{{Short description|Zoo in California, United States}} {{More citations needed|date=April 2010}} {{Use American English|date=August 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2023}} {{Infobox zoo |zoo_name=Santa Barbara Zoo |logo=SantaBarbaraZoo logo.jpg |logo_width=160px |date_opened=1963 |location=Santa Barbara, California, United States |coordinates={{Coord|34|25|10|N|119|39|54|W|type:landmark_scale:2500|display=inline,title}} |area={{convert|30|acre|abbr=on}} |director = Rich Block |num_animals=600 |num_species=160 |members=AZA<ref name="aza_list"/> |exhibits=African Veldt, Australian Walkabout, California Trails, Cats of Africa, The Crawford Family Penguin House, The Forest's Edge<ref name=exhibits>{{cite web |title=Santa Barbara Zoo - Exhibits |publisher=Santa Barbara Zoo |url=http://www.sbzoo.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=62&Itemid=69 |accessdate=2011-08-27}}</ref> |website={{URL|http://www.sbzoo.org/}} }}
The '''Santa Barbara Zoo''' is located on {{convert|30|acre}} near the ocean in Santa Barbara, California. It was built on the site of what was known as the '''Child Estate.''' It has more than 500 animals in numerous exhibits, including capybara and California condors, and was known for having had a giraffe with a crooked neck. It has a few non-animal attractions, such as the {{RailGauge|2ft|lk=on}} narrow gauge Zoo Train, complete with a pair of Chance Rides C. P. Huntington locomotives.<ref>[http://www.sbzoo.org/visitor-infor/plan-your-visit Santa Barbara Zoo - Plan Your Visit] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140308085913/http://www.sbzoo.org/visitor-infor/plan-your-visit |date=2014-03-08 }}</ref> The zoo first opened in August 1963.
==Exhibits== [[Image:Male silverback gorilla at the Santa Barbara Zoo.JPG|thumb|left|A silverback gorilla ]]
''African Plains'' or ''African Veldt'', is an African themed habitat that houses giraffes, Sulcata tortoises, and meerkats.
''Australian Walkabout'' is an Australian theme habitat (opened in 2022) where visitors can experience the land, animals, and traditions of Australian Aboriginal culture. It is home to western grey kangaroos, Bennett's wallabies, emus. People can also look inside birdcages and check out the laughing kookaburra, tawny frogmouth, and sulphur-crested cockatoos.
''Cats of Africa'', which features African lions and fennec foxes, is another African themed habitat opened in 2003.<ref name=exhibits/> Built on a hillside, the area's fennec fox exhibit is at the top of the slope, with the lion exhibit on the slope itself. The lions are visible from a platform near the fennec fox exhibit.
''The Forest's Edge'' houses two male Western lowland gorillas. The exhibit opened in 1996<ref name=exhibits/> and has a glass-walled viewing area as well as an overlook from a replica ranger station. The zoo is the first one that will add gorillas to their exhibit in the present's future.
''California Trails'' exhibits California condors,<ref name="Fodor's2010">{{cite book|author=Fodor's|title=Fodor's Northern California 2011: With Napa, Sonoma, Yosemite, San Francisco & Lake Tahoe|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ORayPYO-TvcC&pg=PA95|accessdate=25 December 2011|date=21 December 2010|publisher=Random House Digital, Inc.|isbn=978-1-4000-0503-1|page=56}}</ref> island foxes, turkey vultures, desert tortoises, and bald eagles.<ref name=exhibits/> The condor aviary can be viewed from two sides, including on an elevated path lower on the hillside, past the bald eagles, and leading to ''The Forest's Edge''.
''The Crawford Family Penguin House'' opened in June 2006.<ref name=exhibits/> It houses a colony of Humboldt penguins and has above- and underwater viewing. In the rest of the exhibit area are Inca terns and other coastal South American birds.
