Joshua Watson

"This is a total dream job," he said.

Joshua is passionate about animals and remembers always being fond of them.

"Almost from the cradle, you'll find pictures of me with animals. Even before I could walk, I've always loved them," he recalled.

Joshua was born in Van Nuys, Calif., raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, and his parents live in North Port, Fla.

Before coming to Santa Fe to teach, he worked as a naturalist at Crooked River State Park in St. Mary's, Ga., where he took care of reptiles and participated in educational programs for the community.

Joshua was educated here in Gainesville. He received a bachelor's in Wildlife Ecology at the University of Florida and then earned an AS degree from Santa Fe in our Zookeeper Technology program.

While getting his degree at UF, he met his wife, Lana. The two have been married for five years and previously lived in Jacksonville.

"We're here to stay. We recently had our first child, Liam, my baby boy, and he's 3 months old," he said, grinning.

You can't be an animal lover without having a few of your own. This family has a small zoo! They have two dogs, two cats, a turtle, a lizard, a Mexican black king snake, and a partridge in a pear tree!

Outside of work, Joshua enjoys hiking and birding the most, and of course, with a new baby, sleeping.

He's most thankful for a healthy wife and child and the opportunity to teach at Santa Fe Teaching Zoo.

"It's a way for me to give back. I love interacting with the students when they're doing labs and taking care of the animals. That's what I enjoy the most."

Read more...

Dear Alumni and Friends:

After 36 years here at the college and the Teaching Zoo, I will be retiring as Zoo Director/Professor and from full-time teaching.  As I prepare to retire I would like your help with a “farewell project” here at the Teaching Zoo.

Read more...

While many might look at how we can help our oceans with regard to climate change, excess fishing and oil spills, the Teaching Zoo will look at how we can protect our oceans without ever leaving home. With this in mind, the zoo has set up displays and discussions about what we can do to help.

"We want to inspire conservation action," said Tarah Jacobs, conservation education specialist. "Much of what we create inland eventually finds its way to the sea, so the idea of protecting our oceans from home makes sense."

Inside the Teaching Zoo's conservation pavilion a discussion will be held on sustainable seafood choices. The information is based on Seafood Watch, a program started by the Monterey Bay Aquarium in 1999.

There will also be children's crafts and activities like being a sea turtle researcher, where the child will  discover the sea turtle's nest, and then log the number of eggs found. Santa Fe students will give demonstrations on how zookeepers work with and train animals, and how water is a vital part of their interactions.

Unlike the usual guided tours, zookeepers will be stationed at the exhibits so that visitors can wander the zoo at their leisure and still have access to detailed information about the animals.

Admission

The special event runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day. Admission for adults is $5, children, $4, and SF students, staff and children under 4 are free. Please call the Teaching Zoo if you need more information, 352-395-5601.

Read more...

Squirrel monkeys are found in the tropical rainforests of South America. These monkeys are around 2 lbs. and 12 inches tall. They eat a variety of fruits, seeds and insects.

Zoo website

Darwin is very active and curious. Most of the time the baby can be seen riding on the back of its mother, Frap. Darwin is beginning to climb on his/her own and eat the same food the adults in the troop eat. Darwin’s arrival at the Teaching Zoo is an incredible opportunity for guests and students alike.  his gives us the chance to watch parenting skills progress naturally as Frap cares for her first child.

The Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo is open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday by appointment, and at the same time on Saturday and Sunday. No appointment is necessary on the weekend.

The zoo will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 26, but it will be open 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday-Sunday, Nov. 27-29. You do not need to make an appointment on those days.

Admission is $4 for adults and $3 for children. Please visit us on the web at www.sfcollege.edu/zoo. 

Read more...

The Fort White charity reports this is the largest single donation of food they get in a year; Catholic Charities said this can drive is second only to the US Post Office food drive.

In addition, between the Publix Charities donation and the outpouring from the Santa Fe College community we had the largest amount of candy ever with 106,510 pieces.

Finally, we had 410 names submitted for our baby capuchin monkey. If you haven't seen the new baby, please come out.

The staff of the Teaching Zoo would like to thank everyone who was involved in this year's Boo at the Zoo. We could not have done it without your help and support!

In the photo are just one half of the cans collected. Click on ithe photo for a larger view.

The Asian small clawed otters were born April 30 to first-time parents, mom Lakena and dad Jay. They are strong, healthy and beginning to emerge from the family den. The pups are about half the size of their parents.

The best time to view the pups is early morning, late afternoon, or during cloudy or rainy weather.

"Their whole exhibit turns to mud when it rains and they love to play in it," said Kyle O'Dea, a zoo technology student from Clinton, Ill.

Read more...

This article, by Santa Fe College's own Kathy Russell and Tarah Jacobs, is published in the new on-line publication CONNECT with Zoos & Aquariums (Association of Zoos & Aquariums).

Read more...

Yes, that's right. You're invited to trick-or-treat at the Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo's Boo at the Zoo Halloween event, 3-7:30 p.m. Saturday, October 31st. Boo at the Zoo brings together people of all ages for a fun, safe, and generousHalloween adventure.

Read more...