Nashville Zoo
Our Latest Posts
Category: Exhibit Highlight
Thursday, July 27, 2023
Keeping up with the Komodos
Dragons are HERE: We are thrilled to announce that the new Komodo dragon habitat is officially open to the public. This remarkable exhibit now claims the title of the largest Komodo dragon habitat in the Americas!
As part of Member Appreciation Week, Nashville Zoo members can enjoy an exclusive member preview to see the habitat before it opens to the general public on Wednesday, July 26!
Buy Tickets!
The habitat is built to house up to two adult males, three adult females ...
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Who's Who in the Aviary
Walking into the Aviary inside Unseen New World a few things are obvious: the constant 76 degree temperature, tall trees, rushing water, and noisy birds. However, it is easy to walk in and out without getting the full experience.
Use this guide to make sure you don’t miss the diversity of animals in this exhibit!
What to look for
There are currently 10 species of birds from Central and South America and Africa along with two species of turtles and three species of lizards. S...
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Thursday, January 13, 2022
Dinosaurs Return to Nashville Zoo
Starting March 11, guests at Nashville Zoo will have a chance to embark on a prehistoric adventure with DinoTrek, a wooded trail featuring more than 20 life-size animatronic dinosaurs. Last seen at the Zoo in 2014, DinoTrek will run through the end of July.
DinoTrek begins at a hidden entrance near the Zoo's Historic Grassmere Home and Farm and winds along a forest path where guests discover life-like prehistoric beasts that move, growl, hiss, roar, and even spit. Educational sign...
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Wednesday, September 11, 2019
Zoo Receives Top Honors For Andean Bear Exhibit and Education Programming
Nashville Zoo’s Expedition Peru: Trek of the Andean Bear received the Top Honors in Exhibit Design Award by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) at the AZA Annual Conference in New Orleans earlier this week.
The award is the highest achievement for exhibit design given by AZA and is judged by 18 seasoned zoo and aquarium professionals on exhibit design, contribution to conservation, interpretive programming and how the exhibit fits in the Zoo's long-...
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Monday, July 24, 2017
Red Ruffed Lemur Family Now on Exhibit at Nashville Zoo
(Blog update on July 25, 2017)
Guests visiting Nashville Zoo can now see the four red ruffed lemur babies born on May 30, 2017. The two month old lemurs have joined their parents Lyra and Dino and three older siblings on exhibit along Bamboo Trail.
“The four babies are hopping around and playing with each other a lot as they explore and climb in their exhibit, said Sabrina Barnes, Primate Area Supervisor. “Thalia and Calliope, the one-year-old sisters, have really started intera...
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Friday, June 2, 2017
It's Spawning Season for Zoo's Koi Fish
One of the Zoo’s most beautiful exhibits is one that most guests don’t notice on initial glance. The Zoo is home to a group of stunning koi fish that swim among the ponds that weave throughout Bamboo Trail. Known for their beautiful markings and calm demeanor, koi fish typically get along very well with little to no competitiveness or aggression toward each other. However, over the last few weeks, our group of koi were making it a little bit harder to go unnoticed with swift ...
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Friday, June 2, 2017
Baby White-Cheeked Gibbon Celebrates First Birthday!
Makaio, the first white-cheeked gibbon to be born at Nashville Zoo, celebrated his first birthday on June 5. Guests have been able to see the young ape explore his outdoor area as he slowly learns how to be more independent. Our primate keepers shared Makaio’s progress and development from his first year!
DEVELOPMENT
He is still very dependent on mom, Singwah, as she is his main source of nutrition. White-cheeked gibbons nurse until they’re two years old! Makaio still clings to ...
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Monday, April 17, 2017
Zoo's Vet Team Learns New and Natural Healing Techniques
What do Lucy the antelope, Otto the sheep, and Boone the steer have in common? They all donated blood to help one very special patient! But these were not typical blood donations.
Edith, the sloth star of our Aviary, recently developed a severe corneal ulcer on her left eye. Zoo Staff weren’t sure about the cause, but it definitely required intensive treatment. Along with antibiotic eye drops, a veterinary ophthalmology specialist suggested treating her with a very unusual medicine.
S...
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Thursday, April 6, 2017
Spider Monkey: Treetop Passage Now Open!
Spider Monkey Exhibit Now Open!
The new spider monkey exhibit, graciously funded by Dottie Frist, opened on Thursday, April 6. The addition of Mexican spider monkeys marks the first monkey species to be housed at Nashville Zoo in more than four years.
Exhibit details
To enter the new exhibit, Zoo guests cross an elevated wooden bridge ending in a treetop view of these lively, inquisitive Mexican spider monkeys swinging among the trees. Half siblings, Sandy and Poppy, came to Nashvi...
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Friday, February 17, 2017
Fifth Masai Giraffe Born at Nashville Zoo
Nashville Zoo is proud to announce the birth of a male Masai giraffe. The calf was born February 10, weighing 163 lbs. and standing 6 feet, 3 inches tall. Mother, Margarita and calf are doing well and are currently off exhibit in the Zoo’s giraffe barn. This is Margarita’s fifth calf and second male to be born at the Zoo.
“Margarita is a proven and successful mom for her calves, and this calf was no exception,” said Greg Peccie, Director of Animal Operations. “O...
