October 20, 2020 – Over the last few months, staff and zookeepers have been working diligently to prepare the Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo for guests. They know that zoo members and visitors have been anxiously waiting to walk the trails again and say hello to zoo favorites like the capuchin monkeys and alligators. SF Teaching Zoo staff are excited to share that, once the zoo opens back up to the general public, guests may get a chance to sneak a peek at new additions to the zoo family.
In Winter 2019, zookeepers were so excited to welcome the zoo’s first otter pups in a decade. Prior to closing, guests were able to see them start to grow and explore. Chitra and Duncan wasted no time, and in July, they introduced us to three newborn pups. The older pups are clumsily doing their part to move their younger siblings from place to place and the parents have begun swimming lessons. It’s never a dull moment with an otter family of nine.
One month later, zookeepers were pleasantly surprised to find Cajun, the white-handed gibbon with a tiny bundle of joy. And Cajun has not been shy about showing her newborn off. She’s often seen laying on her back in sun with her blonde baby on her stomach or tight rope walking around her home while baby holds on tight.
The health and safety of our animal and human families is our top priority. Many new safety measures have been implemented to protect everyone in the zoo. The zoo recently reopened for SF faculty and staff, and are making plans to reopen to the public at a later date. Stay tuned for more information about reopening.
