Chattanooga Zoo Crew Blog

Happy Black History Month from the Chattanooga Zoo! To celebrate, we’re honoring Black scientists who have changed the world of zoos and zoology forever through their work and discoveries. Mary J. Wilson and Charles Henry Turner are two Black scientists with incredible stories who have made significant contributions in the field of zoology throughout their lives.  

Mary J. Wilson was born January 2th, 1937, in West Baltimore, where she would reside for her entire life. Her mother became sick and passed away when she was only five years old. Despite the pain of that loss, Wilson would grow into a woman who was nurturing as she was fearless. Wilson's daughter, Sharon Wilson Jackson, said that her mother “was a no-nonsense lady,” (The New York Times Magazine).

Mary J. Wilson graduated from Paul Laurence Dunbar High School and chose to pursue a profession that fit her love for animals. She began her first job at the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore when she was 21 years old, she quickly became the first African American senior zookeeper, working with mammals from the beginning of her career. Wilson initially had no zoo experience or specialized animal training but was known to have “a willingness to work hard and love animals,” (The New York Times Magazine).

At the time, most female zookeepers specialized in “nursery” animals like birds or small mammals, but not Wilson. She was drawn to larger animals and worked with elephants, gorillas and tigers, and often went above and beyond to ensure the animals received the highest standard of care.

In the 1960s, when an infant gorilla named Sylvia moved into the Baltimore Zoo (now the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore) without her mother, Wilson took the gorilla under her wing, personally providing attention, love, and care to Sylvia. Wilson told the Baltimore Sun in 1996 that she had to care for the infant like you would a human baby. “Sylvia was like a baby to me. She was this cute little, reddish-colored gorilla.The first thing when I came in the morning, I used to give her a bath. Then I’d feed her breakfast. I’d cook three-minute eggs for her. She just became like my little daughter,” Wilson explains (The New York Times Magazine).

As Sylvia grew up, she outgrew her exhibit at the Baltimore Zoo. Sylvia was moved to the Cleveland City Zoo where she met an infant gorilla who had lost her mother, just like Sylvia. The zookeepers quickly noticed a special bond forming between Sylvia and the infant. Sylvia acted like a mother to the baby gorilla, despite never having children of her own. Instead she learned these skills for Mary J. Wilson and passed the love Wilson had shown to her along to another animal in need. “They said it was because of how I raised her that she was good with that youngster,” Wilson said (The New York Times Magazine).

Wilson worked at the Baltimore Zoo for 38 years where her legacy would pass down to her daughter. There was no pressure for Sharon Wilson Jackson, her daughter, to pursue a career in animal care. Instead, she said that Wilson just wanted her to do her best in whatever path she chose. However, Jackson developed a deep passion for animals like her mother did, possibly due to the fact Wilson often cared for animals at home throughout her career, exposing Jackson to a wide variety of species. Jackson pursued a career in Zoology and became the first Black woman employed by the Omaha City Zoo. 

Wilson retired from the Baltimore Zoo in 1999 and passed away in 2020 at 83 years old. She suffered from dementia, and when she lay sick in her hospital bed, Jackson tried to find ways to talk to her mom despite her declining mental state. Wilson never responded until Jackson asked about an elephant named Joe who bobbed his head to communicate. Wilson responded to the memory of her animal friend, allowing her to talk to her daughter in her final days. 

Charles Henry Turner is another groundbreaking Black scientist who did a different sort of work in the animal world.Turner was born in 1867 in Cincinnati, Ohio, and was encouraged by his parents to make learning and education his biggest focus. He graduated as the valedictorian from Gaines High School in 1886 then earned his bachelor’s, master’s and Ph.D in zoology from The University of Cincinnati. He is the first African American to receive a Ph.D from the university. 

Next, he began pursuing a career in teaching. He first taught at Clark College from 1893 to 1905, then at Sumner High School in St. Louis. Perhaps his most impactful work was completed at Sumner High, not at a college facility or laboratory. He did all of his research there and would retire with over 70 published research papers including behavioral studies of the honey bee, mound-building ants, and cockroach audiology. Turner did not limit himself to study only the world of insects but also studied the brains of annelid, avians, and crustaceans. During Turner's research he discovered new species of ants, crustaceans, bees, pigeons, wasps, spiders, cockroaches, and moths. Sumner High is where he discovered that insects could hear and alter their behavior based on previous experiences. This has paved the way for all future entomologists (insect scientists) to understand their insects. Generally, his discovery told us that insects could learn and recognize patterns. 

