Chattanooga Zoo at Warner Park facts for kids
| Date opened | 1937 |
|---|---|
| Location | Warner Park, Chattanooga, Tennessee, Tennessee |
| Land area | 13 acres (5.3 ha) |
| Coordinates | 35°02′35″N 85°16′58″W / 35.0431°N 85.2829°W |
| No. of animals | 860 (2012) |
| No. of species | 148 (2012) |
| Annual visitors | 150,095 (2012) |
| Memberships | Association of Zoos and Aquariums |
| Major exhibits | Himalayan Passage, Gombe Forest, Corcovado Jungle, Walkin' the Tracks, Warner Park Ranch, Deserts of the World, Forests of the World, and Makazi Ya Twiga |
The Chattanooga Zoo at Warner Park is a fun place to visit in Chattanooga, Tennessee. It covers about 13 acres and is home to many amazing animals. The zoo first opened in 1937. It started small, with just two cages for monkeys!
Before that, there was another zoo called Oxley Zoo around 1900. But it closed down in 1911. The Chattanooga Zoo has grown a lot since then. Since 1998, it has been approved by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). This means it meets high standards for animal care and education.
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Explore the Zoo's Amazing Exhibits
The Chattanooga Zoo has many different areas where animals live. Each area is designed to look like the animals' natural homes.
Himalayan Passage
This exhibit is a special place for animals from the Himalayas. You can see red pandas here. The zoo has the biggest indoor red panda exhibit in the world! The Himalayan Passage also has snow leopards. These big cats are very good at hiding. You might also spot Northern white-cheeked gibbons swinging around.
Gombe Forest
Step into the Gombe Forest to meet the zoo's chimpanzees. This exhibit has both indoor and outdoor areas for them to play. One famous chimpanzee named Hank lived here for a long time. He was born in Africa in 1968 and came to the zoo in 1976. Hank was a favorite until he passed away in 2011 at 42 years old. The Donovan Interpretive Center lets you watch the chimpanzees indoors. It also has other small exhibits.
Corcovado Jungle
The Corcovado Jungle takes you to Latin America. Here, you can see powerful jaguars and playful spider monkeys. Look up to find colorful macaws. Other animals include capybaras, which are the world's largest rodents. You might also spot kinkajous and prehensile-tailed porcupines. The La Selva Amazonica pavilion is part of this area. It has four different kinds of tamarins and Geoffrey's marmosets.
Deserts and Forests of the World
This area shows animals from very different places. In the desert section, you'll find tiny fennec foxes. There are also busy meerkats and secretive sand cats. The forest section is home to amazing animals like komodo dragons.
Walkin' the Tracks
This exhibit is all about North American animals. It has a railroad theme, celebrating Chattanooga's history with trains. You can see quick bobcats and busy prairie dogs. There are also graceful white-tailed deer. The Cougar Express lets you view the zoo's cougars from inside a train car!
Warner Park Ranch
The Warner Park Ranch feels like a farm. Here, you can meet tall camels. There are also cute pot-bellied pigs and small miniature horses. You'll see fluffy alpacas and shaggy highland cattle. The petting zoo is a favorite spot. You can gently pet different kinds of goats there.
Makazi Ya Twiga
In 2020, the zoo welcomed three male reticulated giraffes to the new Makazi Ya Twiga exhibit. This was a big step in the zoo's expansion plans. You can also see small blue duikers in an indoor exhibit nearby.
Other Facilities
The zoo also has a new front entrance. It includes parking, a gift shop, and places to eat. There's even an endangered species carousel for extra fun! The zoo also helps wild animals that are hurt or sick. They care for them until they can go to another special facility.
Helping Animals: Conservation Efforts
The Chattanooga Zoo works hard to protect animals. They are part of the AZA's Species Survival Plan. This plan helps manage breeding programs for endangered species. It makes sure these animals are healthy and safe.
The zoo also partners with other groups. They work with the Lincoln Park Zoo on a project to save jaguars in Argentina. They also team up with Lee University to help Hellbenders. Hellbenders are a type of large salamander. Since 1998, the zoo has worked with ZCOG. ZCOG helps zoos in Latin America. They work together to save the Amazon Rainforest and its animals.
The Zoo's Future Plans
The Chattanooga Zoo is always growing! It is working on a big plan to make the zoo even better. This plan includes new exhibits and more animals. In the past 10 years, the zoo has grown from 1.5 acres to 13 acres. Soon, you might see new animals like African penguins. There are also plans for more gibbons and Komodo dragons. The zoo wants to become an even more amazing place for animals and visitors.
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