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San Francisco Zoo & Gardens

@sfzoo.bsky.social
487 followers 18 following 400 posts

Our mission is to connect all people with wildlife, inspire caring for nature and advance conservation action.

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San Francisco Zoo & Gardens @sfzoo.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
These rhinos have quite a repertoire of vocalizations and sounds, from snorts and grunts to bleats and squeaks, to what you hear here - whistles! Though whistles are often used as mating signals, that was probably not the case here. Maybe it was, “hey - where’s my ball, lady?” 🦏 🎥: Katie T.
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San Francisco Zoo & Gardens @sfzoo.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
Having a ball! Once Gauhati gets goin’ with his giant boomer ball, it’s all about focused play time! According to keeper Katie, when he pushes the ball out of reach or the ball gets stuck in a corner, he’ll start making sounds, a sort of communication.
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San Francisco Zoo & Gardens @sfzoo.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Every day is a good day when you happen upon a goat pack walk! Nigerian dwarf goats Chunky Monkey and Moose are in “training” for ambassador programs, and took a little walk around Entry Village recently, including around the dinosaur skeleton!
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San Francisco Zoo & Gardens @sfzoo.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
The lettuce crunchies you didn’t know you needed today. Here’s 12-year-old Walter for some peak wallaroo ASMR!
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San Francisco Zoo & Gardens @sfzoo.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Whew! Hot temps this weekend! And when it reaches 80° in the City, there are ways animals stay cool! In addition to pools, animal care staff may provide ice and ice treats, mud wallows, access to indoor areas, and habitats have shade shelters. 🎥: Kyle W.
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San Francisco Zoo & Gardens @sfzoo.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Our lovely female giraffe, Barbro, is 18 today! She is now officially old enough to vote 🗳️! And well, if she could vote, it would be for extra treats! Stop by African Savanna and wish her a happy birthday! 🦒
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San Francisco Zoo & Gardens @sfzoo.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Mid-week keeper’s eye view of our black and grizzly bears courtesy of keeper Kyle! Catch them while you can, torpor is soon approaching! Torpor is the period when our bears wind down for the winter and experience a reduced metabolic and physical state, not quite hibernation.
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San Francisco Zoo & Gardens @sfzoo.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Who is the real G.O.A.T. in Madagascar? You’ll see!
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San Francisco Zoo & Gardens @sfzoo.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Wolverine Molly had first dibs on some new log enrichment but Edward quickly showed her how to best use it for maximum scratchies! 🎥: Sammy C.
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San Francisco Zoo & Gardens @sfzoo.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
As we celebrate gorillas on this World Gorilla Day and remind you of the importance of protecting these critically endangered Great apes, we wanted to share with you the unique perspective that our female Western lowland gorilla, Dara, has from her favorite perch in the habitat’s big cypress tree.
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San Francisco Zoo & Gardens @sfzoo.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
and the way their bill turns down, does add to the mystique. But instead, Waldrapp ibis are very social, and they depend on group dynamics. These include greeting rituals where they bow to one another and vocalize. They also forage, fly and roost together in groups.
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San Francisco Zoo & Gardens @sfzoo.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
When the overcast sky makes the perfect white backdrop to showcase this Waldrapp ibis’s supposed stern look. But really, this ibis species is not “stern.” That featherless face and wrinkly skin, combined with a sort of “brow” line that makes them look like they are glaring (con’t…)
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San Francisco Zoo & Gardens @sfzoo.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Happy International Red Panda Day! Thank you to everyone who came out to support red panda conservation today! (Be sure to see Little Mebo’s reaction when keeper Christina showed her the custom Little Mebo trading card from @SAFEredpanda!)
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San Francisco Zoo & Gardens @sfzoo.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Check out Guatamalan spiny-tailed iguanas Olaf and his mate, KB, having breakfast! On the menu – salad on a skewer kabob – which also serves as enrichment for them. This encourages them to tear at their food, using their jaw and neck muscles and mimicking more natural foraging behaviors.
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San Francisco Zoo & Gardens @sfzoo.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
Growth spurts! It’s been a couple of weeks since we updated you on our 4 Chilean flamingo chicks! And, now, nearly 3 months later, the chicks are full fledged juveniles, sporting their gray fluff of feathers!
