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Santa Barbara Zoo
@santabarbarazoo.bsky.social
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Come see the amazing animals and learn about conservation at the Santa Barbara Zoo!
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Happy Valentine’s Day to all you love birds! 💗🕊️

📸: Keeper Maureen
Reggie the lesser sulphur-crested cockatoo excitedly receives some Valentine’s Day enrichment from Keeper Maureen. He rifles through pink and red tissue paper to find the nuts and seeds it conceals. Reggie the lesser sulphur-crested cockatoo excitedly receives some Valentine’s Day enrichment from Keeper Maureen. He rifles through pink and red tissue paper to find the nuts and seeds it conceals.
February 14, 2026 at 10:59 PM
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GO BIRDS! 🦅🦉🦆

(This is not a Super Bowl post, we just love birds!)
Pictures of birds around the Zoo. In the first, we see Monty the Humboldt penguin excitedly braying just outside of his nest. Next, a cozy-looking California condor perches for a finely feathered close-up. Amelia the American bald eagle perches amidst green leaves in the third picture. Finally, we see a portrait of an ashy-colored tawny frogmouth in the last picture.
February 8, 2026 at 9:11 PM
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Congratulations! You can stop doomscrolling now that you’ve reached this cute critter corner! 🌸🦔😊

📸: Keeper Addy
Miles the prehensile-tailed porcupine chews on veggies as he gets a noseful of grewia flower scent before getting a few of the flowers stuck in his quills. Miles the prehensile-tailed porcupine chews on veggies as he gets a noseful of grewia flower scent before getting a few of the flowers stuck in his quills.
January 27, 2026 at 2:24 AM
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Today’s reason to shell-abrate: 70s and sunshine in January! 😎☀️🐢
Joaquin the western pond turtle stretches one of his back legs as he basks on a sunny rock in his pond home near the Chilean flamingo habitat.
January 16, 2026 at 1:02 AM
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😏😮‍💨☺️

📸: Animal Care Supervisor Ariel
Nzinga the Western lowland gorilla has fun with his food in these pictures as he makes faces while plucking the tastiest leaves off the branch he holds in his right hand. Nzinga the Western lowland gorilla has fun with his food in these pictures as he makes faces while plucking the tastiest leaves off the branch he holds in his right hand. Nzinga the Western lowland gorilla has fun with his food in these pictures as he makes faces while plucking the tastiest leaves off the branch he holds in his right hand.
January 12, 2026 at 1:54 AM
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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?
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: Banjo the amu plays with a green streamer as he celebrates his birthday.
December 31, 2025 at 10:49 PM
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Deck the halls with browse aplenty! 🌲🦒
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 in the last picture.
December 26, 2025 at 9:45 PM
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A bright and merry future for this northern red-legged frog! 🎁🐸✨
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. 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.
December 25, 2025 at 9:19 PM
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⚠️ 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.
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.
December 24, 2025 at 5:26 PM
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Must’ve been the wind! 😏🎁🧦
A slender-tailed meerkat getting 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. A slender-tailed meerkat getting 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. A slender-tailed meerkat getting 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. A slender-tailed meerkat getting 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.
December 24, 2025 at 2:17 AM
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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.

#Caturday
Tamur the Amur leopard peeks around a wall of his habitat, looking at our camera wide-eyed.
December 21, 2025 at 1:32 AM
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We hope you have a 𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 great Thanksgiving! 🦎🫛

The Zoo is open today for Thanksgiving, but closes early at 3:30 PM. The last entry time is at 2:00 PM, so please consider visiting early to make the most of your day. Zoo Members are admitted until 2:30 PM.

📸: Keeper Addy
Dapple the prehensile-tailed skink happily chows down on a green bean in the first picture. In the second, Dapple’s jaw snaps shut on the green bean and shows us a toothy grin.
November 27, 2025 at 9:00 AM
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Say hello to Mel the white-handed gibbon! 👋🐵
A photo of Mel (right) and Chanee (left) the white-handed gibbons sitting together on a log bridge on Gibbon Island at the Zoo.
November 20, 2025 at 12:13 AM
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Ask us why they’re called “blue-tongued skinks.” 😜💙

#TongueOutTuesday

📸: Keeper Addy
Melbourne the blue-tongued skink crawls through the grass and pokes out his bright blue tongue at Keeper Addy in these pictures. Melbourne the blue-tongued skink crawls through the grass and pokes out his bright blue tongue at Keeper Addy in these pictures.
November 4, 2025 at 9:51 PM
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We can hardly think of a more appropriate photo to post on Bluesky… 😏