Due to Turner’s studies we now know that honey bees have color-vision and vivid memories that allow them to tell other hive mates exactly what distance, location and quality of a flower field they just returned from. He was also able to discover that spiders could assess a damaged piece of their web and find a concept to best fix their web.

Turner retired after 33 years of teaching and passed away on February 14, 1923. His legacy lives on through literature and other forms of appreciation. A children's book called “Bug Watching with Charles Henry Turner” by M.E. Ross is one of the most popular. Turner's biography is available as “The Biography of Charles Henry Turner, Pioneer of Comparative Animal Behavior Studies.” In 1923, the first school for African American disabled children, the Charles Henry Turner Open Air School for Crippled Children, was founded, now called Turner Middle School. His first teaching job, Clark College, also named Turner-Tanner Hall in his honor.  

Two weeks ago, Chattanooga was hit with a cold snap complete with ice, snow, single-digit temperatures and a wind chill to match. The Chattanooga Zoo closed to the public for a few days due to the unsafe cold and icy conditions, but our team worked around the clock to keep our reZOOdents safe and warm throughout the winter weather. After all, what’s more fun than an overnight stay at the Zoo? (Although that’s usually more of a summer activity.)

The Zoo’s Emergency Response Team, made up of specially trained zookeepers and facilities personnel, stayed overnight on Monday and Tuesday, January 15 and 16, to ensure the safety of every Zoo animal. The team would take turns walking the entire Zoo, ensuring that the power was on, animals were comfortably inside and/or close to heat lamps and all enclosures and fencing remained intact due to the possibility of falling limbs or trees. The team also assisted with animal care and facility upkeep throughout the day on Tuesday and Wednesday, January 16 and 17, as other staff members were unable to come to the Zoo due to treacherous road conditions.

“Ensuring the safety of our animals and staff is our top priority in any situation,” said Amanda Bartlett, animal care supervisor. "During an event like this, overnight staff are responsible for frequent checks of animals and enclosures. A power outage in the cold is one of our primary concerns. If that were to happen we are prepared to set up backup generators, move in propane heaters, and relocate animals to heated spaces if necessary."

Leading up to the cold weather, Zoo staff planned ahead by performing checks on all heat lamps, providing extra bedding, blankets and/or straw for animals, keeping some animals inside through the duration of the cold snap and preparing extra meals in advance for both the animals and the Emergency Response Team.

In addition to extreme cold, the Emergency Response Team is also prepared to handle animal escapes, venomous snake bites, fire, injuries to staff or guests and even train derailments. Each member of the team is first aid and CPR certified.

While the Emergency Response Team worked hard to keep everyone safe, some animals, like the red pandas, snow leopards, and coyotes, enjoyed a bit of colder weather!

The Zoo is extremely thankful for the hard work of our emergency response team and their dedication to our wonderful reZOOdents and the Zoo grounds!

From Nov. 16, 2023, to January 14, 2024, the Chattanooga Zoo will keep its doors open after-hours for its second-ever Asian Lantern Festival. Beginning at 5:30 p.m. each night of the festival, attendees will take an evening tour of the Chattanooga Zoo with a large collection of stunning lanterns, games and moving, interactive displays to light the way.

“This event helps bring our community together to make unforgettable memories while also inspiring a deeper appreciation of animals and our natural world,” said Darde Long, president and CEO of the Chattanooga Zoo. “This year, to create a newly enchanting experience for our patrons, we’ve updated the displays to feature an entirely new collection of lanterns that showcase Chinese culture, a winter wonderland, a variety of undersea life and, of course, our beloved zoo animals.”

The lanterns, which took over a month to construct and span the entire zoo property, feature large displays of butterflies, holiday lights, a wide variety of animals, a giant crab, a dragon that’s 30 feet tall and much more.

Additionally, Santa Claus will visit the festival and take pictures with attendees at no additional cost on Dec. 15, 16, 22 and 23. For closing weekend, Jan. 13-14, The Pop-up Project will present an interactive performance across the Zoo grounds including dancers, live music and aerialists.

This year’s newly revamped Asian Lantern Festival is supported by Chick-fil-A of Chattanooga, the presenting sponsor. 

