Sareeka, one of our two Bengal Tigers enjoys a dip in her pool. There used to be 9 different tiger species in the world but thee became extinct in the past 70 years. The remaining 6 species (Amur, Bengal, Indochinese, Malayan, South China, and Sumatran) are all endangered.

 

This image was taken by Zoo photographer Amiee Stubbs (www.amieestubbs.com).

Silver Stars Scheduled to Provide Musical Entertainment

HealthSpring and the Nashville Zoo announced today they will present the eighth Senior Day at the Zoo to allow seniors ages 65 and older free admission to the Zoo on Friday, May 11 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Additionally, seniors will receive a $3 coupon that can be used for purchases at the Zoo’s food and retail locations.

The young and young-at-heart can also enjoy rides on the Wild Animal Carousel, visits to Lorikeet Landing and an adventure through the Zoo’s limited engagement exhibit, DinoTrek (additional fees apply). Visitors will have an opportunity to enjoy games, prizes, entertainment and attend informational sessions. Zoo keepers will also be on hand to present educational talks at various animal exhibits throughout the day.

“HealthSpring is very pleased to once again offer seniors a chance to experience a free day at the Nashville Zoo,” said Greg Allen, president of HealthSpring of Tennessee.  “We are always looking for ways to support both the community and our members; this great event achieves that aim by encouraging seniors to be healthy and active by enjoying the sights of our local Zoo.”

Guests will be treated to a rousing performance featuring HealthSpring Silver Stars at a concert from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the Jungle Terrace. Performing on Senior Day at the Zoo will be trumpeter David Balph, 2011 Silver Star winner, and blues/gospel singer and guitarist Rev. Robert Shipp, 2010 Silver Star winner. Silver Stars is a talent competition designed by HealthSpring specifically for people age 60+ (www.hssilver.stars). Information about the 2012 Silver Stars talent competition will be available at a booth at the Zoo.

A free “Basics of Medicare” educational seminar will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Croft Building. Additionally, seniors will be able to obtain information about other relevant health topics at designated booths onsite.

“We are excited to continue our partnership with HealthSpring to offer Senior Day at the Zoo,” says Jim Bartoo, marketing and public relations director for Nashville Zoo. “A day at the Zoo is enjoyable for people of all ages, and this is a great opportunity to share all the Zoo has to offer with Nashville’s valued senior community.”

Senior Day at the Zoo is the result of a partnership between Nashville Zoo and HealthSpring.  There is a $5 parking fee per vehicle.

HealthSpring, a Cigna company, is based in Nashville, Tennessee, and is one of the country’s largest Medicare Advantage coordinated care plans. HealthSpring currently owns and operates Medicare Advantage plans in Alabama, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Mississippi, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, West Virginia and Washington, D.C. HealthSpring also offers a national stand-alone Medicare prescription drug plan.  For more information, visit www.healthspring.com.

Nashville Zoo is accredited by the prestigious Association of Zoos and Aquariums, assuring the highest standards of animal care and husbandry.  Attracting more than 640,000 visitors annually, the Zoo is considered one of the top things to do in Nashville. The Zoo is a non-profit organization located at 3777 Nolensville Pike and is open every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.  The mission of Nashville Zoo is to inspire a culture of understanding and discovery of our natural world through conservation, innovation and leadership.  For more information about Nashville Zoo, call 615-833-1534 or visit www.nashvillezoo.org.

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Nashville Zoo is seeing record-breaking attendance this spring. The Zoo’s annual Eggstravaganzoo event on April 7 set a new single day paid attendance record of 12,057 guests. In addition to Saturday’s record turnout, the Zoo also set a March record with 105,270 visitors through the gates during the month. Officials attribute the spike in attendance to unusually warm weather and the success of the new DinoTrek exhibit.

“The addition of DinoTrek has proven to be extremely popular with guests and certainly exceeded our expectations,” said Rick Schwartz, Nashville Zoo President. “DinoTrek attendance in March was 200 percent above projections, and our overall attendance is currently trending 63 percent above projections. We are very excited that the public has responded so well to this unique exhibit.”

