Santa Ana Zoo unveils River’s Edge, a new immersive multi-species exhibit

The Santa Ana Zoo celebrated on Saturday, Dec. 20, the opening of River’s Edge, a new multi-species exhibit that officials called the largest and most complex project in the zoo’s more than 70-year history.

The celebration continues Sunday, Dec. 21, with a second day of free admission for Santa Ana residents.

Construction on the roughly $8.6 million habitat began in 2022, replacing an aging exhibit with a modern space designed to prioritize animal comfort and well-being.

Guest feedback has been “very positive” in the short time the animals have been in the habitat, Santa Ana Zoo Director Ethan Fisher said. He said he overheard a visitor remark, “Wow, this is like Disneyland!”

The habitat includes an overhead treetop trail system for three monkey species: black howler monkeys, golden lion tamarins and spider monkeys. An underwater viewing area lets visitors watch the zoo’s Asian small-clawed otters. The otters are considered the smallest and most social of the 13 otter species.

Later, they will be replaced by giant river otters from South America, one of the largest otter species. The otters are coming to the zoo through an exchange program with a European zoo, but there was a delay.

And, at least two monkey species were transferred to the exhibit from other zoos through a similar cooperative breeding and management program for threatened and endangered animals. Fisher said the zoo was able to participate because it recently regained full accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, a milestone the zoo recently celebrated.

The independent, nonprofit association sets the standards for zoos and aquariums across the country and globally. The accreditation, which the city-owned zoo had lost in 2017, signifies Santa Ana now meets its rigorous standards for animal care, veterinary services, facility safety, and financial health. The new River’s Edge exhibit helped with the reaccreditation.

The habitat’s stars are nine rescued spider monkeys — eight juveniles less than a year old and one adult, which has been integrated into the group to help the young, orphaned “spiders” develop natural behaviors. Many of the monkeys were victims of illegal wildlife trafficking from Mexico and Central America and are part of the zoo’s conservation efforts.

River’s Edge is one of several upgrades underway at the Santa Ana Zoo, which has also been able to increase its staffing.  Since 2021, approximately $24 million has gone toward completed upgrades and ongoing projects, Fisher said previously. The zoo received about $8 million in state and private funding. Another $1.6 million was raised by the Friends of Santa Ana Zoo Foundation, with the rest covered by city funding.

Educational activity stations are available during the grand opening weekend. Residents 18 or older must show a current ID with a Santa Ana address, or an old ID along with a current utility bill showing a Santa Ana address.