Must’ve been the wind! 😏🎁🧦

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

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

Say hello to Mel the white-handed gibbon! 👋🐵

Ask us why they’re called “blue-tongued skinks.” 😜💙 #TongueOutTuesday 📸: Keeper Addy

We can hardly think of a more appropriate photo to post on Bluesky… 😏 📸: Animal Care Supervisor Ariel

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! 🎉🎉🎉🎉

Things we love to see at the Zoo #9987: Birds seeing us! 👁️👄👁️ First picture 📸: Keeper Addy

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.

🖖👅 #TongueOutTuesday

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.

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.

Sharing silly salamander smiles to brighten your day! 🤗

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.

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...

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.

It’s the last day of National Zookeeper Week, and we’d like to invite you to join us in expressing our sincerest gratitude to our keepers! 📸: Director of Animal Care Kristen Wieners

Tropical Wonders is officially OPEN! 🦎🌺🗺️ We anticipate a day full of oohs and aahs as you explore the Zoo’s newest space featuring tropical animals from around the world!

Our zookeepers wear their love for wildlife on their sleeves …literally! 🐒🎨🖋️ #NationalZookeeperWeek Tattooing has been practiced for thousands of years, and this powerful, artistic form of self-expression and celebration is alive and well today. In order of appearance, we’d like to spotlight:

It’s National Zookeeper Week! 🤠🙌🐒

A wonderful addition to the Zoo is coming soon! 🌴👀 Save the date! Tropical Wonders is nearing completion and will open to the public on Friday, July 25!

Meet Nugget the Chilean flamingo! 👋🦩 Nugget was born with an impaired foot that required amputation. After a successful procedure, our Animal Care & Health team designed and hand-sewed a custom “shoe” for Nugget to maintain her quality of life.

Happy birthday to you, Raj! 🥳🎂3️⃣ Raj the red panda celebrated his 3rd birthday today at the Zoo! He and Ruby the red panda had a blast opening presents full of tasty omnivore biscuits scattered around their habitat by Keepers Meghan and Nakita.

Happy 4th of July from American bald eagles Avalon and Amelia! 🇺🇸🌭🦅

The water’s fine! 🏖️🐊

Blue lizards ...coming soon to the Zoo with ocean views! 💙🦎 Tropical Wonders, formerly known as Eeeww!, is nearing completion and will open to the public in mid to late July.

Little critter, little blep! #TongueOutTuesday 👅 Slender-tailed meerkats average about 20 inches in length from head to tail. Their tails make up just under half of their total length, measuring approximately 7 to 10 inches in length. 📸: Keeper Ariel

Me whenever someone says, “The floor is lava!” 🌳🐾

It’s called fashion… 💁🌿🦒

Hey, hey! My eyes are up here! 👀

It may surprise you to learn that the toco toucan’s huge beak doesn’t impede the bird’s vision! 👀 📸: Keeper Addy

The face you make when you spot the waiter bringing your meal to the table: 🤤👀 (This is actually the face Ruby the red panda makes when she sees Keeper Joe bringing out fresh bamboo!)

Zoo friends, meet Ruby the red panda! 😍♥️🐼

Life imitates emoji: 🐊🐊🐊

When they say they don’t want to go to the Zoo with you… 😒

Tropical Wonders coming soon to the Santa Barbara Zoo! 🦎🌺🌴 Tropical Wonders opens later this summer, featuring creatures hailing from tropical regions around the world! This revitalized space is located in the former Eeeww! habitat, which has been closed since 2019.

All about the 𝘤𝘳𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘩 for Nzinga! 🥬🦍 It’s Endangered Species Day! Just by visiting AZA zoos like the Santa Barbara Zoo, you support wildlife conservation of species like the critically endangered Western lowland gorilla! 📸: Keeper Ariel

BREAKING: HAPPY GIRAFFE BATHES IN GREEN! 🗞️‼️🦒 While Masai giraffe are known to rest and even sleep while standing up, they may also lie down to take a load off when comfortable with their surroundings.

You’ve heard of Elf on the Shelf, now get ready for: 🐸🪵

When you say, “I don’t know,” but really you do be knowing… 😏🦍 📸: Keeper Ariel

It’s APE-ril and gorillas are on the line …will you answer the call? 📲🦍

Our resident king of the jungle graces you with a regal blep on this glorious #TongueOutTuesday! 🦁👅

The Santa Barbara Zoo: A great place for kids (of all species) to play! 👶🤝🐧

#FunFact: Meerkats love breakfast for dinner! 🧑‍🍳🍳🥓 Slender-tailed meerkats are opportunistic feeders in the wild. They’ll gobble up eggs, insects, scorpions, small snakes, leaves, and fruit when they can get their paws on them!

This moment of zen to interrupt your regularly scheduled doomscoll is brought to you by Ralph the African lion! Ralph would like to remind you that if your social media-induced anxiety ever becomes too much, you can always stop, take a deep breath, and sleep 19 to 21 hours per day… like him!

Turns out, prehensile-tailed skinks aren’t just the world’s largest species of skink, they’re also some of the silliest gooses! 📸: Keeper Alina

🚨 NEW AT THE ZOO: BRACHIOSAURUS! 🚨 The Santa Barbara Zoo is excited to welcome two baby brachiosauruses, Littlefoot and Ducky!

No caption needed really. 📸: Keeper Addy

“Just smile and wave, boys. Smile and wave…” 👋🐧

Roses are red, violets are blue. If I had another sustainable oyster, I’d share it with you! 🦦♥️🦪 #WorldPoetryDay