The previous highest paid attendance day record was set at last year’s Eggstravaganzoo event with 10,398 visitors. The previous record for the month of March was 67,647, also set in 2011.

“The high volume days we have experienced this spring certainly solidify our standing as Middle Tennessee’s number one attraction,” said Schwartz. “As the Zoo becomes more and more popular, our focus turns to improving infrastructure, particularly our entrance and parking system, that will improve the overall guest experience and help us grow into the future.”

Summer plans at the Zoo include the public debut of five clouded leopard cubs exhibit, the first annual Brew at the Zoo event and culmination of the DinoTrek exhibit on July 31.

Nashville Zoo is accredited by the prestigious Association of Zoos and Aquariums, assuring the highest standards of animal care and husbandry.  Attracting more than 640,000 visitors annually, the Zoo is considered one of the top things to do in Nashville. The Zoo is a non-profit organization located at 3777 Nolensville Pike and is open every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.  The mission of Nashville Zoo is to inspire a culture of understanding and discovery of our natural world through conservation, innovation and leadership.  For more information about Nashville Zoo, call 615-833-1534 or visit www.nashvillezoo.org.

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Here’s your Nashville Zoo Picture of the Week. Jackson, our cougar studies a paper-mache Easter egg during our popular Eggstravaganzoo event on Saturday. 12,057 guests made Eggstravaganzoo part of their Easter weekend and Saturday the number one paid attendance day in the Zoo’s history.

 

This image was taken by Zoo photographer Amiee Stubbs (www.amieestubbs.com).

Join Nashville Zoo for some hippity hoppity fun at the 14th annual Eggstravaganzoo. Nashville’s largest egg hunt tradition takes place Saturday, April 7 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Annual Eggstravaganzoo
More than 40,000 plastic eggs will be distributed on the Zoo’s Festival Field for 10 scheduled hunts
held throughout the day. Participants can redeem their eggs for exciting prize packs. 
Festival Field Egg Hunt Schedule:
• Ages 2 & under: 10 a.m. OR 12:30 p.m.
• 3 years: 10:30 a.m. OR 1 p.m.
• 4 – 5 years: 11 a.m. OR 1:30 p.m.
• 6 – 7 years:  11:30 a.m. OR 2 p.m.
• 8 – 10 years Noon OR 2:30 p.m.

There will also be a Zoo-wide hunt for larger, golden eggs also redeemable for prizes. Visitors can
watch as Zoo animals hunt for special “eggs” hidden just for them. Other activities include Easter-themed
games, bounce houses and face painting.

New this year to Eggstravaganzoo is Bunny Café, offering breakfast and lunch with a view of the
egg hunt field and up-close visits with the Easter Bunny. Reservations are required. Visit
www.nashvillezoo.org for Café menu and to make a reservation.

Eggstravaganzoo is included with Zoo admission or membership. Additional event fees apply for
Bunny Café and face painting. Eggstravaganzoo is presented by The Gaylord Entertainment Foundation
and supported by HCA TriStar, Dixie Home Crafters, Happy Family, Lifeguard Ambulance Service,
Krispy Kreme, Now Playing Nashville and Mix 92.9.

Nashville Zoo is accredited by the prestigious Association of Zoos and Aquariums, assuring the highest standards of animal care and husbandry. The Zoo is a non-profit organization located at 3777 Nolensville Pike and is open every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.

The mission of Nashville Zoo is to inspire a culture of understanding and discovery of our natural world through
conservation, innovation and leadership. For more information about Nashville Zoo, call 615-833-1534 or
visit www.nashvillezoo.org.

Nashville Zoo is celebrating its feathered residents at the annual Avian Awareness Day on Saturday, May 5. Guests can explore the importance of birds throughout the world with activities, keeper talks and shows for the entire family.