The festival occurs Wednesday through Sunday each week until its final night on January 14, 2024. The festival is open from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. each night.

Tickets are available at chattzoo.org/events/alf-2023. General Zoo admission tickets are not required, only an Asian Lantern Festival ticket is required for entry. Additionally, Asian Lantern Festival tickets do not grant general admission to the Zoo throughout the day.

For more information about other Chattanooga Zoo programs, events, animals and more, visit chattzoo.org or call 423-697-1322.

We're continuing to celebrate Black History Month by highlighting Black individuals who have and are continuing to connect people of color to nature, around the country and here in Chattanooga! Read on to learn more about their work--

Paving better paths for people of color in the outdoors is central to Rue Mapp's work. In 2009, she created a national non-for-profit organization called Outdoor Afro. This organization is community based and celebrates, inspires, and educates Black connections and leadership by learning about African American history related to outdoor recreation, nature, and conservation.

This work is extremely similar to the work that Shawanna Kendrick has been doing here in Chattanooga. She is the founder and CEO of The Hiking, Healing, and Outdoors Life (H2O Life). In 2019, Shawanna invited a group of friends to try something new - go on a hike together. This outdoor experience provided the safe space she had been seeking for Black women to “connect and reset”. After this first trip, the hikes continued and expanded to include more women of color with the goal of providing continued mental and physical healing through nature, personal connections, and a break from life’s regular pressures.

Barriers for freed Black workers in the 1800s were a lot more aggressively racially charged than modern barriers. There were “Black codes'' which severely limited the rights of free Black people and made unreasonable requirements for them in order to work. Soloman Brown, therefore, overcame a lot to become the first Black employee at the Smithsonian in 1829. While there, he worked to become a self-educated scientist and naturalist, educator, illustrator and mapmaker, poet, and political leader, and was seemingly recognized as the first Black environmentalist.

Today, big strides have been made to continue the work started by figures such as Solomon Brown, but some of the effects of the laws years ago have lingered. Clark Brewer has made it his purpose to mitigate those effects for people of color here in Chattanooga. In 2017, Clark co-founded Bridge Chattanooga, an after-school program that focused on taking kids of color on outdoor adventures such as hiking, canoeing, and caving. This eventually led him to launch his own non-profit, Huemans Outdoors, where he has worked to expand this outreach through guided excursions for youth and adults alike.

Jaguars, Panthera onca, are widely known as one of the most skilled and powerful hunters on the planet. They are the third largest member of the big cat family, yet they have the strongest bite force relative to their size, beating out both the lion and the tiger for the most forceful pair of jaws. They are massive, weighing up to a mighty 250 pounds, and growing six feet long. It’s no secret that they’re one of the world’s most impressive predators. So, how do you convince one to participate in a COVID test?

First, let’s confront why you’d try to nasally swab an apex predator like a jaguar. Did you know that along with many other animals,  felines can contract the COVID-19 virus? In fact, as many as seven big cats at the Bronx Zoo were diagnosed with the respiratory illness in April of 2020. So, when the Chattanooga Zoo learned that some of our larger feline friends were susceptible to the illness, we knew we had to take preventative action.

While it may seem like an impossible task to ask a jaguar to take a COVID test, learning new behaviors is nothing new for our two adult male jaguars, Phil and Jean. These boys, while being amazing predators, are also highly intelligent and capable of learning new behaviors, even nasal swabs. Their primary keeper, Alex Sinn, says that the brothers are typically very willing to learn and train. In fact, training is a part of their daily routine. About five days a week, Phil and Jean are asked to target-train. During this training exercise, Alex asks Phil and Jean to present their paws against their den walls as he holds up a stick with a red target on the end against the other side of the mesh. It’s through this training that Alex is able to routinely check the health of their paw pads. After successfully running through the training, the boys are rewarded with a tasty jaguar treat--a juicy ball of ground meat.

Similar exercises include injection training, where the jaguars move into a chute-like area and allow Alex to practice the motion of hand-injection on the cats, effectively desensitizing Phil and Jean to the experience. This practice makes for smooth injection experiences, and a far less stressful day for both the cats and Alex when it comes time to do a physical exam on the jaguars.

