Knoxville Zoo: Celebrating natural wonders
The red panda capital of the world isn’t located in a foreign land, but right here in Knoxville.
The Knoxville Zoo is considered the red panda capital of the Western hemisphere, having the greatest success in breeding and survival of red pandas. More than just pandas, the zoo is home to more than 900 animals and various exhibits on the 53-acre grounds.
The Black Bear Falls exhibit features both horizontal and vertical space for the bears to roam. The three-fourths of an acre, open-air exhibit houses the zoo’s four black bears. It has been designed to simulate the bears’ mountain habitat with natural-looking trees, tumbling waterfalls and flowing streams.
The zoo features more than 400 specimens representing more than 80 species. The collection of mammals, birds, reptiles, insecta, arachnida and amphibia animals draw an annual attendance of 400,000 visitors.
The Herpetology department at the zoo is internationally known for successfully breeding many rare, threatened and endangered species. Turtles and tortoises are a primary conservation priority for the zoo and these animals comprise more than 50 percent of the reptile and amphibian collection.
Nine chimpanzees call the Knoxville Zoo home at Chimp Ridge. A new member has been added to the zoo family, Chimpanzee George was born July 19 to mother Daisy and father Jimbo. The new addition is the first baby chimpanzee born at the zoo in 20 years and draws hundreds to this popular exhibit.
Each year the food budget exceeds $160,000. Weekly, the animals consume 5,200 lbs of hay, 120 lbs of bananas, 735 lbs of wheat and 2,200 lbs of grain.
Hop on the back of a camel for a ride available to visitors (both kids and adults) on the weekends for $5. Carousel rides are open daily, $1 for members of the zoo, $2 for non-members and $5 wristbands are good for unlimited carousel rides on the date of purchase.
Bird shows expose guests to birdlife and their interaction with their trainers. Shows are subject to cancellation due to weather and are not held on Mondays.
Education stations are 10-15 minute talks by zoo staff to give visitors a chance to ask questions. Zoo chat stations are located throughout the zoo for free and informative animal presentations given by the zookeepers.
The zoo is open daily at 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Admission is $16.95 for adults, $12.95 for children 2-12 years old, free for children under 2 years old and $12.95 for senior citizens. Parking is available on site for $5.
Helpful tip: If you enter the zoo after 3 p.m., the next day’s visit is free.
- by Leah M. Caudle , Knoxville Reporter for HelloMetro
(Click to leave a message)
Leah M. Caudle Leah Caudle is a professional storyteller with experience in covering local, community and feature stories. While at newspapers such as The Tennessean in Nashville and The Lexington Herald-Leader in Lexington, Ky., Caudle also has experience in shooting and editing videos and photos to accompany stories. The Western Kentucky University graduate received degrees in print journalism and Spanish in 2007 and also has expertise in the areas of public relations, copy editing and proofreading.
