IMPORTANT NOTES: The
Santa Barbara Zoo underwent some major renovations in 2004,
including updating and expansion of some exhibits, and the
construction of an Asian Cats exhibit; we changed some of the
questions to reflect the changes. In 2008 and 2009, more changes
are being made, including a new Condor exhibit. As a result, the
Channel Islands Foxes will not be on display until the new work is
completed. But the new stuff should be very nice, and it will make
for a better zoo. Thanks to The Other Topa Sisters for the update!!
One of the joys of being
a grandparent is that we can choose when, and when not, to visit
with the grandkids. And we can spoil them like we couldn’t
risk spoiling our own kids. Finally, we can drop-kick them back to
Mom and Dad when the visit is over 
We spent today in Santa
Barbara with our youngest grandson, Larez. We went to the Zoo and
Stearns Wharf; we found a geocache: it was a really fine day. In
honor of this, we decided to put together a virtual tour of the
Zoo, which has been making great efforts to upgrade its exhibits
and its image. For a small zoo tucked away as it is, this is a
pretty good one, and the smallness makes it very easy to see just
about everything in a day, without having to
hurry.
Below are two sets of
questions: three lettered ones and sixteen numbered
ones. The answers for all these questions can be found within the
grounds of the Santa Barbara Zoological Gardens. The first numbered
question is about something right outside the Ticket Office and
Main Gate; all the rest are within the compound. To claim a
“find” for this, you must e-mail us the answer for
question #1, and for any ten (or more, if you wish) of questions #2
through #16; please do not post them in your log entry! Naturally,
we want the answers as posted on signs and plaques at the zoo. Some
of these will be easy; some will not. Some can be found outside the
zoo (but can you trust them to agree with the zoo’s answer?);
some cannot. Also, please post your answers for the lettered
questions in your log entry here, as they have no right or wrong
answers. The co-ordinates given are for a spot somewhere in the
parking area. In actual fact, you don’t really need your GPS
at all for this geocache. Some virtual tours of large sites (e.g.,
the one in Knott’s Berry Farm) have the co-ordinates for
every question; in those, you are required to answer every question
to claim a “find”. Because signs and exhibits have a
way of changing in a place like this, we don’t ask you to
submit every answer, as things will change over time. Thus, we
decided that co-ordinates for every question weren’t needed,
and might actually get in the way. The real goal here is to spend a
leisurely day with your family visiting the animals; or vice-versa.
If you don’t find a particular
answer, well, there are lots of other opportunities. We don’t
expect that you will find any missionary antelopes, the giraffes
seem sincere enough and there are no hamsters of any sort, turned
on or otherwise, but the animals will almost certainly love it if
you do come to visit. 
The Questions
- Did you see any of the Channel Island Foxes? Sometimes they are
easier to see from the walkway along the playground.
- Don't you think it would be nice if the gift shop near the
entrance stayed open an extra half-hour? If you are there until
closing, you can't buy any souvenirs on your way out
- Did you ride the train? If so, did you enjoy the ride?
Remember: please post the answers to the above questions in your
log. Send the answers to the questions below to us through our
profile link.
- Just outside the Ticket Office is a bench, with three animals
carved on it. What is the full name of the company mentioned on the
plaque, and what is the date?
- What is the approximate top speed of Scarlet Macaws? These
gorgeous birds were moved; they were near the main
restaurant, but are now near the anteaters.
- About how many Chinese Alligators are left in the wild?
- True or False? The Black-footed Cat (the photo in the middle of
the sign is hilarious, especially if you are owned by a house cat)
never drinks water.
- For about how long do Ring-tailed Lemurs live?
- If you love creepy-crawlies, you'll have no trouble entering
the "Ewww!" exhibit and telling us which spider is the largest in
the world
- What is the full, repetitious, scientific name for the Western
Lowlands Gorilla?
- Meerkats live in groups of up to how many members?
- What are the names of the two Asian Small-clawed Otters?
- Dandylion lived from which year to which year? For some reason,
they did not move this sign over to the Asian Cats
area.
- There is a bench in the Palm Garden Picnic Area that has an
anteater carved on it. Who is the person (he was a zookeeper here)
mentioned on the plaque on this bench, and what were his birth and
death years?
- Speaking of anteaters, how many ants can a Giant Anteater eat,
if an anteater eats all the ants it can eat in a day?
- There is a “special” giraffe in this zoo. What is
her name and what is so special about her?
- In the wild, approximately how much vegetation does an Asian
Elephant eat? Give the answer in pounds. The signs for this are a
bit out-of-the-way, but it'll make sense once you find them.
- The capybara is the largest of what order of mammals?
- What organization is the main sponsor of the Wings of Asia? The
plaque is right near the exhibit entrance. Plan to spend a little
time inside; it's very peaceful
We hope you enjoyed your day at the Zoo 
Come again soon! And if you have some
time left in your day, consider a stroll along Cabrillo Blvd. to
the Bird Refuge behind the zoo, or along the beach to Stearns
Wharf.
