If you live in Santa Ana you can visit the Santa Ana Zoo for free on Sunday, July 20, 2014, from 10 am to 4 pm.  Proof of residency (driver’s license, utility bill) will be required upon arrival. Not valid to schools or business addresses.

There is always a lot going on at the Zoo.  here are a few recent highlights:

• Tiny Twin Tamarins Win the Hearts of Local Zoo-goers: The Santa Ana Zoo in Prentice Park is pleased to announce the birth of twin golden-headed lion tamarins on March 12, 2014. With only 75 of these rare tamarins living in North America, the tiny tots – weighing in at 1/8th of a pound – are a boon to the captive breeding program.
• There’s a New Baby Nosing Around Santa Ana: The Santa Ana Zoo in Prentice Park is delighted to announce the birth of a healthy giant anteater pup. Born on March 24, 2014, the new anteater is the third birth since the opening of the Tierra de las Pampas South American grasslands exhibit four years ago.
• Sunset at the Zoo, featuring “Brew at the Zoo”: july 20, 5:30 – 7:30pm | Bring a picnic and join us for an evening of live music, beer tasting, craft tables, train/carrousel rides and animals
• Ocelot Habitat Planned – Ocelots are beautiful “exotic” wild cats from South America, often described as “miniature cheetahs.” There are currently only 26 Brazilian Ocelots in the United States, and we are bringing two to the Santa Ana Zoo. Since 2002, the Santa Ana Zoo has been working with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Brazilian Ocelot Consortium and the government of Brazil to play a role in the ocelot’s survival. The ocelot currently is classified as an endangered species, and the Santa Ana Zoo has been one of ten U.S. zoos involved with the consortium.
• Backyard Bobcats.  The Santa Ana Zoo at Prentice Park is host to a unique partnership with the United States Geological Survey. The Zoo provides space for a satellite office for local scientists doing research on the fauna and flora of Southern California.  One of the USGS’ principal investigators, Dr. Erin Boydston, is studying wild cats in Southern California, including bobcats and mountain lions. In some parts of Orange County where people are living in close proximity to natural bobcat habitats, they sometimes encounter “backyard bobcats.”
• Sunset at the Zoo, featuring “Brew at the Zoo”: July 6, 5:30 – 7:30pm | Bring a picnic and join us for an evening of live music, beer tasting, craft tables, train/carrousel rides and animals

 Location and Directions

• Zoo Address: 1801 East Chestnut Avenue, Santa Ana, at Prentice Park
• Traveling North on the 5 Freeway: Exit at the First Street/Fourth Street off ramp. Stay in the left hand lane (First Street) and it will curve over the freeway and drop you off at First Street (DO NOT TURN ONTO FIRST STREET). Go straight for 1½ blocks. You will run into Chestnut Avenue, and the Zoo parking lot will be on the left hand corner.
• Traveling South on the 5 Freeway: Exit at the Fourth Street off ramp. At the end of the off ramp, continue straight for 2½ blocks (DO NOT TURN ONTO FOURTH STREET OR ONTO FIRST STREET). You will run into Chestnut Avenue, and the Zoo parking lot will be on the left hand corner.
• Traveling North on the 55 Freeway: Coming from Costa Mesa area, take 55 freeway to the 5 Freeway, North toward Los Angeles. Make sure not to use the carpool lane or you will miss the transition. Exit at First Street. Cross First and continue on Elk Lane until you run into Chestnut Avenue. The Zoo will be on your left as you come up to Chestnut Avenue.
• Traveling South on the 55 Freeway: Coming from the Anaheim Hills and Riverside area, take the 55 freeway toward Beach Cities/Costa Mesa and exit at Fourth Street. At the exit make a right onto Fourth and continue on Fourth Street until you get to Cabrillo Park Drive, then make a left. At First Street, make a right and continue on First Street until you reach Elk Ln. and make a left. The Zoo will be on your left as you come up to Chestnut Avenue.

Bus Route Information:

• Heading East on Route 64: Stop at #5969, which is at the corner of 1st St. & Lyon Ave.
• Heading West on Route 64: Stop at #5974, which is at the corner of 1st St. & Lyon Ave.
• From the Amtrak/Metrolink Station in Santa Ana: The bus route from the Amtrak/Metrolink Station in Santa Ana is #059.
• To get from the Train Station to the Zoo, go to Dock 10 #6803 at the Train Station and take bus route #059 to Grand/Chestnut stop #6372. From Grand/Chestnut, walk two blocks down Chestnut to the Zoo.
• To get from the Zoo to the Train Station, walk to Grand/Chestnut and catch bus route #059 at #6347 and get off at the Train Station.
• For more information on public transportation to and from the Santa Ana Zoo, visit www.octa.net.