Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo, Educational zoo in Gainesville, Florida.
Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo is a zoo on the wooded campus of Santa Fe College in Gainesville, Florida, home to around 200 animals from roughly 70 species of mammals, reptiles, and birds. The animals live in outdoor enclosures spread across the grounds, all connected by a walking trail.
The zoo opened in 1970 as part of the college campus with an educational mission from the start. Thirty years later, in 2000, it became the first college-based zoo to receive accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
Students in the Zoo Animal Technology program work directly with the animals every day and often stop to talk with visitors about what they are doing. The result is a place where learning happens out in the open, not behind closed doors.
The walking trail through the grounds is short and easy to follow at a relaxed pace, though a few sections have gentle slopes. On warm days, bring water and sun protection since much of the path is outdoors and exposed.
This is the only zoo in the United States run entirely by college students as part of their training. From their first days in the program, students take on real animal care responsibilities rather than just observing.
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