Ambassador Animal Encounters

Meet our ambassador animals!

Next time you visit the Zoo, reserve a private meet-and-greet with our animal ambassadors. This encounter provides children and the young at heart with a unique and once in a lifetime interactive experience with animals.

This program is available daily, subject to availability. You must schedule this program ahead of time, and we strongly suggest you schedule at least two weeks in advance.

Rates

  • $10.00 per person 1 year old and up

Admission is not included. Children under 1 year old can participate at no cost. 

Contact

Please fill out the following form to request an animal encounter. If you have questions, please contact zoo staff at 352-395-5633 or zoo@sfcollege.edu prior to requesting an encounter. 

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does the encounter last?

Encounters are 15-20 minutes long depending on how many questions you have for our zookeepers.

Will I be feeding any of the animals?

For general encounters, you will not be able to feed the animals. If you book our Galapagos tortoise encounter you will have the opportunity to give them delicious leaves and/or veggies.

Can I hold or wear any of the animals?

Our animals feel the most comfortable when their zookeepers who are trained in animal handling hold them. While you won’t be able to hold the animals, you will likely get a chance to touch most or all of the animals you meet. 

Do I get to choose which animals I will get to meet?

The health and well-being of our animals is very important to us. Animals only participate in a couple programs a week based on their personal care schedules so we cannot guarantee any specific animal. We also offer them choice and control so if they are showing us signs that they would prefer to stay in their habitat, we let them be.

What happens if I am late and cannot make it?

If you anticipate being late, please call the main zoo office at (352) 395-5633 as soon as possible. We cannot guarantee that zookeepers will be available to facilitate the encounter if you are beyond 15 minutes late. If you cannot make your scheduled encounter, please let us know as soon as possible and we will do our best to reschedule.

Request Form

Please fill out this form to request an ambassador animal encounter. A SF Teaching Zoo staff member will contact you within 3 business days to finalize your reservation and give you additional information regarding your encounter.

Please note: Your reservation is not finalized until you receive an email or phone call confirming your request from a SF Teaching Zoo staff member.

Contact Information

 

Desired Dates

Must choose three different dates.

Preferred Time

You can check more than one.

Thank you for your submission! You should receive a response from the scheduling staff within 72 hours. If you have not received a response after three business days, please call 352-395-5633 for assistance. If you are a potential student and have questions about the program, please email ZooAdvisor@sfcollege.edu.

SF Teaching Zoo Staff

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