Santa Fe College Board Honors Founder of Local Teaching Zoo, Ray Giron

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On May 21, 2024, the Santa Fe College Board of Trustees recognized the contributions of the late Ray Giron at their monthly meeting. Giron, who died in 2011, was instrumental in founding the Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo. The Board passed a resolution acknowledging his significant impact on wildlife education and the community.

Ray Giron, a former professor at Santa Fe Junior College, proposed the idea of a teaching zoo in the early 1970s as part of his dissertation. His proposal led to the creation of the Greater Gainesville Biological Parks Society with support from Gainesville and Alachua County. This initiative eventually led to the establishment of the Teaching Zoo.

At the Board meeting, Eddie Leach, a former roommate and close friend of Giron, spoke about Giron's legacy. The resolution emphasized the zoo's role in conservation, education, and community engagement, and highlighted its importance as a cultural site in Alachua County.

The Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo now spans 10 acres on the Northwest Campus and houses over 70 species. It is the only college campus zoo accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. The zoo serves as both a conservation center and a training facility for students in the Zoo Animal Technology program, which enrolls about 100 students annually.