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Michelle O Malley(link is external) has long been inspired by gut microbes. Since she began studying the herbivore digestive tract, the UC Santa Barbara chemical engineering professor has guided several students to their doctoral degrees, won early and mid-career awards (including a recognition from President Obama), attained tenure and advanced to the position of full professor. She even had three children along the way. A constant through it all: goat poop. This has been the longest single effort in my lab, said O Malley, who with her research team way back in 2015 first embarked on an ambitious project to characterize gut microbes in large herbivores. The purpose? To understand how these animals manage, via their microbiomes, to extract energy from plant material, particularly the fibrous, non-food parts, where sugars are locked behind tough plant cell walls. Understanding this process could reveal methods for extracting the raw materials necessary for a wide variety
Alex Zauner/NC3
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. With Southern California’s stay-at-home order over, coronavirus restrictions have rolled back.
Today this allowed animals and humans to interact once again at the Santa Barbara Zoo.
“Heard that it was opening up, so we went because we go all the time,” zoo member Summer Kearin said. “We love to see the animals.”
Emma Hepworth took a trip from Los Angeles to visit the zoo with her husband and two sons.
“It’s set up well to come and visit as a family, she said. “You can space out and let everyone enjoy.”
While the zoo was closed, the staff remained busy as can be taking care of all the animals.
Updated on January 29, 2021 at 11:27 pm
Santa Barbara Zoo
Santa Barbara Zoo is at 500 Niños Drive in Santa Barbara
The zoo is reopening on Jan. 30, 2021 following a multi-week closure due to the pandemic
Guidelines are in place, including face coverings, limited capacity, and advance reservations
SAYING HELLO AGAIN. to a favorite animal? A number of visitors to a certain Central Coast animal park will be doing just that, starting on Saturday, Jan. 30. For the celebrated Santa Barbara Zoo will reopen that day, after observing a multi-week closure due to the pandemic. The state s stay-at-home order lifted on Jan. 25. and the destination announced it would reopen on the final Saturday of January, with a number of guidelines in place (face coverings are a must-wear and advance reservations are necessary). If you re still dreaming of that future date when you ll connect with the cute capybaras that call the zoo home, and you can again admire the Amur leopards in person, here s a k
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To properly manage the number of park visitors, online reservations will be required for both paid guests and zoo members. Visitors can use the online reservation system to book a timed entry slot prior to visiting the zoo. A guide to the new safety enhancements and modifications can be found on the zoo’s website https://www.sbzoo.org/.
The zoo is also still accepting registrations for spring and summer Zoo Camp. Spring Zoo Camp, March 22-26, and Summer Zoo Camp, June 7-Aug. 13, are for children ages 3-12.
In addition to its traditional camp, the zoo is offering specialty options including Junior Zookeeper Camp, Backyard Biologist Camp, and Camp in a Box. See the Zoo Camp webpage for more information and to register: https://www.sbzoo.org/learn/zoo-camp/.