Santa Barbara Zoo

Santa Barbara Zoo Come see the amazing animals and learn about conservation at the Santa Barbara Zoo! Santa Barbara Zoo welcomes dialogue with the public.
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Season’s greetings and happy from Ralph the African lion! 🎄🎁😻Alt-text: Ralph the African lion tears into wrapped gift ...
12/27/2025

Season’s greetings and happy from Ralph the African lion! 🎄🎁😻

Alt-text: Ralph the African lion tears into wrapped gift boxes as he searches for meaty treats in these photos from his holiday enrichment.

December 27 is Visit a Zoo Day! 🙌🦊🐧The Zoo is open today from 9:30 AM - 3:30 PM, and our friends at zoolife are helping ...
12/27/2025

December 27 is Visit a Zoo Day! 🙌🦊🐧

The Zoo is open today from 9:30 AM - 3:30 PM, and our friends at zoolife are helping you celebrate no matter where you are! Zoolife is unlocking ALL habitats for FREE today!

Watch animals at the Zoo, like Tamur the Amur leopard, live from the comfort of your home. However you choose to visit, December 27 is the perfect day to connect with wildlife.

To watch us on Zoolife: https://www.zoolife.tv

Alt-text: A graphic that reads, “Visit a Zoo Day.” The image features pictures of animals at the Zoo (from left to right: Tamur the Amur leopard, Lewis the island fox, a California condor, and a Humboldt penguin).

Deck the halls with browse aplenty! 🌲🦒Alt-text: The Masai giraffe tower enjoys holiday enrichment in these photos. In th...
12/26/2025

Deck the halls with browse aplenty! 🌲🦒

Alt-text: The Masai giraffe tower enjoys holiday enrichment in these photos. In the first, Theo the Masai giraffe gnaws on a browse wreath. In the second, he pokes his head through the wreath and reaches his tongue out towards our camera. Next, we see Adia the Masai giraffe watching Theo chow down from afar. Finally, Malia the Masai giraffe gets her chance to chow down on the browse wreath.

A bright and merry future for this northern red-legged frog! 🎁🐸✨We’re celebrating a new froggy friend this holiday seaso...
12/25/2025

A bright and merry future for this northern red-legged frog! 🎁🐸✨

We’re celebrating a new froggy friend this holiday season! When a local Christmas tree farm discovered an accidentally relocated northern red-legged frog amidst a shipment of trees from Washington, they called U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Ventura. The frog couldn’t be released locally, so our friends at the USFWS reached out to us to provide a safe home for this red-legged amphibian.

The northern red-legged frog is native to western Washington and is not to be confused with the threatened California red-legged frog that’s local to our state. The northern red-legged frog’s population is stable in Washington, but the potential for negative outcomes for this individual frog if released here in California ultimately brought it into our care.

Should you happen to find wildlife in weird places, don’t hesitate to reach out to your local wildlife protection organization or agency like the USFWS!

Alt-text: A Northern red-legged frog gently rests on a bed of substrate at the Zoo in these pictures. She calmly looks at our camera as we admire her namesake bright red legs.

⚠️ SHORTENED HOURS ⚠️ Due to the storm, the Zoo will be open from 12 PM to 3:30 PM today, December 24. Some services wil...
12/24/2025

⚠️ SHORTENED HOURS ⚠️

Due to the storm, the Zoo will be open from 12 PM to 3:30 PM today, December 24. Some services will be limited.

Please use caution if conditions appear unsafe for driving.

Alt-text: Bangori the Western lowland peeks at us from around a branch wrapped in decorative holiday streamers. We spot bits of greenery on his lip, chest, and belly as evidence of puzzle feeder usage.

Must’ve been the wind! 😏🎁🧦Alt-text: A slender-tailed meerkat gets into her holiday enrichment as she pulls on a bright r...
12/24/2025

Must’ve been the wind! 😏🎁🧦

Alt-text: A slender-tailed meerkat gets into her holiday enrichment as she pulls on a bright red stocking that gently falls and adorably lands on top of her in this series of pictures.

