Chattanooga Zoo at Warner Park
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| Location | Warner Park, Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA |
|---|---|
| Land area | 13 acre (53,000 m²) |
| Coordinates | 35°02′35″N 85°16′58″W / 35.0431°N 85.2829°WCoordinates: 35°02′35″N 85°16′58″W / 35.0431°N 85.2829°W |
| Memberships | AZA |
| Major exhibits | Himalayan Passage Gombe Forest |
| Website | http://www.chattzoo.org |
The Chattanooga Zoo at Warner Park, formerly the Warner Park Zoo, is a 13-acre (53,000 m2) zoo located in Warner Park in Downtown Chattanooga, Tennessee. The zoo was established in 1937 and is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
[edit] Exhibits and Projects
The most notable exhibit is the Himalayan Passage, which houses the zoo's Red Pandas. Himalayan Passage boasts the largest indoor Red Panda exhibit in the world, despite the Chattanooga Zoo being one of the smallest zoos accredited by the AZA. In 2006, the Himalayan Passage was expanded to include habitats for Snow Leopards and Hanuman Langurs.
Another major exhibit is the $2.1 million dollar Gombe Forest exhibit which is home to the zoo's five Chimpanzees. The Gombe Forest is an indoor/ outdoor exhibit built in 2001 to house Hank, the zoo's famous long-time resident, as well as four other chimps. The Donovan Interpretive center features an indoor chimp viewing area and other small exhibits.
The Corcovado Jungle is home to animals from Latin America. This area holds Jaguars, Spider Monkeys, Macaws, Capybaras, and more.
Walkin' the Tracks holds the zoos North American animals. The Cougar Express has indoor viewing in a train car for the zoos two cougars. Also here are Prairie Dogs, Whitetail Deer, and more.
The zoo is currently undergoing a five-phase, $12 million dollar Master Plan that is transforming the zoo into a premier zoological facility. In the last 10 years, the zoo has expanded from a meager 1.5 acres (6,100 m2) to its current size of 13 acres (53,000 m2). The Master Plan includes further implementation of new exhibits and expansion of the animal collection to specifically include the additions of African Penguins, Gibbons, and Komodo Dragons. New species, not yet determined, will also be added to the zoo's South American, African, Asian, and North American zones. In addition to new exhibits, a new front entrance complex is now open, and includes new parking areas, gift shop, restroom facility, concessions pavilion, and Endangered Species carousel.
[edit] Conservation
The Chattanooga Zoo is actively involved in conservation efforts, specifically the AZA's Species Survival Plan which manages the breeding, conservation, and welfare of endangered species throughout AZA accredited facilities in North America. Since 1998, the zoo has also been a partner with the Zoo Conservation Outreach Group/Fundacion Zoologica (ZCOG). ZCOG is an organization that partners with Latin American zoos and assists with conservation intitiatives in Latin America, specifically the saving of the Amazon Rainforest.
[edit] External links
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