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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On second thought, maybe those New Year’s resolutions can wait… 😴 : White-handed gibbons have built-in sitting pads! Kno...
01/04/2026

On second thought, maybe those New Year’s resolutions can wait… 😴

: White-handed gibbons have built-in sitting pads! Known as “ischial callosities,” these sitting pads cover the protrusions of their hip bones on their buttocks and are made up of layers of thick, hardened, and hairless skin.

Alt-text: Chanee the white-handed gibbon leans back against a rope as she sits and suns herself on the bridge leading to Gibbon Island.

MRW Mom and Dad say we’re going to the Zoo! 😻 Alt-text: Ralph the African lion’s eyes glimmer and his jaw hangs open as ...
01/03/2026

MRW Mom and Dad say we’re going to the Zoo! 😻



Alt-text: Ralph the African lion’s eyes glimmer and his jaw hangs open as he spots something tasty to eat out of frame.

𝘊𝘢𝘱𝘺 first Friday of 2026! 🙌Like this post if you’ve already mistakenly written “2025” when you should have written “202...
01/02/2026

𝘊𝘢𝘱𝘺 first Friday of 2026! 🙌

Like this post if you’ve already mistakenly written “2025” when you should have written “2026!”

Alt-text: Photos of Poppy the capybara taking a sip of water from her pool. In the second, we zoom in to see her gently send a ripple across the water's surface.

Happy New Year, Zoo friends! 🎉The Zoo is open today, January 1, 2026, during our regular hours from 9:30 AM to 5 PM.Alt-...
01/01/2026

Happy New Year, Zoo friends! 🎉

The Zoo is open today, January 1, 2026, during our regular hours from 9:30 AM to 5 PM.

Alt-text: Layan the snow leopard stands tall and watches the sun rise on 2026 in Santa Barbara.

3…2…1… Happy 𝘡𝘰𝘰 Year! 🎉🪩🥳There’s a lot to see at the Zoo, but as 2025 comes to a close, we’re taking a look back at som...
12/31/2025

3…2…1… Happy 𝘡𝘰𝘰 Year! 🎉🪩🥳

There’s a lot to see at the Zoo, but as 2025 comes to a close, we’re taking a look back at some of our favorite animal photos this year!

What animals are you looking forward to seeing more of in 2026?

Alt-text: First photo: Ruby the red panda turns toward our camera, tail in tow. Second photo: Theo the Masai giraffe chews on browse with the Santa Barbara coastline in the background. Third photo: A California tiger salamander smiles for a close-up. Fourth photo: Poppy the California mountain kingsnake slithers down a branch. Fifth photo: Banjo the amu plays with a green streamer as he celebrates his birthday. Sixth photo: A pair of Humboldt penguins play as a pair of children do the same on the other side of the observation window glass. Seventh photo: A Luzon bleeding heart dove shows off its colorful feathers in a sharp close-up. Eighth photo: A close-up of a Jamaican boa’s shimmering scales. Ninth photo: Hilty the Chilean flamingo looks our way as water droplets fall from the tip of her beak.

We don’t know about you, but we’re staying in the holiday spirit over here! 🧦🎁🐦📸: Keeper LuisaAlt-text: Mango the toco t...
12/31/2025

We don’t know about you, but we’re staying in the holiday spirit over here! 🧦🎁🐦

📸: Keeper Luisa

Alt-text: Mango the toco toucan enjoys some holiday enrichment as he riffles through red and green stockings stuffed with his favorite fruits in these pictures.

Take your Toyota to ZooLights for extra holiday season cheer! 😊🚗💨Each Tuesday evening during ZooLights is Toyota Tuesday...
12/30/2025

Take your Toyota to ZooLights for extra holiday season cheer! 😊🚗💨

Each Tuesday evening during ZooLights is Toyota Tuesday! Guests driving a Toyota will receive a free hot chocolate for everyone in their car, thanks to our friends at Gold Coast Toyota!

Simply show your Toyota car key at the Front Gate on any remaining Toyota Tuesday evening (December 30 and January 6) to receive a Toyota Hot Chocolate Coupon from our Guest Services team.

Thank you again to ZooLights sponsor Gold Coast Toyota Dealers for making ZooLights even sweeter!

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

Alt-text: A panda rides atop a bright Toyota Supra replica ZooLights lantern on a glowing evening at the Zoo.

12/28/2025

As 2025 comes to a close, we’re looking back at a year filled with moments of wonder paired with meaningful action for animals. As a member of the Santa Barbara Zoo community, you helped turn awe into action for education, conservation, and wildlife.

Because of your support, the Santa Barbara Zoo is able to make an impact in our local community and the wider world of wildlife.

Moments of awe inspire action, and your continued support helps carry this momentum forward into the year ahead. Thank you!

As we enter 2026, please consider making a gift today for the future of wildlife, education, and our planet.

To make a gift to the Zoo: https://www.sbzoo.org/donate

Alt-text: A video highlighting our 2025 narrated by Santa Barbara Zoo President & Chief Executive Officer Charles Hopper. We see clips of animals around the Zoo, our conservation team working in the field, our educators teaching the next generation, and guests enjoying their time at the Zoo.

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.

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

Website

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