Membership Flamingo

NEW AT THE ZOO

The Zoo is celebrating spring with three new animals from all corners of the world. From Caribbean flamingos to South American tapirs to wallabies from Down Under, read on to learn more about our newest additions.

Pretty In Pink

With bright feathers, curvy necks and long legs, flamingos are some of the most vibrant and unusual birds in the world. Thanks to a generous donation from The Memorial Foundation, thirty Caribbean flamingos will be landing in a new exhibit at the Zoo this summer.

“We are very excited to introduce flamingos to our bird collection,” said avian curator Joe DeGraauw. “Flamingos are a favorite species for Zoo lovers, and our new habitat will really display these unique birds.”

Our flamingo flock will beheading to Nashville from SeaWorld in San Diego.Unsually cold winter weather has delayed the opening of the habitat from spring to summer.

The new exhibit features 9,500 square feet of lush greens and a wading lagoon. Come see our feathered friends as they get adjusted to their new home. The flamingo exhibit is located at the end of Bamboo Trail near Critter Encounters.

About the Caribbean Flamingo

Tapir Tales

Baird’s tapirs Houston and Romeo have been living the quiet life since coming to Nashville Zoo in 2008. At their off-exhibit facility, the pair have spent their days lying in the sun, eating fresh fruit and getting to know each other quite well. As a result, our twosome will soon be a threesome, as Houston is pregnant and expecting in April. Our guests will get a chance to see the new little guy or gal, along with mom and eventually dad, when the tapirs go on exhibit this spring.

When Houston and Romeo came to the Zoo in 2008, they were the first legal tapir imports to North America in 35 years. Members of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Tapir Specialist Group chose Nashville as the home for the genetically valuable pair because of the South American expansion currently being planned at the Zoo.

“Houston and Romeo are genetically viable to the professionally managed population of tapirs,” says Karen Rice, mammal curator. “This baby will be a true success story of cooperative conservation.” Tapirs are broad, primitive creatures whose appearance has changed very little in thousands of years. Though the adult tapir’s coat is solid brown, baby tapirs are born with unique markings similar to brown and white-striped watermelons that fade at around five months.

Houston will be the first to move to their new home at the former Bongo exhibit and will be joined by baby when he or she arrives. Romeo will be reintroduced to Houston and baby a few months after birth.

Aussie Addition

One of Australia’s most well-known species will soon be calling Nashville home. Three Bennett’s wallabies, one male and two females, will be bouncing over to the Zoo in mid-April. Wallabies are the pint-sized relatives of the kangaroo. Though they are smaller in size, Bennett’s wallabies are among the fastest in the kangaroo family. Their powerful legs can propel them to speeds up to 30 mph. They are also some of the most diurnal, often most active in the early morning and evening hours. Head over to Critter Encounters and say “g’day” to our Aussie additions.

Be sure to check back often for specific exhibit opening dates for all three animals.