Overview
It’s a bear! It’s a monkey! No…it’s a tree kangaroo! You heard right. The Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo is home to the Matschie’s tree kangaroo, an endangered species native to a small area of Papua New Guinea.
Bring the whole family out to the Zoo on Saturday, May 21st from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. to see these rare, majestic animals and learn how you can help them in the wild. Our zookeepers will be out in full force to show guests training demonstrations, give keeper talks and introduce you to some of our amazing animal ambassadors.
The kids can enjoy fun kangaroo themed crafts and games, while the adults can savor a sample of Caffe Vita’s Papua New Guinea Yopno Uruwa Som coffee. Caffe Vita collaborates with the Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program to bring this shade grown coffee blend to the United States and we will be selling bags to further support the cause. (Supplies are limited!)
Have you ever dreamed of meeting a tree kangaroo? This World Tree Kangaroo Day we will be unveiling an exciting new augmented reality (AR) experience created by Handbuilt Creative, in partnership with East Carolina University. Through your smartphone, you will be able to see a tree kangaroo up close and personal, and experience nearly unlimited unique interactions in real time. The SF Teaching Zoo will be one of the first zoos to offer this revolutionary technology, so don’t miss this once in a lifetime chance to explore this new interactive experience!
You can also enjoy the sounds of Oceania with didgeridoo performances throughout the event, and interactive sessions where you can play along!
Lindsey Dank is a children’s presenter who has been making, playing and teaching didgeridoo for over 20 years. His passion for the didgeridoo began in the year 2000 when he first heard the instrument and learned about its connection to Aboriginal Australia. Since then, he has performed didgeridoo over 2500 times live for various events and venues across the southeast US.
Lindsey will be entertaining the crowd throughout the day with the exotic sounds of the didgeridoo starting at 10:00 a.m. He will be inviting passers-by to join in the rhythms playing clap sticks that he will be providing at his tent.
Keeper Talk and Presentation Schedule
- 10 a.m. - Red ruffed lemurs
- 11 a.m. - Gopher tortoises
- 12 p.m. - White-handed gibbons
- 12:30 p.m. - Zoos & Tree Roos (at the Conservation Pavilion)
- 1 p.m. - Key deer
- 2 p.m. - Eastern indigo snake
Date:
May 21, 2022. 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Quiet hours for those with sensory sensitivities will be from 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. (no music or presentations on a microphone)
Admission:
Tickets are only available at the gate the day of event. All credit cards, cash, checks and Samsung Pay are accepted.
$8 - adults
$5 - children ages 4-12, Seniors (60+), Active Military and Veterans, Teachers, Police, Firefighters, First Responders, EMT/EMS, Healthcare Workers (all with valid ID), UF students and staff with current Gator1 ID
$3 - Electronics Benefits Transfer recipients
(up to 4 total tickets with card, any combination of adults/children)
Free - Children (3 and under), SF Students, Staff, and Retirees (with current SF ID), and Zoo Members
Where:
Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo
3000 NW 83rd St.
Gainesville, FL 32606
This event is funded in part by Visit Gainesville, Alachua County.
More information about Matschie's tree kangaroos, conservation programs, and community partnerships
Take a journey into the cloud forests of Papua New Guinea and explore the world of the Matschie’s tree kangaroo. Learn how Dr. Lisa Dabek, founder of the Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program, and researchers are learning about the life of tree kangaroos and how supporting local coffee farmers can help save an endangered species.
Tree Kangaroo Species Survival Plan and Conservation Program
It’s our last Tree Kangaroo Tuesday. Thank you for joining us all month long as we explored the lives of these amazing animals. Check out this video to find out how organizations accredited by The Association of Zoos and Aquariums are making a difference for tree kangaroos in human care and in the wild!
Community, Conservation, and Coffee
Learn how coffee farmers in Papua New Guinea partnered with the Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program to create 180,000 acres of preserved land to protect Matschie's tree kangaroos.