It’s important to note that training with any of our animals is never done by force. Keepers simply present the animals with the option to participate, and deliver rewards to reinforce positive behavior. As a result, when the den door opens and it’s time to call the Jaguars off the exhibit for the night, they come willingly, knowing that a giant rat or other incentive is waiting for them on the other side.

Since training is a part of the Jaguars’ routine, Alex was able to introduce the COVID testing as a new part of their procedure. First, Alex attached the black cylinder to the inside of their den, and asked each jaguar to rest their muzzle in the holder as he rewarded them. As they got familiar with this, Alex introduced the cotton swab, rubbing it on the outside of the cats’ nose while treating them with fresh meat. Day by day, the cats became more and more comfortable with the practice until Alex was able to gently place the swab inside their nose to get a sample.

For now, the practice is preventative. Like injection training, it’s helpful that the animals are used to these exercises so that when Zoo staff needs to be able to sedate the jaguars, they can do it smoothly and without causing unnecessary stress to the animals. If Alex or another member of animal care staff witnesses either Jean or Phil displaying respiratory issues or other symptoms of COVID-19, they are able to safely and calmly test them. And the jaguars? They just think they’re going through their regular routine, receiving tasty rewards along the way.

It’s no secret that local bees, butterflies, and birds work hard to pollinate all the flowers, trees, and plants in Chattanooga. However, we thought National Pollinator Month would be a perfect season for the Chattanooga Zoo to showcase a lesser known, but just as important, pollinator. 

Kinkajous are one of the rainforest’s most important vehicles, carrying pollen from one flower to another (to another) within their range from Southern Mexico to Southern Brazil. Like insects and birds, they have a palate that loves the sweet flavor of nectar. In fact, they love it so much, they’ve been nicknamed “Honey Bear” for the way they dig into beehives and dive face-first into flowers. Their tongue is 5 inches long, and aids their search for the sugary drink by reaching into the petals of their favorite flowers to gather nectar. (Think large, furry Hummingbird). 

As a nocturnal animal, Kinkajous hunt flowers by night, moving silently and undetected through the rainforest. They’re arboreal, meaning they spend most of their days living in tree-tops, avoiding the predators that prowl on the forest floor. Their diet consists of mostly fruit and pollen, though they do sometimes eat insects. 

Because they feed on a variety of flowers and travel to several in one night, Kinkajous help to pollinate plants in the Rainforest! When they dine on nectar, it gets stuck to their whiskers and fur. As they travel to another flower, they leave a dusting of the last flower’s pollen and so forth until they’ve helped one flower deliver its pollen far and wide. They truly are VIPs! (Very Important Pollinators)

Did you know that you can visit Kinkajous at the Chattanooga Zoo? Our group is found in the Corcovado Jungle section, near the Jaguar habitat. One of the enrichment activities that you might see our Keepers giving our Kinkajous are flowers to visit and taste, and honey drizzled on branches for them to explore. We hope that this June, you take some time to celebrate and learn about how different organisms pollenate, both locally and around the world. What you learn just might surprise you! 

Have you visited Nature Play at the Chattanooga Zoo? If you have, you know that it’s not your typical playground. Constructed in April of 2019, you won’t find a swing set, a slide, or even a set of monkey bars within this playground. Instead, you’ll find that there is a much more natural style at play. Tucked next to the Warner Park Ranch (The Zoo’s Petting Zoo), Nature Play focuses on allowing children to interact with nature through the space, and use their own creativity to enjoy the playground. Instead of traditional playground equipment, inside you’ll find a honeycomb jungle gym, giant insects to climb, multiple musical components, a gazebo hut, a dig pit, a crawl through tunnel, and boulders. 

So what’s the goal when you build a nature-focused playground? Everything about nature play from location and equipment, to theme and the type of substrate used on the ground were designed to immerse children into nature. These choices provide kids with the opportunity to experience the world around them in a new way. By presenting children with new challenges (in this case, novel playground equipment), studies have shown that they are then found to have increased activity levels, decreased obesity rates, improved problem solving and reasoning skills, and increased social and emotional skills. Furthermore, children are found to have increased empathy for both other people and the animals and plants we share this planet with. In short, children thrive when they are allowed to play in nature.

