Christian Sperka - Nashville Zoo
Nashville Zoo
Sunny Music City isn’t just the celebrated home of country music - it’s also where you’ll find a fabulously progressive and dynamic, conservation-oriented 188-acre zoological park and historic landmark plantation home – a place “where animals, nature and fun converge.”
The AZA-accredited and ever-evolving Nashville Zoo opened in 1991 and has since become the area’s #1 attraction, hosting over three-quarters of a million eager visitors annually. The zoo demographic is comprised of more than 6,000 fascinating residents - some 339 species - all thriving in healthy and happy, daily-enriched environments; a diversity of special exhibits encourage visitors to participate in wonderful interactive experiences. “Kangaroo Kickabout” marshals adventurous “mates” on a zippy walkabout right through the middle of red ‘roo stomping grounds; Critter Encounter tenders a sweet opportunity to snuggle, feed and be photographed with a variety of super-affable residents, and “Lorikeet Landing” lets you treat the 50+ resident winged rainbows to cups of nourishing nectar.
Nashville Zoo participates in a number of Species Survival Plan programs with other zoos worldwide, and proudly persists at the forefront of Clouded Leopard Conservation efforts; it’s quite possible you and your students will enjoy an opportunity to view these rare, reclusive and stunning exotic cats and catch their unique lingo. You might even see the newest “Cloudy” babies! Tummy grumbling? Grab some goodies at Snake Bites or get your grub on at the Zoofari Café - snack huts and kiosks are conveniently located to ensure a well-fueled expedition. After lunch, a train ride through uncharted territories, a whimsical turn on a wild animal carousel or a swing through the Southern canopy on Soaring Eagle – the Zoo’s thrilling new two-rider, two-way zip line experience – lets you rest those barkin’ dogs. Forging ahead with exciting updates and animal area expansions to create the most amazing and memorable visitor experience possible, Nashville Zoo at Grassmere wants to show YOU what they’ve been up to!