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San Francisco Zoo & Gardens @sfzoo.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
For your Saturday enjoyment… Baird’s tapir Pacha munching in roses! 🌹
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San Francisco Zoo & Gardens @sfzoo.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
Sunflowers have a way of making us smile, as a flower that naturally boosts moods because of their vibrant yellow color and shape that looks like the sun. For Camilla, however, she much preferred the stem and leaves!🌻🌻
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San Francisco Zoo & Gardens @sfzoo.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
Guess who’s 11! African lion Jasiri was born at the Zoo on this date in 2015! And it’s a good bet he’ll spend his day doing what he loves to do - sleep! When he and female Marvella are not cat-napping, it’s a sure bet he’ll be vocalizing like this, at least a few times! Happy Birthday Jasiri!
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San Francisco Zoo & Gardens @sfzoo.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
Their shells, like all tortoises, are sensitive to touch, and they can feel even the lightest touch, even a finger stroke, or drop of water. The shell acts as a receptor for low-frequency vibrations, and it helps them to detect approaching predators or shifts in their environment.
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San Francisco Zoo & Gardens @sfzoo.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
Snaggletooth is seen getting a warm soak and gentle brushing with a toothbrush. He’s still getting used to the brush, so you’ll see keeper Stephanie offering it to him to inspect.
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San Francisco Zoo & Gardens @sfzoo.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
Snaggletooth is a 23-year-old male northern spider tortoise, native to Madagascar. Even though he and his pal, Ralph, also 23, are currently not viewable, we’re sharing some of their behind-the-scenes care!
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San Francisco Zoo & Gardens @sfzoo.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
Rain also prompts them to drink water droplets off their own body as a way to help them to digest. According to keeper Stephanie, she will rub misters for a while in the exhibit to simulate rain, and sometimes offers showers for several minutes by hand (as seen here!)
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San Francisco Zoo & Gardens @sfzoo.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
How cool is this! Our emerald tree boas, siblings Spot and Bert, are seen drinking water while being misted! In the wild, emerald boas will also drink when it rains, and will defecate during rain showers as a way to keep clean and to disguise their scent from predators.
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San Francisco Zoo & Gardens @sfzoo.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
What a beauty! Female eastern mountain bongo, Leanne, turns 3 years old today! She received a little extra treat from keeper Katie, and we’re there for it!
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San Francisco Zoo & Gardens @sfzoo.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Black rhino Boone received one of his favorite (but rare) treats - sunflowers! And according to his caretaker Katie, he was so excited that he just grabbed it and started munching! Oh Boone!
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San Francisco Zoo & Gardens @sfzoo.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
They are known for being social and playful, and have been described as a “flying puppy.” That’s a pretty spot on description!
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San Francisco Zoo & Gardens @sfzoo.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
One of most eclectic places to visit here is the South American Tropical Rainforest & Aviary, where you can see a variety of reptiles, amphibians and free-flight birds (and even a two-toed sloth!). We recently spied one of our two golden conures being sorta silly.
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San Francisco Zoo & Gardens @sfzoo.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
Our red ruffed, ring-tailed and black and white ruffed lemurs show how the sound of carrot-eating can be quite mesmerizing!
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San Francisco Zoo & Gardens @sfzoo.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
When it’s meal time for the Amazon milk frogs, keeper Stephanie says there are always varying degrees of success! The milk frogs have relatively good vision, and are great at spotting movement, especially in the dark (they are active at night).
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San Francisco Zoo & Gardens @sfzoo.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
Bali mynahs are the national bird of Bali, but sadly, there are very few individuals left in the wild due to the illegal pet trade. Thanks to AZA’s Species Survival Plan, there are about 1,000 birds found in accredited zoos, and throughout zoos in Europe and Asia.
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San Francisco Zoo & Gardens @sfzoo.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
A strikingly snow-white bird with blue skin patches around its eyes and wingtips is the critically endangered Bali mynah, and you can view ours (and hear them) at the aviary exhibit located adjacent to Amphibian Alley and across from Koala Crossing.
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San Francisco Zoo & Gardens @sfzoo.bsky.social · 16/08/2026
Lemurs high up in the trees (and well, on a fire hose). That is all.
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San Francisco Zoo & Gardens @sfzoo.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
If you’re looking for the newest member of our western lowland gorilla troop…you might want to look UP! When Dara, our 23-year-old female, first experienced the outdoor habitat, she beelined to the tall cypress tree, and quickly found her new favorite place – with the best views!
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San Francisco Zoo & Gardens @sfzoo.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
Happy World Lizard Day! They also have a clear third eyelid called a nictitating membrane that protects the eye from debris and murky water. This membrane acts like goggles, allowing them to see while underwater.