By creating this space at the Chattanooga Zoo, there’s an added thrill in the wildlife that surrounds the playground. You can visit the Snow Leopards or the Alpacas before you step into Nature Play, opening even more worlds of fun and opportunity for creativity. We hope that next time you visit the Zoo with your kids, you’ll stop by and enjoy the giant grasshopper or bumble bee, or play a new song on the musical components. We’ll see you soon at Nature Play. 

It’s this time of year that nighttime drives in the car with the windows down take on a whole new song. A beautiful, harmonious, chirping song. Native frog species are emerging, singing their springtime serenade to welcome the season, and consequently-- National Frog Month. This April, we want to celebrate Frog Month by talking about the native amphibious friends occurring naturally in our own backyards, as well as some of the more exotic species that you can visit at the Chattanooga Zoo.

Locally, the warm weather is bringing out species like Green Tree Frogs, the American Bullfrog, and the Eastern Spadefoot. At night, you probably hear the high pitched call of the appropriately named Spring Peeper. In all, Tennessee is home to 21 individual species of frogs and toads, each playing an important role in the local ecosystem. Frogs are integral to keeping insect populations at bay, eating bugs like pesky mosquitos and flies. Frogs and toads are also what is called an “indicator species”. Because frogs have extremely absorbent skin, they require clean and habitable water to survive. Frog populations are a great indicator of the health of our waterways. When frog numbers decline, water pollution could be a factor. Likewise, when populations are healthy and thriving, it is a good indication that the level of pollutants are low. 

Just as local frog species are important (and very interesting!), frogs around the world are important to our environment and to the ecosystems in which they reside. At the Chattanooga Zoo, you can step into the frog’s world and see their habitat up close and personal through their enclosures. The Zoo houses species like the Amazon Milk Frog, who’s specially adapted toe-pads can hold up to 14 times their weight. We’re also home to the African Bullfrog, and Sonoran Desert Toad. You can even view brightly-colored Poison Dart Frogs hopping about their enclosure, coexisting peacefully with the Bushmaster-- a large venomous viper found in the Amazon River basin. 

If you’ve ever attended a Hug-a-Bunny Day at the Chattanooga Zoo, you know what a fun experience it is! The Easter eggs full of candy, the games, bunny-crafts and of course, the dozens of real-live bunnies, make this event one of the best on the Chattanooga Zoo calendar. However, Hug-a-Bunny Days weren’t started simply because the team at the Zoo wanted to add another fun-filled day to the schedule.

Before Hug-a-Bunny as we now know it ever began, the Chattanooga Zoo was confronted by a problem. A very cute and cuddly problem. As well-meaning parents and grandparents in our community would purchase bunnies to give to their little ones as Easter gifts, they would also realize that a full-grown rabbit needs as much care and attention as a dog or cat, or that they were allergic to their new furry friends. Some families didn’t have the space that a bunny needed, or simply realized that they had bitten off a little more carrot than they could chew, and no longer wanted to keep their Easter friends. Long story short, Chattanooga experienced a bunny-surplus. As more and more families realized that they needed to give their bunnies away, the Chattanooga Zoo received more and more calls of community members offering their furry friends free to a good home.

As the Zoo answered the calls, they began to brainstorm on how to remedy the problem on a higher level. Thus, Hug-A-Bunny Days were born! By bringing dozens of bunnies to the Zoo for a two-day event, families now had the opportunity to interact with and learn about rabbits without the long-term commitment and care that a bunny needs. (Did you know that the oldest bunny on earth lived to be 18 years old?). With their admission, guests could also enjoy all the amazing animals at the Zoo, many of which receive special enrichment at Hug-A-Bunny. Aside from a fun-filled day for families, this event helped fewer bunnies end up “looking for their forever home”. Each year, this event also serves as a significant fundraiser for the Chattanooga Zoo, bringing much-needed donations that help the Zoo continue to care for our animals and serve the community. We call that a win for our community, a win for the Zoo, and most of all, a win for bunnies!

The Eastern Hellbender dons many names. Some may call them “Mud-Devil”, “Devil-Dog”, “Mud-Cats” or even “Snot-Otter”. While the number of nicknames for Hellbenders is abundant, the number of viable habitats within which they reside is dwindling. Because the Hellbender breathes through its skin, they are susceptible to environmental toxins in the rivers and streams they call home. They need clean, fast-moving, highly oxygenated waters to survive - a hot commodity in the modern landscape due to water pollution and man-made structures like dams. Because of environmental impacts on the Eastern Hellbender’s habitat, their once-plentiful populations from North Georgia to Southern New York are now scattered and sparse.

