Nashville Zoo

Zoo: 2022 was packed with new animal friends, fun features, immersive events and impactful initiatives - all thanks to the generosity of our supporters! After an eight-year hiatus, dinotrek made a roaring return with 218,770 visitors enjoying giant life-size animatronic dinosaurs along a hidden path. 70,894 guests have enjoyed five 4d short films featuring thrilling 3d and multi-sensory special effects since the 50-seat adventure 4d theater opened on april 6. After a lengthy construction process, the jungle gym reopened in march with the addition of thisbe and noah's promise park, a new area that allows kids with all abilities and disabilities to play side-by-side. Nighttime came to life from april to july at night visions. The captivating show of stunning projections set to music illuminated the Zoo's scenery in a kaleidoscope of color and whimsical imagery. The morton family exhibit was awarded top honors for the association of zoos and aquariums' angela peterson excellence in diversity award, as well as five additional awards from notable history organizations. We rolled out a new partnership with wego public transit and unveiled a wild bus wrap in june. The collaboration was part of an initiative that offered discounted admission to some of Nashville's hottest attractions. Zoolumination, presented by asurion, returned from november 18 to february 4 and welcomed more than 150,000 guests into a world of dazzling scenes made of 1,000+ custom-made silk lanterns. The Nashville predators' 2023 calendar went on sale in november and featured dozens of your favorite Zoo animals, including pekka the nigerian dwarf goat who was named in february for retired Nashville predators' goalie pekka rinne. Despite returning to a timed ticketing system in september, attendance for the year was at an all-time high of 1,322,324. Membership also hit a record in 2022 with 42,756 households. April was the highest overall attendance month in Zoo history!

Education: overall Nashville Zoo served a total of 291,789 individuals through educational programming in 2022.we had 47,456 students visit the Zoo through field trips, coming from 36 different counties.attendance for traditional programming includes:*homeschool days served 1,141 students in 2022 between the ages of 5 - 14*zootots served 1,922 students in ages 0-4*scout workshops served 367 students in 2022*zooventures outreach virtual programs served 14,202 students*summer camps served 1,003 students in 2022in addition to traditional classroom-based programming, our interpretive staff served a total of 141,479 guests through interpretive programming.

Conservation: over the past 25 years, Nashville Zoo has become a recognized leader in the conservation of many species due to our commitment to global and local conservation through research, habitat protection, breeding programs and education initiatives. We are proud to report that in 2022, we strengthened partnerships and worked to save species and protect habitats near and far. This year, 4,600+ puerto rican crested toads were hatched at Nashville Zoo and then sent to their native home to be released in protected streams. The Zoo's efforts with this species have resulted in the release of more than 25,000 tadpoles in the past ten years. In july, a carnivore keeper spent a month at cheetah conservation fund (ccf) in somaliland, providing medical supplies and helping to rehabilitate 38 cheetahs battling multiple illnesses. We've supported ccf's work to help save and protect this vulnerable species since 2014. In september, two staff members traveled to rainforest awareness rescue and education center (rarec) in peru to provide medical supplies to aid in the care of the amazonian wildlife they rescue and rehabilitate. We've provided rarec with significant financial support since 2015 to address infrastructure improvements and support their operations.