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San Francisco Zoo & Gardens @sfzoo.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
Happy World Lizard Day! One phenomenon about lizards is that they do close their eyes to sleep. Komodo dragons, like our male Rinca, have upper and lower eyelids that shut completely when they rest or fall asleep—as do caiman lizards, like the adorably named Ladybug Lotusflower.
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San Francisco Zoo & Gardens @sfzoo.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
2/2 We have been honored to have ambassador African lions here over the Zoo’s long history, represented today by male Jasiri and female Marvella (aka Lulu). Though we announced a number of months ago a pause in our lion program, you can still see our pair here. Happy World Lion Day!
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San Francisco Zoo & Gardens @sfzoo.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
Honoring and celebrating lions on this World Lion Day. Classified as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, lions continue to face population declines in the wild due to habitat loss and fragmentation, poaching for parts, human-wildlife conflict, and depletion of prey.1/2
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San Francisco Zoo & Gardens @sfzoo.bsky.social · 09/08/2026
Frozen krill for Molly and frozen carrot tops for Edward (wolverines!). Order up!
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San Francisco Zoo & Gardens @sfzoo.bsky.social · 08/08/2026
Our 4 Chilean flamingo chicks are getting bigger by the day! They are now off their nest mounds and feeling all grown-up. You can see them standing on one leg, exploring the habitat, and engaging with one another. And of course, they still have their now light-grayish fluff!
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San Francisco Zoo & Gardens @sfzoo.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
When you think no one is looking… Keeper Mary was on hand for some zoomies at the shared Przewalski’s horse/Bactrian camel yard, when she filmed female Bajkit running around. Be sure to see Bactrius Maximus II try to join in!
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San Francisco Zoo & Gardens @sfzoo.bsky.social · 02/08/2026
Hope your Sunday is as productive as the black-and-white ruffed lemurs!
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San Francisco Zoo & Gardens @sfzoo.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
Who knew that a pile of acacia branches would elicit such enthusiasm! Instead of scattering browse throughout the black-tailed prairie dog habitat as she normally does, Keeper Christina tried something different by placing it all in one large pile. The prairie dogs were thrilled!
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San Francisco Zoo & Gardens @sfzoo.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
Keeper Stephanie eyed brother/sister emerald tree boas Bert and Spot “being cute.” And we agree! We’ve been asked how two of them can reside together. It’s the case that if they have a large habitat and the individuals are compatible and monitored, like ours, they will do well together.
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San Francisco Zoo & Gardens @sfzoo.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
What a way to cool off! Keeper Selena made some special fruit popsicles for our Bornean orangutans, blending strawberries and diluted apple juice and frozen on popsicle sticks. Here’s Berani, who makes eating a popsicle a joyful experience.🦧
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San Francisco Zoo & Gardens @sfzoo.bsky.social · 26/07/2026
Happy 24th Birthday to our female mandrill, Lulu! Keeper Bryan went all out with a colorful, summery enrichment presentation, and since she loves “bags” (who doesn’t?), they were filled with some of her favorite treats, including popcorn, dried cranberries and yam!
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San Francisco Zoo & Gardens @sfzoo.bsky.social · 25/07/2026
Earlier this week Zoo Docents hosted their annual keeper luncheon in honor of National Zookeeper Week. Thank you Docents, everyone enjoyed the event – it was quite a spread! We end the week as we started it, celebrating our amazing keepers!
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San Francisco Zoo & Gardens @sfzoo.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
And while this vid showcases just two individuals, the rearing and oversight of the chicks takes a village, with curators, keepers and vet staff involved. During this National Zookeeper Week, we salute our whole animal care team! 🐧🦩
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San Francisco Zoo & Gardens @sfzoo.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
Keepers wear a lot of different hats – animal caregivers, dieticians, behaviorists, exhibit designers, enrichment creators, custodians, gardeners, veterinary assistants, educators, biologists, and as doting parents! For the first time in many years, we have both penguin & flamingo chicks.
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San Francisco Zoo & Gardens @sfzoo.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
A mini heat wave here but still cooler than everywhere else as we are in the 70s today! Check out our squad of Chacoan peccaries, who found some mud to wallow in, thanks to keeper Mary! Peccaries do not have sweat glands and wallow in mud to regulate their body temps to keep cool.
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San Francisco Zoo & Gardens @sfzoo.bsky.social · 19/07/2026
All in fun! Join us in wishing all of our dedicated keepers a happy National Zookeeper Week. We thank them for all they do to care for our animals every single day!
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