However, hope for the Eastern Hellbender is far from lost. As we continue to learn more about this amazing animal, we are learning what will help lead to its survival, and the conservation efforts necessary. As a result of this mission, the Hiwassee Hellbender Research Facility at the Chattanooga Zoo was constructed. After months of careful preparation, six adult Hellbenders were moved into their new enclosures inside this facility last Friday. Their enclosure features a reverse-osmosis stream with cool, clear water running across a bed of river rock - a Hellbender’s dream home. The goal of this new facility is twofold: to bring better understanding and education to the public regarding this elusive native amphibian, and to gather important research surrounding this salamander-species. Once this facility opens to the public, guests will have the opportunity to learn more about this creature up close, and witness research being conducted in real time. They’ll also have the chance to learn about how conservation of this animal’s home affects their home, too. After all, as we learn what helps keep the Eastern Hellbender happy in the wild, we are learning what keeps our waterways cleaner. These slimy creatures and their population numbers are the perfect indicator of whether or not rivers and streams are clean and habitable. Where there are Hellbenders, there is clean water. 

When I tell people what I do for a living the most common response I hear is “That is so cool”. And it is. My job is challenging, interesting, inspiring, and simply awesome. So you may be thinking “How do I get to be a veterinary technician?” Well, this blog post is all about becoming a veterinary technician.

Veterinary technicians are the nurses of the vet world. Our education is typically 2-4 years at an AVMA accredited program, depending on whether you would like to have an Associates (2 year) or a Bachelor’s (4 year) degree. 2-year programs are more common and most cities and/or state community colleges have an AVMA accredited veterinary technician program.  Admission for the program will vary from school to school, but like with other A.A. and B.S. degrees you can be accepted straight from high school and many technicians do. Once you are finished with your program, you are eligible to sit for the VTNE, Veterinary Technician National Exam, aka the boards. Passing this exam will make you eligible to become a licensed technician. Some states have other requirements, such as a second test or a background check, to become licensed.  Each state has a different title for these technicians. In Tennessee, we have Licensed Veterinary Medical Technicians, LVMT. In other states we are Registered Veterinary Technician, RVT, Licensed Veterinary Technician, LVT, Certified Veterinary Technicians, CVT. Some states have started switching over to using veterinary nurses, the term used in the rest of world and one that more accurately describes our profession.

So you have your degree, passed your boards, and got your license, now what? Well, one of the perks of becoming a veterinary technician is it is a very versatile job.  You are able to work with dogs and cats only in a private practice, emergency clinic, specialty clinic, or animal shelter. You are able to work with large animals on farms. You are able to work with exotics in private practice or in zoos. You could work with wildlife or laboratory animals. Licensed veterinary technicians are in high demand. If you choose to specialize you could advance your career by getting a VTS in a specialty field like anesthesia, behavior, oncology, zoo, or dentistry. This profession really allows you to find what you are passionate about and have a rewarding career.

Here in Chattanooga, our veterinary technician program is at Chattanooga State Community College. They are partnered with us to have their students come out to assist with our annual spider monkey physicals. 

This gives them the opportunity to see what zoo veterinary medicine is like and a chance to use their skills in a real examination.

February is National Pet Dental Health month!

“Dental Health is important for many reasons. The most obvious is that dental abscesses, loose teeth, and bleeding gums hurt and we want to alleviate pain whenever possible. The less obvious reason is that tartar (the hard stuff on the teeth) is composed of bacteria. This chronic infection can cause heart disease, kidney disease, and insulin resistance.”  - Dr. Anthony Ashley

Dental health is very important for your pets’ overall health, and is essential for keeping our animals at the zoo healthy, too. At every routine animal exam, our veterinarian examines the animal’s mouth for signs of tartar buildup, periodontal disease, broken teeth, or other abnormalities. When needed, we clean our animals’ teeth while they are under anesthesia. Placing our animals under anesthesia ensures safe teeth cleaning procedure and allows us to further explore their mouths. Most dental diseases occur below the gum line and anesthesia allows us to do a full exam and detailed cleaning on them.

