Baby Golden Lion Tamarin

The Zoo's first-ever baby golden lion tamarin was born this past May and the family is now on view in their exhibit near the train station. Golden lion tamarins, or GLTs, are highly endangered monkeys native to Brazilian ranforests. The Zoo has exhibited these monkeys since 1983, but this male is the first viable birth here in Santa Barbara.

Masai Giraffes

The Zoo is transitioning from exhibiting Baringo giraffes to showcasing Masai [mah-SIGH] giraffes, as part of a regional giraffe management program with other West Coast zoos including those in Los Angeles and San Diego. This allows the zoos to maximize the genetic diversity within the sub-species, while minimizing distances giraffes have to be transported.

Audrey and Betty Lou arrived in Santa Barbara on March 10, 2010, from the Los Angeles Zoo. Betty Lou was born at the San Diego Zoo on August 2, 2007. Audrey was born on February 6, 2008 at the Los Angeles Zoo. The two were housed together at the Los Angeles Zoo beginning in October 2009. Though Audrey is younger, she is currently taller than her companion. Both giraffes are still growing, and could top 17 feet in height. The Masai is the largest subspecies of giraffes. Both giraffes were named by the Dreier Family.

At age 20, Sulima [sue-LEE-mah] is considered quite elderly, for a giraffe, and will live at the Santa Barbara Zoo for the remainder of her life.

Humboldt Penguin Chick

This spring's hatching marks the second successful breeding season for these birds at the Zoo. Our third chick is not yet on exhibit (check back for updates!).
Humboldt penguins are IUCN-listed as vulnerable in their native habitat along the Pacific coast of South America.

Slender-Tailed Meerkats

One male and three female meerkats are on exhibit now next to the giraffes. As they dig, burrow, and exhibit sentry behavior, they seem to be settling in to Santa Barbara just fine. All hail from the San Diego Zoo and we hope to see breeding behaviors in the future.

Asian Small-Clawed Otters

Our new otter pair has a breeding recommendation, which means we could see baby otters at the Zoo some time in the future! The female came from the Bronx Zoo, and the male is from Indianapolis Zoo.

Capybaras

Four juvenile capybaras, including three males and one female, have been delighting guests since their debut in March. All of these animals came from Alameda Park Zoo (New Mexico). Did you know that capybaras, also known as "swamp hogs," are the world's largest rodents?