Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo

Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo Gainesville’s community zoo and the training facility for the Zoo Animal Technology program at Santa Fe College.
(1929)

Open daily, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., with last entry at 2:30 p.m. The Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo is Gainesville’s community zoo and the training facility for the Zoo Animal Technology program. Situated on 10 forested acres we house rare and endangered species including Matschie's tree kangaroos and ocelots.

08/30/2026

🌎 Saving animals from extinction takes all of us.

When you visit the SF Teaching Zoo, you’re supporting more than a day of connecting with wildlife. As an The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accredited facility, we’re part of a larger community working together to protect animals and the places they call home.

AZA SAFE: Saving Animals From Extinction® brings zoos, aquariums and conservation partners together to take action for species at risk. By sharing expertise and resources, individual conservation efforts become part of something much bigger. 💚

And there’s another important piece of that work happening right here: educating the next generation of zoo professionals who will carry conservation forward throughout their careers.

Every visit, every connection and every future zookeeper is part of the bigger picture.

Learn more about AZA SAFE: https://www.aza.org/aza-safe

Got buckets? We can put them to work!The SF Teaching Zoo is looking for donations of gently used kitty litter buckets an...
08/29/2026

Got buckets? We can put them to work!

The SF Teaching Zoo is looking for donations of gently used kitty litter buckets and other sturdy, appropriately sized buckets to support our animal care team.

Our zookeepers repurpose these buckets as f***l cleanup buckets while caring for animal habitats. It may not be the most glamorous part of zookeeping, but it’s an important part of keeping habitats clean and providing excellent daily care! 💚

Instead of tossing those empty kitty litter buckets, give them a second life at the Zoo. We ask that donated buckets be empty, clean and in good usable condition.

Want to support the SF Teaching Zoo in other ways? Check out our wishlist for more items our team can use:

🔗 https://t.ly/ZooWish

Thank you for helping us reuse, repurpose and care for our animals! 🐾

This summer, Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo (SFTZ) filled two leadership positions, bringing additional zoological expert...
08/28/2026

This summer, Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo (SFTZ) filled two leadership positions, bringing additional zoological expertise from around the country to Gainesville.
In June, Kristen Turner was appointed as Conservation Education Coordinator, overseeing educational programs, guest experience opportunities, and conservation initiatives. Kristen’s career includes educational and supervisory roles at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, ZooTampa at Lowry Park, SeaWorld Orlando, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Motivated by fostering connections between people and the natural world we share, Kristen is excited to expand the educational programs offered and continue the strong conservation legacy at SFTZ.
In July, Danielle Montesdeoca was appointed as General Curator, overseeing animal care, wellbeing, and veterinary coordination in alignment with the high standards set by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). Danielle is a graduate of SFTZ’s Zoo Animal Technology program, and has since held animal care, training, and supervisory roles at SeaWorld Orlando, Discovery Cove, Houston Zoo, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Driven by a lifelong passion for animal welfare and conservation, Danielle is proud to return to SFTZ and is dedicated to advancing its mission of excellence in animal care, education, and stewardship.
“We are thrilled to welcome Kristen and Danielle to the team,” said Jonathan Miot, Zoo Director and Chair of the Zoo Animal Technology program. “Their experience matches our team’s continued commitment to adding value to the lives of our students, enriching our community, and improving the future for wildlife.”

Pictured: Kristen Turner (left) and Danielle Montesdeoca (right) are welcomed to Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo by Moe, the Galapagos tortoise.

🌕 LOOK UP! Something special is happening in the night sky!Tonight, Aug. 27, Florida will get a view of a near-total par...
08/27/2026

🌕 LOOK UP! Something special is happening in the night sky!

Tonight, Aug. 27, Florida will get a view of a near-total partial lunar eclipse, with about 96% of the Moon passing into Earth’s darkest shadow.

🌘 The partial eclipse begins around 10:23 p.m.
🌑 Maximum eclipse occurs around 12:12 a.m.
🌒 The partial eclipse ends around 1:51 a.m.

At its peak, most of the Moon will be covered by Earth’s shadow and may take on a dramatic red or coppery-orange glow, while a small sliver remains bright.

Unlike a solar eclipse, no special glasses are needed to watch a lunar eclipse. Just find a spot with a clear view of the sky and look up!

And if you’re wondering why the Moon turns red: sunlight passing through Earth’s atmosphere is filtered and bent toward the Moon. The same effect that gives us colorful red and orange sunrises and sunsets can temporarily paint the lunar surface!

Will you be staying up to catch the eclipse? 🌕🔭

🐛 Tiny caterpillars, incredible journey! 🦋Keepers recently spotted not one, but four monarch caterpillars munching on mi...
08/26/2026

🐛 Tiny caterpillars, incredible journey! 🦋

Keepers recently spotted not one, but four monarch caterpillars munching on milkweed growing in our garden! 🌿

Monarchs have one of the most fascinating life cycles in the insect world. Beginning in the spring, it can take three to four generations to complete their northward migration from Mexico through the United States and into parts of Canada. Each generation lives for only a few weeks, reproduces, and continues a journey started by the generation before it.

