CEO: Santa Barbara Zoo is doing well

By ANNIKA BAHNSEN NEWS-PRESS CORRESPONDENT

You could hear the birds chirping and animals rumbling around at the Santa Barbara Zoo as community members arrived Wednesday morning to hear Rich Block, the zoo’s president and CEO, share some good news during the State of Zoo breakfast.

Mr. Block reported on progress with financial and conservation efforts to zoo members during the annual presentation.

A major update has been the zoo’s signing of the memorandum with Cal State Channel Islands, which will open a new conservation center on the Camarillo school’s campus for the zoo to use.

One of the newest members of the Santa Barbara Zoo is a male red panda, who was given to the zoo by Trevor Zoo at Millbrook School in New York. The panda is not currently in his habitat and living behind the scenes of the zoo while his habitat is renovated.

The zoo hopes to continue to be a source of refuge for many native and imported animals from around the world. With the addition of the new center at Cal State Channel Islands, this is making the dream more possible.

Financially, Mr. Block reported that the zoo was working in a positive direction after a couple years of recovery due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The annual