Our keeper staff also plays a big role in maintaining the oral health of our animals.  Many of our zookeepers, like Keeper Jamie, have trained their animals to open their mouths wide on command, allowing us to check their teeth and mouths regularly. This is especially important for animals like our Jaguars, who have had issues with their teeth in the past. Our jaguars, Jean and Phil, have both had root canals in the past, so it is very important for us to orally exam them often. Chimpanzees have mouths similar to humans and benefit highly from regular teeth cleaning. Keeper Katie has trained several of our chimps to allow her to brush their teeth and to open their mouths for examination. Next month we will be performing routine examinations on our chimpanzees and will be able to get an up-close look at their teeth and mouths.

Mammals aren’t the only ones that need to have oral exams. During annual exams, we check the mouths of our birds and reptiles, too. In the wild birds wear down their beaks on rocks and food, but in human care, they don’t always wear them down as routinely, so occasional beak trims are needed. A quick trim is very much like trimming fingernails and can often be done while they are awake. Just like with mammals, training is very important to help provide the best care for the birds.

Hello! My name is Lacey. I am the Assistant Curator and one of the Veterinary Technicians here at the Chattanooga Zoo!

Over the next year, I will be writing about several zoo veterinary topics. For my first blog post, I thought I would introduce myself and talk to you about what a veterinary technician does. In the most straightforward terms, a veterinary technician is a nurse that works with veterinarians and animals. In many parts of the world, vet techs are actually called veterinary nurses. Most veterinary technicians went to a special program for training as a vet tech, took a national board test, and became licensed in their state. In Tennessee, we have Licensed Veterinary Medical Technicians, LVMT.

The primary job of a vet tech is to assist the veterinarian and to provide vet care for their patients. Here at the zoo, that is primarily what I do. I help with assessing sick or injured animals, monitoring anesthesia, drawing blood, examining fecal samples for parasites, restraining animals for exams, administering medications, maintaining accurate vet records, and talking to keepers about the health and welfare of their animals. So keep checking back this year to learn about the vet department and what it is like to be a zoo vet tech!

This week is a pretty special week for many zoos & aquariums across the country. It’s a chance for us to celebrate and show our appreciation for all of our wonderful zookeepers. Here at the Chattanooga Zoo, we’ve had a generously donated lunch for our zookeepers, our Zoo Campers have made thank you cards for our animal care staff, and we’ve hosted an after-hours zookeeper hangout  with free pizza and a slip & slide. Hopefully, you’ve followed along on our social media as we’ve given shoutouts to the different animal care departments, but if not it’s not too late to share your words of appreciation for our animal care staff!

5 Reasons to Be Excited for Q’ n Brew 2017

There are so many reasons to be excited about the Chattanooga Zoo’s signature summer event. Whether this is your first time or you’ve been coming for years, Q’ n Brew is summer fun for the whole family. If you love animals, BBQ, brews, bluegrass, or even relaxing with friends, Q’ n Brew is the place for you. Since Q’ n Brew is only a week away we decided to pick our top 5 reasons we’re excited for our favorite summertime event!

Last month, two of our chimpanzees, Artimus and Brandy, received echocardiograms, and we are happy to announce that the results showed great heart health! Dr. Warren, M.D., cardiologist at the Chattanooga Heart Institute, reporteded that all results of the EKGs and blood work were within normal range. The Chattanooga Zoo has partnered with Dr. Warren and the Chattanooga Heart Institute to check our chimpanzee's heart health for 6 years now, with this year being the first year to perform a 3D echocardiogram.

Heart disease is the number one cause of death in chimpanzees living in captivity, so we are happy to be able to form these partnerships in order to provide the best care we can for our resident chimpanzees. We are very thankful for Dr. Warren, CHI Memorial, UTK Vet School, and our animal care staff for their contributions in keeping our chimpanzees healthy! 

Ever wondered what the Chattanooga Zoo animals eat?  Learn all about animal nutrition through our interview with two of the Chattanooga Zoo’s nutrition experts!

Animal Nutrition is so important, and our Zoo Staff puts top priority on making sure that animals here at the Zoo are healthy, happy, and eating just as well (if not better) than you do at home! Aubrey Routledge, the Zoo’s Nutritionist and Wildlife Rehabilitation Specialist as well as Lacey Hickle, the Zoo’s Veterinary Technician\Registrar and Animal Care Manager answered some questions on the topic, check out their answers below!

Q: Who prepares the food for each animal at the Zoo?

