Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo
Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo entrance, August 2019
29°40′55″N 82°26′18″W / 29.6819°N 82.4382°W / 29.6819; -82.4382
LocationGainesville, Florida
Land area10 acres (4.0 ha)[1]
No. of animals200+
No. of species70
MembershipsAZA[2]
Websitewww.sfcollege.edu/zoo

The Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo is a 10-acre (4.0 ha) zoo in Gainesville, Florida. Located on Santa Fe College's main campus, it is the only college zookeeper training facility in the United States.[3] Since 2000, the zoo has been accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).

Guided tours led by students in the program are available at the teaching zoo if scheduled ahead of time; visitors may also take a self-guided tours.[4]

History

The Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo was established in 1970.[5] It comprises 10 acres (4.0 ha) of forested land on the west side of the Santa Fe College main campus. The zoo has been accredited by the AZA since 2000 and undergoes its accreditation process every five years.[6][7]

Animals

Bald eagle at the zoo
External videos
video icon Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo Tour – an introductory tour of the facility with highlights of the zookeeper program and the different animals onsite

The zoo is home to over 200 individual animals representing more than 70 species, including mammals, reptiles, amphibians, insects, and birds.[8][9]

List of animals

Mammals

Herptiles

Birds

The zoo also participates in several AZA Species Survival Plan (SSP) programs, for white-handed gibbons[10] and Matschie's tree-kangaroo as well as for the Asian small-clawed otter, red ruffed lemur, Guam rail, Perdido Key beach mouse and ocelot.

Zoo Animal Technology Program

Students spend 5 semesters learning about animal husbandry, breeding, nutrition, medical care, physiology, taxonomic relationships, conservation, enclosure construction, proper zoo sanitation, and other topics through classwork and actual work as keepers in the zoo.[11] Students of the Zoo Animal Technology Program are known as Zooies and there is a student chapter of the American Association of Zoo Keepers.[12] The Zoo Animal Technology Program degree has over 200 students enrolled in the program.[13] The two year degree program is to have a four year degree program starting in 2023.[14]

Events

The zoo is a popular destination for both local residents and tourists. The zoo hosts several events open to the public throughout the year, including Party for the Planet (celebrating Earth Day)[15] and "Boo at the Zoo" (BATZ) Halloween festival.

References

  1. ↑ "Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo". Santa Fe College.
  2. ↑ "Currently Accredited Zoos and Aquariums". aza.org. AZA. Retrieved March 20, 2011.
  3. ↑ "Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo". Visit Florida.
  4. ↑ "Visit Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo". Santa Fe College. Archived from the original on 2022-01-23. Retrieved 2022-01-23.
  5. ↑ Rayford, Brooke. "It's more than what it looks like- inside Santa Fe College's Teaching Zoo". CBS 4 News.
  6. ↑ Rumbaugh, Andrea (June 25, 2010). "After 36 years, Jack Brown retiring as SFC zoo's director". The Gainesville Sun. Archived from the original on May 16, 2023. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  7. ↑ Jester, Erin (December 2, 2015). "Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo program again wins OK from accreditation agency". The Gainesville Sun. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  8. ↑ "Zoo Animals". sfcollege.libguides.com.
  9. ↑ "Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo". Visit Gainesville.
  10. ↑ Strange, Deborah. "Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo welcomes new gibbon baby". The Daytona Beach News-Journal.
  11. ↑ Wittig, Jasper. "An African gray parrot changes lives at the Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo". WUFT.
  12. ↑ "Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo Student AAZK Chapter". American Association of Zoo Keepers.
  13. ↑ "Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo". Giggle Magazine.
  14. ↑ Lovler, Ronnie. "Florida Finds: Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo". Main St Daily News.
  15. ↑ "Santa Fe Teaching Zoo's Party for the Planet". Natural North Florida.
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