Zookeeper for a Day

By Terry Tomalin
Published: March 11, 2009
Last Updated On: March 10, 2011

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Go behind the scenes at the Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo in Gainesville.

Everybody loves the zoo. But have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a zookeeper?

You can get your chance at the Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo in Gainesville. Every year, nearly one hundred students train to manage and care for a diverse collection of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians here as part of Santa Fe College's Zoo Animal Technology Program.

You can tour the 10-acre "living classroom" set in a naturally wooded environment and learn what it takes to be a zookeeper. Admission is only $4 for adults (ages 13-59) and $3 for children (ages 4-12) and seniors (ages 60-plus). What a deal compared to conventional zoos! Not to mention that here, you can interact with the zoo's tour guides (students enrolled in the program). So don't be afraid to ask plenty of questions. Be ready to have fun and learn something too.

Home to 75 different species of rare and exotic animals including the Matschie's tree kangaroo of New Guinea, the small-clawed otter of Asia and the South American ocelot, the Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo has a little something for everyone.

Diverse Wildlife

Home to 75 different species of rare and exotic animals including the Matschie's tree kangaroo of New Guinea, the small-clawed otter of Asia and the South American ocelot, the Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo has a little something for everyone.
 
Some of the zoo's more notable entertainers, a troop of White-throated capuchins, really know how to put on a show. You may recognize this type of monkey from its association with organ grinders – street performers from the 19th and 20th centuries who operated a street organ.

Other primates at the zoo include a pair of White-handed gibbons named Eddie and Cajun who vocalize loud enough to be heard on campus, as well as a pair of Red-ruffed lemurs.

The zoo's herpetarium is also top notch. See Eastern diamondback rattlesnakes, ball pythons, poison dart frogs and legless lizards up-close.

Because this is a "teaching zoo" the students are the animal keepers, so you won't see the typical, large animals such as lions, giraffes and elephants that have come to symbolize many zoo experiences. But, what Santa Fe's animals lack in size, they make up in personality. You won't find a more eclectic mix in the United States.

Zoo Events

The Zoo's motto is "conservation, education, innovation." Open Saturday and Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. without an appointment, and on weekdays through special appointment, the zoo also hosts assorted special events throughout the year.

Come October, witches, ghosts and goblins arrive in droves for the Boo at the Zoo. The zoo's 10-acre forest comes alive with lights at this annual Halloween event. Student zookeepers look forward to handing out nearly 90,000 treats at 12 candy stations spread throughout the zoo. Admission is simple: each visitor must bring one canned good for a local food bank. Last year, 6,000 people attended the event.

The Zoo offers a variety of special programs for youngsters as well, including The Bug Club and a popular sea turtle day, which teaches both parents and children the value of these endangered reptiles.

More Gainesville

Within a short drive from Santa Fe College, see what else Gainesville has to offer:

Stars and planets are on the menu at the Kika Silva Pla Planetarium, also at Santa Fe College, which hosts public shows on Fridays at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. and Saturdays at 3 p.m., 5 p.m., 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. It's the only planetarium in North Central Florida. More information about shows is available at www.sfcollege.edu/planetarium or call 352-395-5225.

While you are in town, stop and see the Devil's Millhopper State Geological Site, a 120-foot deep, 500-foot wide, bowl-shaped depression in the ground that can be accessed by a 232-step wooden staircase. Water from nearby springs cascades down the steep slopes to create a miniature rain forest at the bottom. This unique geological formation has been declared a National Natural Landmark and should be on everybody's must see list.

The Florida Museum of Natural History, which houses the finest display of natural and historic artifacts in the state, is another great place to spend an afternoon. Be sure to save some time for the Butterfly Rainforest at the Florida Museum of Natural History, a thrill for young and old alike.

Kanapaha Botanical Gardens, a 62-acre oasis of peace and serenity, will set your mind at ease after a busy morning at the zoo. The gardens, with its waterfalls and brook, are another great way to end a day.

Swing by Cross Creek and visit Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park, former home of the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of "The Yearling." It may be a little bit farther away, but it's worth the drive.

This article is brought to you by Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo. For information on visiting the Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo, call 352-395-5601 or go to www.sfcollege.edu/zoo  Tip: Schedule your appointments at least three days in advance for a weekday tour.