AR: The Nutritionist on staff is responsible for making all the diets for the animals. In our case, that job falls unto me (Aubrey Routledge). However, there are staff members such as Hillacy Shadwick and Rebecca St. George that are in there part time to help out. We also have a volunteer who helps prep the diets twice a week.

Q: What sorts of foods do Chattanooga Zoo animals eat?

LH: With such a varied collection of animals, our animals eat a wide variety of food from fruits and vegetables to raw meat and mice to species specific dry complete diets. The dry complete diets are typically Mazuri brand and are formulated for the specific nutritional needs of each species. For example, our Spider Monkeys (New World Primate biscuits), Langurs (High Fiber Sticks), and Mangabeys (Primate Maintenance biscuits) even though they are all primates they get different types of biscuits in addition to their produce to meet their specific requirements.

Q: How much food do Chattanooga Zoo animals eat?

LH: We use several tons of meat, produce, and dry complete diets each month. For example, our troop of Chimpanzees eat about 80 pounds of dry primate biscuits weekly in addition to their produce. And our pair of Jaguar brothers eat about 70 pounds of meat diet weekly.

Q: Where does the food come from?

AR: We use a produce company called T&T Produce. Several restaurants in the area use this company. We wanted to ensure that our animals are getting really good/fresh produce. T&T allows us to do that.

Q: When do the animals eat?

AR: It depends on the species and what kind of eating habits they require. If they are nocturnal then they will get their food in the PM before we close. If diurnal, then they will receive the diet in the AM. Some mammals, however, can be fed twice a day. For instance, the primates will be fed twice a day, because in the wild primates will forage for their food for the majority of their day. Since we want to simulate that behavior, primates usually require at least 2 feedings per day.

Q: Do any of the animals have a 'favorite' food?

AR: Absolutely. Olive, the sloth, loves red delicious apples. Amir, the African porcupine, loves sweet potato. The spider monkeys love limes. Artie, the chimp, loves bok choy. Those are just to name a few!

LH: For our herbivores and omnivores grapes, apples, and bananas are a common favorite. For our large cats, like Tankh the Snow Leopard, chunks of beef fresh from the grocery store are his favorite. Each animal has their own preferences just like we do. However, they still get offered a wide variety of items in their diet to keep them healthy.

Q: How do you encourage natural behaviors through food nutrition?

AR: The goal for food isn't just to give them the required nutrients. We also have to make sure that we are keeping those innate behaviors stimulated. For instance, the primates are foragers by nature. So, the diet is tossed into the exhibit so they have to go find it. We have to cut the pieces of produce small enough so it can scatter easily and they can go look for their food. We also tend to keep peels on foods. This can help the animal manipulate the food item to get the portion of the food that they want. If we took the peel off of everything then the animal could just scarf down the food without having to "work" for it. It just helps keep natural behaviors stimulated.

Q: Is there anything that folks reading the article should know about animal nutrition?

AR: Each animal has a specified diet to meet their requirements and every diet is weighed out to the gram. We like to ensure that the animal is getting the necessary nutrients for their specific species and needs. Therefore, nutrition is constantly changing in order to meet the needs of a certain animal. Nutrition isn't just chopping fruits and vegetables-- it's being mindful of what you are giving each animal and how much. You also have to think about each individual animal and when you prepare 100+ diets, it can be daunting!

LH: The nutritional needs of each species varies and can often be very particular. Kinkajous our closely related to coatis and raccoons and while their diets are similar kinkajous in the wild and here eat more fruit and less protein. Certain leafy greens are great for some lizards but too much can be toxic to other lizards based on their nutritional content. Exotic animal nutrition is complex and there is a lot we are still learning about their diets both in the wild and in zoos.

Q: Why is animal nutrition important?

AR: Food is essential to life and we want to make sure we are giving the animals the best life possible. So, we have to make sure we are giving them the best care-- nutrition plays a huge part in that. We have to  make sure we are giving them not only what they like, but also what they need so they have the can thrive here at the Chattanooga Zoo.

LH: There are a lot of illnesses, especially in exotic mammals and reptiles, that can be prevented with good nutrition. Primates and Capybara for example, like humans, get their Vitamin C only from their diet. Ensuring they get a complete biscuit diet as well as fruits, like oranges, daily will help keep them healthy for many years.