Santa Barbara Zoo facts for kids
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| Date opened | 1963 |
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| Location | Santa Barbara, California, United States |
| Land area | 30 acres (12 ha) |
| Coordinates | 34°25′10″N 119°39′54″W / 34.41944°N 119.66500°W |
| No. of animals | 600 |
| No. of species | 160 |
| Memberships | AZA |
| Major exhibits | African Veldt, California Trails, Cats of Africa, The Crawford Family Penguin House, The Forest's Edge |
The Santa Barbara Zoo is a fun place located on 30 acres (about 12 hectares) right by the ocean in Santa Barbara, California. It was built on land once called the Child Estate. Many people think it's one of the best small zoos in the country!
The zoo is home to over 500 animals, including capybaras and California condors. It's also famous for once having a giraffe with a crooked neck. Besides animals, you can ride the Zoo Train, which uses cool narrow gauge locomotives. The Santa Barbara Zoo first opened its doors in August 1963.
Contents
Animal Habitats and Exhibits
The Santa Barbara Zoo has many different areas where animals live. These areas are designed to look like the animals' natural homes.
African Plains (African Veldt)
This area feels like the wide-open spaces of Africa. Here, you can see tall giraffes, slow-moving sulcata tortoises, and playful meerkats. Soon, there will also be other hoofed animals like impalas, gnus, and zebras.
Cats of Africa
Opened in 2003, this habitat is also inspired by Africa. It's home to powerful African lions and tiny, desert-dwelling fennec foxes. The lion area is on a hillside, and you can watch them from a special platform near the fennec fox exhibit.
The Congo Forest's Edge
This exhibit is where two male western lowland gorillas live. It opened in 1996 and lets you see the gorillas through a glass wall or from a lookout that looks like a ranger station.
California Trails
This section shows off animals native to California and the American Southwest. You can see amazing California condors, cute island foxes, soaring turkey vultures, slow desert tortoises, and majestic bald eagles. The condor area has two viewing spots, including an elevated path.
The Crawford Family Penguin House
Opened in June 2006, this house is home to a group of Humboldt penguins. You can watch them swim both above and below the water! In the same area, you might also spot Inca terns and other birds from the coast of South America.
Giraffes at the Zoo
The zoo has had Masai giraffes, which are originally from Africa. These giraffes have successfully had babies at the zoo. Their babies are very important for helping other zoos have healthy giraffe populations.
Gemina, the "Crooked-Necked Giraffe"
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One of the most famous animals at the Santa Barbara Zoo was a giraffe named Gemina. She was born on July 16, 1986, and lived until January 9, 2008. Gemina was special because she had a bend in her neck.
She was a Baringo giraffe and was born with a straight neck at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. When she was three years old, her neck started to bend. Even with her unique neck, the zoo's veterinarian said Gemina lived a normal life. She didn't seem to be in pain and acted just like other giraffes.
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Gemina lived to be 21 years old. When she got older, she started to lose her appetite and her health declined. The zoo decided to humanely end her life to prevent her from suffering. It's believed that her crooked neck was not the reason for her health problems in old age.
The Zoo in Media
Gemina, the crooked-necked giraffe, was featured on a TV show called Miracle Workers. In the show, she was said to have inspired a child who had scoliosis, a condition that also causes a curved spine.
The Santa Barbara Zoo was also shown in an episode of Behind the Bash in March 2006. The TV host, Giada de Laurentiis, visited a wedding that was being held at the zoo.
Gemina was even mentioned in the TV show Alias. In one episode, a character named Sydney (played by Jennifer Garner) says, "Yeah, I love it [Santa Barbara]. The zoo, that giraffe with the crooked neck." In another episode, a character named Vaughn says he proposed to Sydney at the zoo, "in front of a giraffe with a crooked neck."
See also
In Spanish: Zoológico de Santa Bárbara para niños
