Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo

06/21/2026

Happy Father's Day to all the incredible dads, both human and animal.

White-handed gibbon siblings Onyx and Cusa may be spending time together here, but their bond was shaped by years of growing up alongside their father, Eddie. In the wild, white-handed gibbon fathers play an important role in family life, helping protect their territory and raising their young as part of a close family group.

Today, we're celebrating Eddie and all the fathers who help their families thrive. ❤️

06/20/2026

☀️ Happy First Day of Summer! ☀️

With today marking the summer solstice, the longest day of the year, Garrett the sandhill crane is doing his best to stay awake for every extra minute of sunshine.

As you enjoy the season, don't forget the summer essentials:
💧 Stay hydrated
🧴 Wear sunscreen
🍊 Enjoy your fruits and veggies
😴 Get plenty of rest, even if you're trying to fight sleep like Garrett!

How are you spending the first day of summer?

06/19/2026

Today we honor Juneteenth and reflect on the importance of access, opportunity, and belonging.

Nature has the power to inspire curiosity, connection, and discovery, and those experiences should be accessible to everyone.

We are grateful for the diverse communities that visit, support, and learn alongside us as we work to inspire the next generation of conservationists.

Happy Juneteenth.

06/18/2026

Support rhino conservation while having a great time!

Our local AAZK chapter's annual Bowling for Rhinos fundraiser is coming up on July 24 at Splitz of Gainesville. Every game helps support conservation efforts protecting rhinos and other wildlife around the world.

Enjoy bowling, laser tag, a silent auction, and the chance to win donations from organizations including Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, the Rattlesnake Conservancy, the St. Augustine Alligator Farm, and more.

We hope to see you there for a fun evening supporting a great cause!

⚠️ !!ALERT ALERT!! ⚠️

Our annual Bowling for Rhinos event is headed your way FAST!

We will be holding our annual event at Splitz of Gainesville, July 24th from 5:30 - 7:30 pm.

- The Bowling package will be $12 per person
- The Bowling and Laser Tag package will be $18 per person

We will have a silent auction, so if you would like to donate a little extra to a wonderful cause that helps rhino conservation and get a little something out of it, consider participating!
Look out for donations from Jacksonville Zoo, the Rattle Snake Conservancy, The St. Augustine Alligator Farm, as well as various other donations!

*this is a non-alcoholic event

06/16/2026

We are devastated to share that Rainbow, the American alligator, passed away on June 5.

Rainbow had a known reproductive condition that had been carefully monitored by her animal care and veterinary teams for many years. Recently, her keepers observed changes in her behavior and promptly alerted our partners at the University of Florida Zoological Medicine Service. Rainbow was transported to the UF Small Animal Hospital for further diagnostics, including an ultrasound examination. Unfortunately, her condition had progressed to a point where humane euthanasia was determined to be the most compassionate option for her welfare.

Rainbow was born in the wild and arrived at the SF Teaching Zoo as an adult in 1988. For the past 38 years, she was a great ambassador for her counterparts in the wild, inspiring countless guests and students alike. She was a star of educational programs, including Eat Prey Grub, and provided generations of Zoo Animal Technology students with the opportunity to learn from and care for one of North America's most iconic reptiles. Her legacy will live on through the students she helped inspire and the countless visitors whose perceptions of reptiles were changed through meeting her.

Currently, our team is closely monitoring her longtime companion, Brutus, and evaluating the best path forward while continuing to assess his behavior and well-being.

Rainbow will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing and caring for her.

06/15/2026

School's out, the animals are in, and the zoo is open!

If you're looking for a family-friendly way to spend Juneteenth, join us on Friday, June 19. The zoo will be open during regular hours from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (last entry at 2:30 p.m.).

06/14/2026

🚶 You just walked through the zoo gates.

Which animal are you visiting first?

👍 Matschie's tree kangaroos
❤️ American bald eagle
😆 Galapagos tortoises
🥰 White-handed gibbons
😲 Florida walk-through aviary

Tell us your first stop in the comments!

06/13/2026

🧊☀️ Florida summers call for creative ways to stay cool.

Cleo and Zaba spent some time enjoying a frozen evaporated milk enrichment treat created by Keeper Isabella. Enrichment helps provide animals with opportunities to explore, investigate, and engage with their environment in new ways, all while offering a refreshing way to beat the heat.

If you had a giant frozen treat on a hot day, what flavor would you choose?

06/13/2026

As zookeepers, it's important to establish routines and monitor the habits of the animals in our care, including the humans on our team.

Over the years, Assistant Curator and Zoo Animal Technology graduate Jason developed a very noticeable routine: a daily banana break to keep his energy up throughout the day.

On his final day at the zoo, the entire team paused for one last official "Banana Time" together.

While humans may not be primates gathering around a fruiting tree, many social animals strengthen bonds through shared meals and group activities. In a small way, this final banana break gave us the chance to celebrate a colleague, reflect on years of memories, and send Jason off with one last zoo tradition.

We'll miss you, Jason. 🍌

06/10/2026

A box full of sunshine. ☀️💛

Golden conures are found only in a small region of Brazil, where habitat loss continues to threaten wild populations. Here at the zoo, our flock helps inspire guests to care about the future of these brilliant parrots, even when they're busy turning a cardboard box into premium housing. 📦