated community leader and fierce zoo advocate, has been a cornerstone of our community for decades, from founding the Atascadero Lakeside W**eFest to her years of dedicated service with our Parks and Recreation Commission.

To celebrate her incredible legacy, the Central Coast Zoo Foundation has launched the Barbie Butz Wildlife Circle. This new annual giving program is dedicated to advancing our mission of conservation, education, and community enrichment—values Barbie has championed throughout her life of service.

We invite you to join this legacy and become a founding member. You’ll be investing directly in the future of the Central Coast Zoo and helping us provide world-class care for our animals.

Benefits of Joining:
Sneak-peeks of new exhibits
Exclusive group tours with zoo staff
Invitations to donor appreciation events
Special recognition in our annual report
Double your impact: All gifts to the Barbie Butz Wildlife Circle made through December 1, 2026, will be matched dollar-for-dollar!

Ready to join? Go to CentralCoastZoo.org/Donate or click the link in our bio to become a founding member of the Barbie Butz Wildlife Circle today.

The Central Coast Zoo (formerly Charles Paddock Zoo) is home to hundreds of animal species from around the world.