📸: Animal Care Supervisor Ariel
A dark silhouette of a tall, ossicone-bearing animal taken from a low angle. A bright blue and cloudy sky fills the background and beautifully frames the not-so-mysterious mammal.
October 27, 2025 at 8:35 PM
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The Zoo is ecstatic to announce that we’ve won FOUR awards in this year’s Santa Barbara Independent Best of Santa Barbara® Readers’ Poll! 🎉🎉🎉🎉
Educator Whitney smiles as she shows off Mottle the prehensile-tailed skink to a pair of Zoo Campers. Above them hover four badges signifying the Zoo’s honors in this year’s Santa Barbara Independent Best of Santa Barbara® Readers’ Poll.
October 21, 2025 at 7:46 PM
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Things we love to see at the Zoo #9987: Birds seeing us! 👁️👄👁️

First picture 📸: Keeper Addy
Gumdrop the white-cheeked turaco stares at Keeper Addy’s camera while leaning forward with their paintbrush-like crest in the first picture. In the next, Fig the toco toucan matches Gumdrop’s pose, albeit with a much bigger beak. Finally, we see Amelia the bald eagle look our way through the leaves of her habitat’s trees in the last photo.
October 7, 2025 at 12:24 AM
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Today, the Zoo mourns the passing of Dr. Jane Goodall, Dame of the British Empire, UN Messenger of Peace, and founder of the Jane Goodall Institute. A trailblazing primatologist and legendary wildlife advocate, Jane Goodall’s impact on worldwide conservation efforts cannot be understated.
Dr. Jane Goodall (right) answers questions from local news reporters near the Zoo’s giraffe yard as Baringo giraffe saunter in the background.
October 2, 2025 at 1:59 AM
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🖖👅

#TongueOutTuesday
Poppy the California mountain kingsnake explores with her forked tongue as her guide in these pictures. In the first, the black, orange, and white snake makes a lasso of herself as she slides along a branch. In the second, we take a close-up look at her tiny black head, adorable big eyes, and pointy forked tongue.
September 23, 2025 at 11:53 PM
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Paws appreciation post! 🐾🦁 #Caturday

African lions' paws house sharp claws they use to hunt and grip prey. These claws are retractable, a handy adaptation that enables them to walk on their toes as they stealthily stalk their would-be meals.
Ralph the African lion lets his forepaws droop over the edge of a rock face while lowering his maned head in preparation for a catnap in the first picture. 📸: Keeper Ariel Felicia the African lioness rests near her habitat’s observation window and extends her front right forepaw as if to show off a fresh pedicure in the second picture. 📸: Keeper Ariel
September 13, 2025 at 3:43 PM
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September 8 is Iguana Awareness Day! 🦎👀

Iguanas are magnificent reptiles that come in many shapes, sizes, and colors! There are currently 35 different recognized species of iguanas that exhibit different behaviors and adaptations depending on the habitat in which they reside.
A Fiji banded iguana smirks at our camera as it discovers a bright yellow flower in its Tropical Wonders home.
September 9, 2025 at 12:38 AM
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Sharing silly salamander smiles to brighten your day! 🤗
Pictures of California tiger salamanders in their Rattlesnake Canyon habitat at the Zoo. In the first, a salamander stares at our camera with its big, glassy eyes and dirt covering its head. Next, another tiger salamander peeks out of its pool and shoots a smile our way. Finally, we see yet another salamander crawl through the debris of its habitat to curiously get a closer look at us in the last photo.
August 28, 2025 at 10:34 PM
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Giraffe or tree trunk? 🌴🦒🤔

Giraffe are covered in dark, multipurpose spots. These spots act as a form of camouflage, obscuring the giraffe’s outline and helping to conceal the gentle giants from savannah predators.
Theo the Masai giraffe reaches straight up for leaves in a tree, his head and neck perfectly aligning and concealing the tree’s bole behind him.
August 22, 2025 at 11:46 PM
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We’re seeing red… Red pandas that is! 😍🐾🌿

Check out our new video featuring Raj and Ruby, the red pandas of Santa Barbara, and learn all about these unique arboreal mammals from Keeper Joe.

Watch the latest YouTube video here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHqP...
August 13, 2025 at 6:37 PM
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The Henkel’s leaf-tailed gecko has mastered the art of hangin’ out! 🤙🦎😎

These Madagascan lizards live their lives in the trees, using their namesake camouflage to avoid predation and pounce on the insects and invertebrates that make up their diet.
Pictures of a Henkel’s leaf-tailed gecko in its Tropical Wonders habitat. We see a wide shot of it clinging to the observation window glass with its head pointed towards the floor in the first picture. Next, we get closer with a head-on view of the gecko flattening itself against the glass as it holds its inverted pose. Finally, an extreme close-up reveals the folds of the gecko’s front left foot pad.
July 31, 2025 at 7:48 PM