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Thursday, June 30, 2016
New on Exhibit: Two-Toed Sloths
Nashville Zoo is excited to announce the addition of two-toed sloths to its animal collection. Guests can see the mother, Edith, and her son, Emmett, in the Aviary inside Unseen New World.
“We’re happy to add this mom and youngster duo to the Unseen New World Aviary,” said Joe deGraauw, the Zoo’s Avian Curator. “The temperature and humidity requirements for this species makes them a perfect fit in the Aviary which also offers a naturalistic canopy and vine thoro...
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Friday, May 20, 2016
Cassowary Introductions: Sy meets Marge!
The Nashville Zoo bird department anxiously anticipated and planned the introduction of our adult female and male Double Wattled Cassowaries. In 2011 the Zoo acquired a young male, Sy, and the female, Marge, arrived at the end of 2014. Over the last year these birds have grown up in adjoining exhibits allowing them to familiarize themselves with each other in hopes that they would become a breeding pair.
Double Wattled Cassowary Breeding
Double Wattled Cassowary are typically solitary anima...
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Thursday, March 17, 2016
Hands on Fun at the Zoo!
Visiting the Zoo is more than just looking at animals in exhibits. Visitors can also touch some unique animal friends in four interactive areas. These attractions provide guests with the opportunity to have hands on fun with some of nature’s friendliest animals. For those that have ever wanted to take a selfie with a goat or pet a kangaroo, the Nashville Zoo has a few interactive exhibits created just for you.
Critter Encounters
Located between Unseen New World and F...
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Tuesday, October 27, 2015
Meet Nasha, our newest Masai giraffe!
Nashville Zoo has a new giraffe named Nasha. She came to us in September from the Cincinnati Zoo and can be seen on exhibit along with our male Congo, adult female Margarita and 4-month old Enzi.
Nasha was born at the Cincinnati Zoo on April 28, 2014 and gained immediate popularity due to a social media campaign that documented her birth. Nasha was chosen by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan to join Nashville’s herd, providing valuable genetic diversi...
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Thursday, July 30, 2015
Keeping It Cool – Bird Edition
As the long hot days of summer drag on, our animal care staff are always looking for creative ways to keep our collection cool in the heat. In this post, we’re spotlighting the different ways our avian keepers cool off our bird collection in the summertime.
“Many birds at Nashville Zoo come from warm environments and have easily acclimated to our climate,” said Kristi Ness, lead bird keeper. “Water is often the most natural and enjoyable way for a lot of our birds to cool off, so we utilize ...
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Thursday, July 30, 2015
Komodo Dragon Update
Our Komodo Dragons are now on exhibit at Unseen New World.
“Agnes and Tula are the same age and close in size, currently around seven lbs. each,” said Jon Rold, area supervisor of herpetology. “At their previous exhibit in Unseen New World, they were able to see and smell each other through the mesh barrier, so they had time to get used to the other’s presence. They are doing great at Critter Encounter and are learning new training to aid in feeding and management in ...
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Wednesday, July 1, 2015
Clouded Leopard Cubs Go On Exhibit
UPDATE: Sip Saam and Natida, the Zoo’s clouded leopard cubs born in March, are making public appearances every Saturday and Sunday from 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. through the end of September 2015.
“It’s been several years since we have exhibited clouded leopard cubs, so I know the public is anxious to see them,” said Karen Rice, carnivore supervisor at Nashville Zoo. “At nearly four months old, Sip Saam and Natida enjoy exploring the habitat, climbing trees and c...
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Wednesday, June 3, 2015
Expedition Peru - Trek of the Andean Bear
Visitors to Nashville Zoo will venture on a Peruvian expedition thanks in large part to the generosity of several lead contributors to our Andean bear exhibit. Partnering with the Zoo on this endeavor are:
Cynthia and Dave Arnholt
Kelley and Lee Beaman & the Alvin and Sally Beaman Foundation
Andrea Waitt Carlton Family Foundation
Sally and Neely Coble, III
Joe C. Davis Foundation
Dugas Family Foundation
Missy and John Eason
The Frist Foundation
Patricia and Rodes Hart
S...
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Tuesday, March 3, 2015
Duikers' Zoo Debut
Nashville Zoo’s antelope collection continues to expand with the addition of yellow-backed duikers to an exhibit on Bamboo Trail.
“Yellow-backed duikers are small antelopes native to the forests of central and west Africa,” said Lanny Brown, mammal curator.
“There are around 60 yellow-backed duikers in North American zoos, so we are excited to give our visitors the chance to learn more about this rare and relatively unknown animal.”
The two females, ages 3 yea...
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Wednesday, October 29, 2014
Introducing Phayara, our red panda cub
Our new red panda cub has made her debut. Phayara, named by a public vote, can be seen on exhibit in the Zoo’s Bamboo Trail.
“Since her birth on July 3, Phayara has been in her den growing into a healthy red panda cub and learning the skills needed to navigate her exhibit,” said Karen Rice, carnivore supervisor. “Once she started regularly coming out of her nest box around mid-September, we monitored her to make sure that she was able to negotiate her surroundings and ...
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Whether you’re available for a day or are looking for a long-term volunteer opportunity – you can make a valuable contribution to the Zoo’s volunteer team!
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