Avian Awareness Day highlights the journey of migratory birds as they make passage between their breeding grounds in North America and their wintering grounds in Central and South America. Educational stations will be set up throughout the Zoo that explore how birds navigate their way through various daily and annual challenges, and both kids and adults can enjoy comparing their “wing spans” to our feathered friends. Other activities include egg and feather displays, keeper talks and docent stations at many of our bird exhibits with representatives from the Audubon Society and Wild Birds Unlimited.  The Zoo’s amphitheater will also host animal shows at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. with an emphasis on avian conservation.

Avian Awareness Day celebrates International Migratory Bird Day (IMDB), an event founded in 1993 by a coalition of bird-minded organizations that recognized the need for a unified focus on the conservation of migratory birds.  Zoos across the country celebrate IMBD, raising awareness for the nearly 350 species that travel between nesting habitats and non-breeding habitats each year.

Avian Awareness Day is free with Zoo admission or membership. For more information, visit www.nashvillezoo.org.

Nashville Zoo is accredited by the prestigious Association of Zoos and Aquariums assuring the highest standards of animal care and husbandry.  The Zoo is a non-profit organization located at 3777 Nolensville Pike and is open every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.  The mission of Nashville Zoo is to inspire a culture of understanding and discovery of our natural world through conservation, innovation, and leadership.  For more information about Nashville Zoo, please call 833-1534 or visit our website at www.nashvillezoo.org.

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Pack a blanket and head to Nashville Zoo for a movie under the stars on Friday, April 20 from 6 – 9:30 p.m. “Zoovies” is a new event that takes place after the Zoo closes at 6 p.m. This month’s feature film is Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs in celebration of the Zoo’s newest exhibit, Dinotrek. At Zoovies, guests can take a ride on the Wild Animal Carousel, enjoy inflatables and games, dance to tunes, bounce around the Jungle Gym and explore the DinoTrek exhibit. When the sun goes down, the evening’s movie will play on a giant screen on Festival Field. Zoovies is included with Zoo admission or membership. For guests arriving after the Zoo closes at 6 p.m., the cost is $5. The Wild Animal Carousel and DinoTrek are additional fees. Zoovie is supported by Bayberry Moon Productions, Party Patrol and Mix 92.9. For more information about Zoovies, including additional dates, please visit www.nashvillezoo.org.

Nashville Zoo is accredited by the prestigious Association of Zoos and Aquariums, assuring the highest standards of animal care and husbandry.  The Zoo is a non-profit organization located at 3777 Nolensville Pike and is open every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.  The mission of Nashville Zoo is to inspire a culture of understanding and discovery of our natural world through conservation, innovation and leadership.  For more information about Nashville Zoo, call 615-833-1534 or visit www.nashvillezoo.org.

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Join Nashville Zoo for some hippity hoppity fun at the 14th annual Eggstravaganzoo. Nashville’s largest egg hunt tradition takes place Saturday, April 7 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

More than 40,000 plastic eggs will be distributed on the Zoo’s Festival Field for 10 scheduled hunts held throughout the day. Participants can redeem their eggs for exciting prize packs.

Festival Field Egg Hunt Schedule:

• Ages 2 & under: 10 a.m. OR 12:30 p.m.

• 3 years: 10:30 a.m. OR 1 p.m.

• 4 – 5 years: 11 a.m. OR 1:30 p.m.

• 6 – 7 years:  11:30 a.m. OR 2 p.m.

• 8 – 10 years Noon OR 2:30 p.m.

There will also be a Zoo-wide hunt for larger, golden eggs also redeemable for prizes. Visitors can watch as Zoo animals hunt for special “eggs” hidden just for them. Other activities include Easter-themed games, bounce houses and face painting.

New this year to Eggstravaganzoo is Bunny Café, offering breakfast and lunch with a view of the egg hunt field and up-close visits with the Easter Bunny. Reservations are required. Visit www.nashvillezoo.org for Café menu and to make a reservation.

Eggstravaganzoo is included with Zoo admission or membership. Additional event fees apply for Bunny Café and face painting. Eggstravaganzoo is presented by The Gaylord Entertainment Foundation and supported by HCA TriStar, Dixie Home Crafters, Happy Family, Lifeguard Ambulance Service, Krispy Kreme, Now Playing Nashville and Mix 92.9.

