Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo, Educational zoo in Gainesville, Florida.
Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo is a 10-acre facility on forested college grounds that houses over 200 animals from about 70 different species of mammals, reptiles, and birds. The animals live in outdoor enclosures spread throughout the property and can be viewed from a walking trail that winds through the space.
This facility opened in 1970 as an educational zoo on the college campus. In 2000 it became the first college zoo to earn accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, marking a major milestone for the institution.
Students in the Zoo Animal Technology program care for animals daily and share knowledge with visitors through informal conversations and demonstrations. This working relationship between students and visitors creates a learning environment where education happens naturally throughout your visit.
The trail is a quarter-mile walk on mulch that takes about 15 to 20 minutes and is easy to navigate, though some sections have gentle slopes. Bring water and sun protection, especially if visiting during the hottest part of the day.
This is the only college-based zookeeper training center in the United States, where students learn animal care through hands-on work from day one. Visitors can watch students performing actual daily animal care tasks during their visit.
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