{{hidden begin |title = List of animals |titlestyle = background:lightgreen;width:60% }} *Amazon tree boa *American alligator *Chinese alligator *Desert rosy boa {{hidden end}}
===Giraffes=== Masai giraffe, native to Africa, south of the Sahara, have become pregnant and successfully given birth at the zoo. Considered genetically valuable they are shared with other zoos.<ref>Gregory, Kim Lamb (May 10, 2014) [http://www.vcstar.com/news/2014/may/10/mothers-nature-in-the-animal-world/ "Mothers' nature in the animal world"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517032554/http://www.vcstar.com/news/2014/may/10/mothers-nature-in-the-animal-world/ |date=May 17, 2014 }} ''Ventura County Star''</ref>
thumb|right|Gemina Gemina (July 16, 1986 – January 9, 2008) the "crooked-necked giraffe" was one of the most popular animals at the Santa Barbara Zoo. A Baringo giraffe, she was born with a straight neck at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. At the age of three she developed a bend in her neck. The zoo's veterinarian said that despite her deformity, "Gemina led a very typical existence and was treated as a normal member of the herd. She did not appear to be in discomfort and exhibited normal giraffe behaviors."<ref>{{cite press release |title = GEMINA, CROOKED-NECKED GIRAFFE DIES AT AGE 21 |publisher = Santa Barbara Zoo |date = 2008-01-08 |url = http://www.santabarbarazoo.org/media/pr_gemina_crooked_neck_giraffe_dies.pdf |accessdate = 2008-01-14 }}{{dead link|date=May 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
thumb|left|150px|Gemina and another giraffe Gemina was humanely euthanized at the age of 21 years. "Consistent with the challenges of old age," she had lost her appetite and experienced a decline in quality of life. It is believed that her deformity was not a cause of the condition that led to the decision to euthanize her.<ref>{{cite news|title=Santa Barbara Zoo's Crooked Necked Giraffe, Gemina, Dies|url=http://www.noozhawk.com/article/santa_barbara_zoos_crooked_necked_giraffe_gemina_dies|accessdate=9 November 2014}}</ref>
==Conservation== Under a 2023 collaboration agreement with California State University Channel Islands, the zoo plans to open a conservation outpost on their campus with classroom and meeting spaces, conservation staff offices and facilities for animal care, containment and breeding.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Murtaugh |first=Isaiah |date=April 10, 2023 |title=Santa Barbara Zoo to open conservation center at CSU Channel Islands |url=https://www.vcstar.com/story/news/local/2023/04/10/santa-barbara-zoo-to-open-conservation-center-at-csu-channel-islands/70089794007/ |access-date=2023-04-11 |newspaper=Ventura County Star |language=en-US}}</ref> The zoo participates in the protection of western snowy plovers, southern sea otters, western pond turtles, red-legged frogs, and monarch butterflies.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fausey |first=Callie |date=2023-04-17 |title=Santa Barbara Zoo and CSU Channel Islands Celebrate Conservation Partnership |url=https://www.independent.com/2023/04/16/santa-barbara-zoo-and-csu-channel-islands-celebrate-conservation-partnership/ |access-date=2023-04-17 |website=The Santa Barbara Independent |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite press release |last=Block |first=Rich |date=2019-04-27 |title=Protected in Paradise |url=https://www.independent.com/2019/04/27/protected-in-paradise/ |access-date=2023-04-11 |publisher=Santa Barbara Zoo |via=The Santa Barbara Independent |language=en-US}}</ref>
==In popular culture == {{Unreferenced section|date=April 2023}} Gemina was featured in an episode of the television program ''Miracle Workers'', in which she was credited with inspiring a child with scoliosis.<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 12, 2008 |title=Crooked-necked giraffe dies at 21 |work=United Press International |url=https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2008/01/12/Crooked-necked-giraffe-dies-at-21/36271200185877/ |access-date=May 27, 2023}}</ref>
The Santa Barbara Zoo was featured in an episode of ''Behind the Bash'' in March 2006, when Giada de Laurentiis visited a catered wedding taking place at the zoo.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fantasy Zoo Wedding |url=https://www.foodnetwork.com/shows/behind-the-bash/episodes/fantasy-zoo-wedding |access-date=May 27, 2023 |website=Food Network}}</ref>
Gemina was mentioned in the show ''Alias'': Sydney (Jennifer Garner) says "Yeah, I love it [Santa Barbara]. The zoo, that giraffe with the crooked neck." In another episode, Vaughn (Michael Vartan) says, "We went to Santa Barbara... and she [Sydney] wouldn't stop talking about the Zoo... I had this great evening planned, and I... ended up proposing on one knee in sawdust in front of a giraffe with a crooked neck."
==References== {{Reflist |refs=
<ref name="aza_list"> {{ZooOrg|aza|zoos|accessdate=28 August 2011}} </ref>
}}
== External links == *{{Official website|http://www.sbzoo.org}}
{{Zoos of California}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Parks in Santa Barbara, California Category:Buildings and structures in Santa Barbara, California Category:Zoos in California Category:Tourist attractions in Santa Barbara, California Category:Zoos established in 1963