A few clicks and a debit card number hold my online reservation for two at the Santa Barbara Zoo, which officially reopened to the public on Jan. 30. But today happens to be Feb. 14. I’m taking my valentine out on a daring day trip to said zoo, and we’re not going home until we see some flamingos.
We’re both wearing sunglasses that rest upon the tips of our masked noses, a minute detail to the unadventurous but I have to admit, I’m enjoying the notion of such accessories concealing our true identities. For all anyone knows, we could very well be a celebrity couple.
My delusions of incognito grandeur might become reality if we were the only masked party, but the zoo’s rightfully strict face-covering policy makes that an impossibility. Following both state and county guidelines, the zoo also implemented safety enhancements, modifications, and protocols to allow guests back into the park with ample space for social distancing—including capacity limits and reserved entry time slots.
In other words, even if I kept the celebrity couple daydream going, there aren’t many other zoo attendees around for me and my famous girlfriend to impress. But that’s what made us comfortable enough to be here in the first place. I’m thankful for the chance to enjoy visiting the zoo’s animals and outdoor exhibits without worrying about bumping into other parties or getting stuck in a crowd.
There are so many animal destinations to choose from as we trot down the park’s yellow brick road of sorts—lions, and tigers, and bears, oh my! (Minus the tigers and bears). There are leopards though—a beautiful snow leopard, Kisa (Russian for “kitty”), and two Amur leopards, Ajax and Kasha.
We later share an intimate gaze with one of the zoo’s two western lowland gorillas—Nzinga and Bangori. It’s hard to tell for sure, but if I had to guess between the two, I’d say our eyes were locked with Bangori’s, who the zoo’s website describes as “laid back” and not mindful of strangers, while Nzinga is described as a “strong silent type.”
Land dwellers aren’t the only animal inhabitants we meet. Enter Avalon and Betsy, two majestic bald eagles who came to call the zoo their home while recovering from injuries that rendered them unable to return to the wild. Avalon sustained an injury to her left wing after colliding with a car in 2011. Although she has limited mobility, she can still make short flights and perch in trees. Betsy was found being held illegally and with significant wing injuries that left her unable to fly completely. She’s resided at the zoo since 2000.
From wings to flippers, we later make—or should I say, march—our way to the Humboldt penguins’ habitat. If you’re wondering how these little fellows are able to live somewhere as snowless as the Central Coast, the zoo’s website explains it all—and in excellent, punny fashion I might add.
“These penguins from the coast of South America like it ‘Chile,’ not chilly. In fact, their native South American climate is much like Santa Barbara’s,” the site explains.
I can’t help but notice the zoo is promoting a new children’s book based on one of its very own Humboldt penguins, Monty. Written by Dori Edwards and illustrated by Ryan Carr, Monty’s Marvelous Adventures follows the titular penguin as he wanders through the zoo, meeting other animals he’s never before laid his eyes on along the way. The book was inspired by Monty’s real-life supervised walks outside his penguin habitat, during the zoo’s first pandemic closure last year.
Although I personally don’t grab a copy of the book on our way out, while passing the tempting outdoor gift displays near the zoo’s exit, I refuse to walk away empty-handed. There’s a penguin fridge magnet with my name on it, and it’s less than $5—quite a steel (get it?).
For the record, I also buy my girlfriend a giraffe keychain!
Arts Editor Caleb Wiseblood has the Zoboomafoo theme song stuck in his head. Send remedies to cwiseblood@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Feb 25 – Mar 4, 2021.