Then fall arrives, and something remarkable happens. 🍂

The final migratory generation delays reproduction and can live up to eight times longer than summer generations. These monarchs travel thousands of miles south to overwintering sites in central Mexico, despite never having made the journey before. Their ability to navigate is instinctive, using environmental cues and an internal "compass" to help guide the way. 🧭

Here in Florida, the monarch story is a little different. 🌴 Our state can host both migratory monarchs passing through and resident populations that remain in Florida year-round.

🌱 What about our garden?
This is our first year experimenting with this garden, and our initial plantings gave us an opportunity to see how the space would grow and how local wildlife would respond. The caterpillars pictured here found tropical milkweed among those first-year plantings. Seeing four caterpillars utilizing the garden has us excited about its potential!

As we continue developing the space, we're looking forward to exploring Florida native milkweed species and other native plants that can provide habitat and resources for monarchs and other pollinators.

For now, we'll be keeping an eye on these hungry little visitors as they continue the next stage of their incredible life cycle! 🐛🌿🦋

🎃 Can you guess what’s coming to Boo at the Zoo? 👀We’re not revealing this year’s themes just yet... but we will give yo...
08/25/2026

🎃 Can you guess what’s coming to Boo at the Zoo? 👀

We’re not revealing this year’s themes just yet... but we will give you a few clues. 🔎

Think you know them all? Drop your guesses in the comments! 🎃

🐊 Hey, Gators! Looking for a change of scenery while you study?Take your books (or laptop 💻) on a walk to the SF Teachin...
08/22/2026

🐊 Hey, Gators! Looking for a change of scenery while you study?

Take your books (or laptop 💻) on a walk to the SF Teaching Zoo! Find a study spot in the shade of the Florida Aviary pavilion, settle in near the quiet zone by the sandhill cranes, or get some work done with the gibbon family nearby. 🌿📚

Sometimes a little fresh air and animal time is just what you need between assignments!

🐊 University of Florida students receive discounted $6 admission with a valid Gator 1 Card.

Come study on the wild side! 🐒📖

Professional zookeepers may skip acrylics and potentially toxic nail products, but that doesn’t mean they can’t have a l...
08/21/2026

Professional zookeepers may skip acrylics and potentially toxic nail products, but that doesn’t mean they can’t have a little fun with their nails! 💅🐍🦋

Keeper Kamila put her nail-art skills to work, creating nature-inspired designs for her fellow keepers:

🐸 Curator Bri designed a set inspired by the brilliant blue coloring of Dendrobates tinctorius “azureus.”
🥚 Lauren has tinamou egg-inspired colors on both hands, with one featuring brilliant blue and the other showcasing softer shades of pale pink and yellowish green.
🐍 Melody is modeling reptile-inspired nails featuring real snake shed incorporated into the design.
🦋 Isabella’s nails take inspiration from the shimmering colors of dragonflies.
🐆 Alex is serving leopard print nails with rosettes.
🐢 Dusti dreamed up her reptilian carapace design
🦎 Marina is showing off the vibrant colors of a day gecko.

When you work at a zoo, even your nail art can get a little wild! 💅🌿

Which design is your favorite?

to a tiny Dillon, the Southern three-banded armadillo, with his mom, Clementine! 🧡Believe it or not, Dillon was only a...
08/20/2026

to a tiny Dillon, the Southern three-banded armadillo, with his mom, Clementine! 🧡

Believe it or not, Dillon was only about the size of a golf ball in the first photo! Southern three-banded armadillos are born with soft, pliable armor that hardens as they grow. That flexible armor also made it easier for Clementine to carry her little pup.

And now Dillon has experienced parenthood himself! He later became a dad to Poco, bringing this throwback full circle. 🥹

Southern three-banded armadillos typically give birth to just one pup at a time. Pups are born blind, but they develop quickly, learning to walk and close their shells before becoming completely independent at around 72 days old. By about 9 to 12 months, they can reach reproductive maturity.

From Clementine carrying a golf-ball-sized Dillon to Dillon having a pup of his own, they sure do grow up fast! 🧡

POV: You’re the trail cam and you’ve just been discovered. 👀📸Our African crowned crane decided to get a very up-close lo...
08/18/2026

POV: You’re the trail cam and you’ve just been discovered. 👀📸

Our African crowned crane decided to get a very up-close look at the camera. We’re not sure who was observing whom at this point.

Address

3000 NW 83rd Street
Gainesville, FL
32606

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 3pm
Tuesday 9am - 3pm
Wednesday 9am - 3pm
Thursday 9am - 3pm
Friday 3pm - 7pm
Saturday 9am - 3pm
Sunday 9am - 3pm

Telephone

+13523955633

Website

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