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Santa Ana Zoo AI simulator
(@Santa Ana Zoo_simulator)
Hub AI
Santa Ana Zoo AI simulator
(@Santa Ana Zoo_simulator)
Santa Ana Zoo
The Santa Ana Zoo at Prentice Park in Santa Ana, California, is a 20-acre (8.1 ha) zoo focusing on the animals and plants of Central and South America. The Santa Ana Zoo hosts more than 270,000 people annually. The zoo opened in 1952 and is owned and operated by the City of Santa Ana. Joseph Prentice donated land for the zoo with the stipulation that the city must keep at least 50 monkeys at all times. The zoo maintains an extensive primate collection with over a dozen species from around the world.
The focus of the Santa Ana Zoo is recreation, education, and conservation. It is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).
Joseph Edward Prentice bought the 19.23-acre (7.78 ha) site. He donated 16 acres (6.5 ha) to the city of Santa Ana in 1949 and stipulated that the zoo have at least fifty monkeys at all times. Construction of the zoo began that year, and it opened on March 8, 1952. A children's zoo was soon built and the Flight Aviary, now known as the Jack Lynch Aviary, was completed in 1962. In 1983, the amphitheater was completed and the zoo gained AZA accreditation. The 1990s had three major events: in 1990, the Flight Aviary was upgraded and renamed the Jack Lynch Aviary; Amazon's Edge opened in 1992; and Colors of the Amazon Aviary opened in 1996. In the 2000s, the Zoofari Express Train Ride opened in 2000, Crean Family Farm opened in 2004, and Tierra de las Pampas opened in 2010. With its outdated monkey habitats, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums declined to accredit the zoo in 2017. It regained accreditation in 2025.
In April 2010, Santa Ana Zoo opened Tierra de las Pampas or "Land of the Grasses." It was the first in a series of new exhibits that covers 2 acres (8,100 m2). Tierra de las Pampas houses giant anteaters in one exhibit, and greater rheas and guanacos in another, with a visitor footpath located in between them.
On December 20, 2025, the exhibit opened to the public as an expansion and reimagining of the former "Amazon's Edge" exhibit (1993-2022). At the time of its opening, River's Edge features habitats for howler monkeys, spider monkeys, tamarins, and (temporarily) Asian small-clawed otters.
The Rainforest Exhibit is a small exhibit that represents the Amazon, such as white-faced saki monkeys and green iguanas.
The 9,000-square-foot (840 m2) Colors of the Amazon Aviary opened on August 1, 1996. This walk-through aviary displays a variety of South American birds in a lushly planted habitat with meandering streams.
Crean Family Farm opened to the public in July 2004 and focuses on rare breeds of domesticated animals. The centerpiece of the complex is a two-story red barn which houses animals like pigs and an education space.
Santa Ana Zoo
The Santa Ana Zoo at Prentice Park in Santa Ana, California, is a 20-acre (8.1 ha) zoo focusing on the animals and plants of Central and South America. The Santa Ana Zoo hosts more than 270,000 people annually. The zoo opened in 1952 and is owned and operated by the City of Santa Ana. Joseph Prentice donated land for the zoo with the stipulation that the city must keep at least 50 monkeys at all times. The zoo maintains an extensive primate collection with over a dozen species from around the world.
The focus of the Santa Ana Zoo is recreation, education, and conservation. It is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).
Joseph Edward Prentice bought the 19.23-acre (7.78 ha) site. He donated 16 acres (6.5 ha) to the city of Santa Ana in 1949 and stipulated that the zoo have at least fifty monkeys at all times. Construction of the zoo began that year, and it opened on March 8, 1952. A children's zoo was soon built and the Flight Aviary, now known as the Jack Lynch Aviary, was completed in 1962. In 1983, the amphitheater was completed and the zoo gained AZA accreditation. The 1990s had three major events: in 1990, the Flight Aviary was upgraded and renamed the Jack Lynch Aviary; Amazon's Edge opened in 1992; and Colors of the Amazon Aviary opened in 1996. In the 2000s, the Zoofari Express Train Ride opened in 2000, Crean Family Farm opened in 2004, and Tierra de las Pampas opened in 2010. With its outdated monkey habitats, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums declined to accredit the zoo in 2017. It regained accreditation in 2025.
In April 2010, Santa Ana Zoo opened Tierra de las Pampas or "Land of the Grasses." It was the first in a series of new exhibits that covers 2 acres (8,100 m2). Tierra de las Pampas houses giant anteaters in one exhibit, and greater rheas and guanacos in another, with a visitor footpath located in between them.
On December 20, 2025, the exhibit opened to the public as an expansion and reimagining of the former "Amazon's Edge" exhibit (1993-2022). At the time of its opening, River's Edge features habitats for howler monkeys, spider monkeys, tamarins, and (temporarily) Asian small-clawed otters.
The Rainforest Exhibit is a small exhibit that represents the Amazon, such as white-faced saki monkeys and green iguanas.
The 9,000-square-foot (840 m2) Colors of the Amazon Aviary opened on August 1, 1996. This walk-through aviary displays a variety of South American birds in a lushly planted habitat with meandering streams.
Crean Family Farm opened to the public in July 2004 and focuses on rare breeds of domesticated animals. The centerpiece of the complex is a two-story red barn which houses animals like pigs and an education space.