Nashville Zoo

In case you missed it, Nashville Zoo made history last week with the announcement of the birth of our 50th clouded leopard cub! Born March 18 to mom Jewels and dad Bruce, this female cub is the first clouded leopard born at an AZA-accredited zoo in 2026 and a tremendous milestone for our clouded leopard conservation program. As part of the AZA Clouded Leopard Species Survival Plan®, Nashville Zoo has become a national leader in the breeding and conservation of this vulnerable species. We are thrilled to share this milestone with David Muir on ABC World News Tonight. Check out the feature by visiting the link below. https://lnkd.in/ehch6Dsk

Nashville Zoo is proud to announce it has officially eliminated single-use plastic water bottles across all on-site beverage locations! This change is expected to reduce plastic waste by more than 1 metric ton on a yearly basis, marking a major sustainability milestone for the property.     By eliminating single-use water bottles in the park, the Zoo is projected to eradicate approximately 1.1 million single-use plastic water bottles over the next 10 years, representing roughly 10 metric tons (about 22,000 pounds) of plastic waste avoided.  In place of plastic bottles, guests will now find aluminum-canned water and soda available throughout the park. Aluminum was selected due to its high recyclability and its ability to support a reduced reliance on single-use materials. Fountain beverages served in paper-based cups remain available throughout the park.      This shift represents a major step forward in Nashville Zoo’s ongoing commitment to conservation, aligning daily operations with its broader mission to protect wildlife and wild places.

Over the weekend, we hosted Neighborhood Planting Captains from the Root Nashville campaign, an urban forestry initiative led by the Cumberland River Compact, for a day of hands-on conservation work. Alongside our Horticulture team, volunteers planted 52 native trees generously donated through Root Nashville, replacing invasive species along the Cathy Jo Branch, which runs through Zoo property. This effort is part of a broader initiative to expand our commitment to botanical conservation as a core component of the Zoo’s mission. By restoring the riparian buffer along the Cathy Jo Branch, we’re improving stream health and supporting native ecosystems by removing invasive plants that provide little ecological benefit to local soil and waterways. We’re grateful to all the volunteers and Planting Captains who dedicated their time to help restore this important habitat. You can learn more about the Root Nashville campaign at www.rootnashville.org and explore the Zoo’s impact in our newly published 2025 Conservation Report on our website.

Save big on Nashville Zoo group tickets! 🐾 For a limited time, get 10 FREE tickets with every 100 purchased through March 31. Bulk tickets are a great way to reward employees, thank clients, or create memorable outings for your team. Plus, they’re flexible and easy to use. ✔ Valid any day the Zoo is open ✔ Parking included ($10 value) ✔ Good for one full year ✔ Use them all at once or one at a time Regular bulk pricing already saves over 40%, making it a fun and cost-effective way to combine entertainment, education and goodwill in one wild gift. For tickets, email groupsales@nashvillezoo.org today!

Happy #WorldWildlifeDay! 🐾 In 2025, Nashville Zoo continued its commitment to conservation both near and far. From protecting species here in Tennessee to supporting wildlife programs around the globe; our work engages communities, restores habitats and creates lasting impact for animals and ecosystems. Explore the projects, partnerships and people driving real-world change in our latest blog post. Read more ➡️https://lnkd.in/e9Q4abbZ

What a SUPER weekend for giving back! 🏈🐾 During our Souper Bowl Food Drive and the Music City Puppy Bowl, our amazing community came together to make a real impact: -3,529 lbs of nonperishable food collected for Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee, providing 2,800 meals to families across Middle TN. -9 puppies found their fur-ever homes through the Nashville Humane Association, helping ease the burden on overcrowded shelters during peak puppy season. A huge thank you to everyone who donated, adopted, or helped spread the word; your support truly makes a difference in our local community! 💛

We kicked off 2026 with a very special arrival! Nashville Zoo welcomed its first-ever aardvark calf at 6:06 am on New Year’s Day. Born to mom Karanga and dad Winsol, this New Year’s baby weighs about four pounds. Karanga and the calf are doing well and are being closely monitored by our animal care team in a behind-the-scenes area. Only 33 aardvarks are in AZA-accredited zoos. This calf is the 34th and the first to be born since 2024, making this an especially meaningful milestone for the species.

2025 gave us a lot to celebrate at Nashville Zoo! From the opening of Leopard Forest to ongoing conservation work near and far, incredible animal births and being accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums once again, this year was filled with meaningful milestones for wildlife. Read the full year in review ➡️ nzoo.me/2025eoy

On #WorldWildlifeConservationDay, we’re celebrating a leap for the endangered Puerto Rican Crested Toad! Under our Wild Works conservation program, Nashville Zoo has sent over 33,000 tadpoles to be released back into the wild, including a record-breaking 6,681 this year. 🌎🐸 In November, Herpetology Keeper Giovanna Pia Sandonato traveled to Puerto Rico to assist with fieldwork and gain hands-on experience supporting these endangered amphibians in their natural habitat. Learn more about her trip here: https://lnkd.in/eC5Dy8yN #Conservation #Nashville