Nashville Zoo is accredited by the prestigious Association of Zoos and Aquariums, assuring the highest standards of animal care and husbandry. The Zoo is a non-profit organization located at 3777 Nolensville Pike and is open every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. The mission of Nashville Zoo is to inspire a culture of understanding and discovery of our natural world through conservation, innovation and leadership. For more information about Nashville Zoo, call 615-833-1534 or visit www.nashvillezoo.org.

WHAT: Nashville Zoo’s newest exhibit, DinoTrek, opens March 16. The animatronic dinosaurs are being installed on March 1. A highlight of the installation will include hoisting a 20-foot high, 42-foot long, 7,000 pound T-rex over tree tops and into position in the exhibit.

 

WHO: Nashville Zoo is working with dinosaur maker Billings Productions Inc. and crane company Amquip LLC to install 16 animatronic dinosaurs along a wooded pathway.

 

WHEN: Thursday, March 1, 2012

9:30 a.m. (this is when the T-Rex will be installed)

 

WHERE: Nashville Zoo

3777 Nolensville Road

 

HOW: If you would like to attend the installation or have any questions, please contact:

 

Jim Bartoo

Marketing and Public Relations Director

Nashville Zoo

(615) 833-1534 ext. 126

 

Exhibit Details:

DinoTrek opens Friday, March 16, 2012 and runs through the end of July. Admission to DinoTrek is separated from Zoo admission and is $3 for Nashville Zoo members and $4 for non-members. The exhibit will feature the following species: Amargasaurus; Brachiosaurus; Carnotaurus; Compsognathus; Deinonychus; Dilophosaurus; Megalosaurus; Parasaurolophus; Protohadros; Styracosaurus; and Tyrannosaurus Rex. DinoTrek will also offer a “Dino Dig” area where children can excavate fossils. DinoTrek is made possible by generous support from Civil Site Engineers, Daily’s, Delta Dental, Nashville Convention and Visitors Bureau and NES.

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Nashville Zoo is offering three classes for amateur photographers of all levels wanting to explore the wild side of photography. Animal Art Photography I will be held Feb. 11, an Unseen New World Photography Workshop will be on Feb. 12 and Animal Art Photography II will be March 17. All classes are led by Zoo photographer Christian Sperka.

Participants in the Animal Art Photography classes will utilize both the classroom and Zoo trail as Sperka shares his technique of photographing animals all over the world. The courses cover every step of taking animal photos, from getting the perfect shot to picture selection and processing. Animal Art Photography II participants will also get a special photo opportunity behind the scenes.

The habitats in the Unseen New World, terrariums and aquariums, provide a completely different set of photographic challenges than outdoor exhibits. The Unseen New World workshop teaches participants the techniques for dealing with the challenges of shooting through glass, artificial lighting and more. Participants will also get the opportunity to photograph several animal feeding sessions.

Class attendees are required to have a digital camera with the ability to adjust aperture, shutter speed, iso speed, and a lens with a 200 mm focal length or more. In order to participate in Animal Art Photography II, participants must have complete knowledge of the Animal Art Photography I class.

Animal Art Photography I is Saturday, Feb. 11 from 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. The cost is $70 for Zoo members and $95 for non-members. Animal Art Photography II is Saturday, March 17 from 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. The cost is $140 for Zoo members and $190 for non-members. The Unseen New World workshop is Sunday, Feb. 12 from 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. The cost is $85 for Zoo members and $110 for non-members. For more information and to register, visit www.nashvillezoo.org.

Nashville Zoo is accredited by the prestigious Association of Zoos and Aquariums, assuring the highest standards of animal care and husbandry.  The Zoo is a non-profit organization located at 3777 Nolensville Pike and is open every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.  The mission of Nashville Zoo is to inspire a culture of understanding and discovery of our natural world through conservation, innovation and leadership.  For more information about Nashville Zoo, call 615-833-1534 or visit www.nashvillezoo.org.