The Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo is a 10 acre zoo in Gainesville, Florida. Located on Santa Fe College's main campus, it is the only college zookeeper training facility in the United States. 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.

History

The Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo was established in 1970. It comprises 10 acre 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.

Animals

The zoo is home to over 200 individual animals representing more than 70 species, including mammals, reptiles, amphibians, insects, and birds. List of animals Mammals Herptiles Birds The zoo also participates in several AZA Species Survival Plan (SSP) programs, for white-handed gibbons 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. Students of the Zoo Animal Technology Program are known as Zooies and there is a student chapter of the American Association of Zoo Keepers. The Zoo Animal Technology Program degree has over 200 students enrolled in the program. The two year degree program is to have a four year degree program starting in 2023.

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) and "Boo at the Zoo" (BATZ) Halloween festival.