ZooLights continues to shine through the holiday season! ✨🙌✨You haven’t missed out yet! Come see the Zoo in a whole new ...
12/23/2025

ZooLights continues to shine through the holiday season! ✨🙌✨

You haven’t missed out yet! Come see the Zoo in a whole new light with dates through January 11. Walk through the Zoo each night from 4:30 PM to 8:30 PM and make holiday memories with family and friends as you enjoy illuminated silk lanterns showcasing animal and nature scenes that represent wild places from around the world.

𝘖𝘶𝘳 𝘡𝘰𝘰𝘓𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘬, 𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘦, 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘦𝘱𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘋𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 24 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘋𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 25. 𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘥, 𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘣𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘺 𝘴𝘢𝘧𝘦𝘵𝘺 𝘨𝘶𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴.

For tickets and more information: https://www.sbzoo.org/zoolights

Alt-text: Photos of some of this year’s ZooLights! In the first, we see a multi-colored frog lantern crawling through glowing foliage. Next, we see lanterns depicting moose grazing in a forest. Finally, we see a low-angle picture of boar lanterns proudly lighting up the night sky in the last shot.

A lovely day to hang out at the Zoo! 🥰🐒White-handed gibbons have longer arms than legs— A helpful adaptation that, along...
12/21/2025

A lovely day to hang out at the Zoo! 🥰🐒

White-handed gibbons have longer arms than legs— A helpful adaptation that, along with their long hands and flexible shoulders, allows them to swing like a pendulum from branch to branch.

Alt-text: Mel the white-handed gibbon grasps a rope on Gibbon Island and calmly hangs as he plans his next swing.

Big cats that are as rare as they are unique! 😯✨🐆Listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN, there are estimated to be ...
12/21/2025

Big cats that are as rare as they are unique! 😯✨🐆

Listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN, there are estimated to be less than 200 individual Amur leopards remaining in the wild. These solitary apex predators each have unique spot patterns, much like a coat of fingerprints.



Alt-text: Tamur the Amur leopard peeks around a wall of his habitat, looking at our camera wide-eyed.

Don’t miss your chance to party at ZooLights Adult Nights! 🤩🎉🕺Marvel at spectacular holiday lights without the kids on T...
12/18/2025

Don’t miss your chance to party at ZooLights Adult Nights! 🤩🎉🕺

Marvel at spectacular holiday lights without the kids on Thursday, December 18 from 4:30 to 8:30 PM. Make merry as you enjoy unlimited beer and wine tastings from your favorites including Figueroa Mountain Brewing, M.Special Brewing Company, Firestone Walker Brewing Co., High Seas Mead, The Honest Abe Cider House & Meadery, Foxen Winery, Zaca Mesa Winery, Cutler's Artisan Spirits, and more!

Open to guests 21+ only, your ticket to ZooLights Adult Nights includes:

Live music 🎶
Beer and wine tastings 🍻
Interactive light displays 🪩
Photo ops 📸
…and a one-of-a-kind night out! 🕺

Make your date night or evening on the town shine! For tickets and more information: https://www.sbzoo.org/zoolights

Alt-text: Pictures of ZooLights! In the first, we see brightly colored and lit parrot lanterns flanked by the ZooLights Adult Nights logo. Next, we see a couple strolling down a shining, lantern-lit walkway. In the third shot, another couple poses for a picture in a dragon frame photo op. Finally, we see a guest testing their reflexes with an interactive panda lantern.

Betcha can’t touch your tongue to your nose like Layan! 😜❄️🐆One way snow leopards have adapted to life in the cold is th...
12/17/2025

Betcha can’t touch your tongue to your nose like Layan! 😜❄️🐆

One way snow leopards have adapted to life in the cold is the shape of their nostrils! They warm the air they breathe through their nose before it reaches their lungs because of the wide and short nature of their nasal cavity.



Alt-text: Layan the snow leopard licks his chops as he spots our camera from across his habitat.

😏🦍📸: Animal Care Supervisor ArielAlt-text: Nzinga the Western lowland gorilla shoots a smirk at Animal Care Supervisor A...
12/16/2025

😏🦍

📸: Animal Care Supervisor Ariel

Alt-text: Nzinga the Western lowland gorilla shoots a smirk at Animal Care Supervisor Ariel’s camera as he meets her at the training wall for a session (and snacks).

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

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