The traditions of Nashville Zoo are closely linked and tied with clouded leopards ..., so a new on-site exhibit for the species was something of a given and essential to zoo management (and perhaps also for the purpose of conservation breeding).
Nashville Zoo Nashville Zoo News 2025
- Thread starter Milwaukee Man
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https://www.youtube.com/live/IgI1DPaEoCM?si=2dwP7nURVH9MmfVS
Hello all! If you watch the director speaking in the video linked above, he talks about the next steps for Nashville Zoo. It looks like Orangutans, Clouded Leopards, Small-Clawed Otters, Tree Kangaroos (viewable in a new bathroom), and hornbills will be the primary focus of the next development. He assures that the exhibits for orangutans and clouded leopards will be the best of their kind in the country.
Hopefully someone can make their way to the zoo soon to get some pictures of Leopard Forest as there isn’t much footage or photos available.
Hello all! If you watch the director speaking in the video linked above, he talks about the next steps for Nashville Zoo. It looks like Orangutans, Clouded Leopards, Small-Clawed Otters, Tree Kangaroos (viewable in a new bathroom), and hornbills will be the primary focus of the next development. He assures that the exhibits for orangutans and clouded leopards will be the best of their kind in the country.
Hopefully someone can make their way to the zoo soon to get some pictures of Leopard Forest as there isn’t much footage or photos available.
A spotted fanaloka was born in late March!
Nashville Zoo veterinary team keeps busy with more than 3,000 charges
There have now been three births of this Nashville-exclusive species in the past few years, which is, of course, awesome news.
Nashville Zoo veterinary team keeps busy with more than 3,000 charges
There have now been three births of this Nashville-exclusive species in the past few years, which is, of course, awesome news.
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USZOOfan42
Well-Known Member
Wonder if more zoos start to aquire them with Nashville’s breeding success.
Other Mid-2025 News Not Mentioned:
On March 31st, the zoo announced a (0.1) northern white-cheeked gibbon named Muffy passed away at age 55.
Nashville Zoo
On April 30th, it was reported that a 31-year-old woman was arrested at the zoo after riding her bike through an open gate and then allegedly assaulted an employee who told her to stop.
Woman accused of attacking Nashville Zoo employee
On June 24th, it was announced that the zoo transferred (0.2) Sumatran tigers named Kirana and Zara to Downtown Aquarium Houston in Texas in early May.
6.4K views · 81 reactions | Say hello to our paw-sitively adorable new residents Kirana and Zara! These Sumatran Tiger sisters are here as part of the AZA's Species Survival... | By Downtown Aquarium - Houston | Facebook
On June 25th, the zoo announced they acquired ~50 moon jellyfish which are now on display in Unseen New World.
10K views · 570 reactions | Meet the newest stars of Unseen New World: moon jellyfish! These translucent drifters are named for the soft, rounded “bell” on top of their bodies, which pulses to help them move through the water. Moon jellies are commonly found in coastal waters around the world and feed mainly on tiny zooplankton. | Nashville Zoo
Nashville Zoo announces new moon jellyfish habitat
On May 16th, the zoo announced they headstarted and released 17 eastern hellbenders back into the wild.
21K views · 567 reactions | Releasing Hellbenders into the Wild | This #EndangeredSpeciesDay, we're making waves for native wildlife! We’re excited to announce that 17 more zoo-raised eastern hellbenders have been... | By Nashville Zoo | Facebook
21K views · 567 reactions | Releasing Hellbenders into the Wild | This #EndangeredSpeciesDay, we're making waves for native wildlife! We’re excited to announce that 17 more zoo-raised eastern hellbenders have been... | By Nashville Zoo | Facebook
On March 31st, the zoo announced a (0.1) northern white-cheeked gibbon named Muffy passed away at age 55.
Nashville Zoo
On April 30th, it was reported that a 31-year-old woman was arrested at the zoo after riding her bike through an open gate and then allegedly assaulted an employee who told her to stop.
Woman accused of attacking Nashville Zoo employee
On June 24th, it was announced that the zoo transferred (0.2) Sumatran tigers named Kirana and Zara to Downtown Aquarium Houston in Texas in early May.
6.4K views · 81 reactions | Say hello to our paw-sitively adorable new residents Kirana and Zara! These Sumatran Tiger sisters are here as part of the AZA's Species Survival... | By Downtown Aquarium - Houston | Facebook
On June 25th, the zoo announced they acquired ~50 moon jellyfish which are now on display in Unseen New World.
10K views · 570 reactions | Meet the newest stars of Unseen New World: moon jellyfish! These translucent drifters are named for the soft, rounded “bell” on top of their bodies, which pulses to help them move through the water. Moon jellies are commonly found in coastal waters around the world and feed mainly on tiny zooplankton. | Nashville Zoo
Nashville Zoo announces new moon jellyfish habitat
I will be going in August so if noone goes before that I'll post as much as I can.
I can’t help but think that the kit will probably be used as an “ambassador” instead of an actual exhibit animal, so it feels like a moot question to ask wether or not the kit will move out or stay in Nashville.
fphuang
Member
Updates from visit on July 12 and 13:
- The second nursery housed a banded palm civet kit born on May 2, and the brooding room housed a Livingstone's turaco hatched on June 23.
- The pudu baby was almost spotless! The family was active at 17:30.
- Two Komodo dragons were on exhibit—one inside and one outside.
- Klipspringers were off exhibit. There was still a sign for the rock hyrax.
- I watched three presentations over two days and saw caracal, tamandua, binturong, opossum, skunk, laughing kookaburra, silvery-cheeked hornbill, and various herps.
Short-Giraffe
Active Member
I visited the Nashville Zoo on July 15 to see the recently opened Leopard Forest, and thought I'd write up a quick review. Following a pattern of high quality exhibits Nashville has opened recently, I found the new complex to be the new highlight of the zoo.
The exhibits:
The first exhibit is for De brazza's monkeys - I saw a pair on exhibit. Of the four new exhibits, I found this to be the weakest, although still a solid exhibit. My main critique is the lack of verticality and overall size of the exhibit. However, the inclusion of vegetation in the exhibit and the sheer variety of climbing options makes for a engaging environment.
The next exhibit is for amur leopards - the namesake and highlight of the complex. The exhibit is large and well planted with plenty of climbing opportunities, and includes a bridge over the pathway for the leopards to enter and exit the on view habitat. There are three guest viewing options, two behind mesh and one behind glass. I found that the cross viewing behind the mesh view points to be distracting, although I think once the foliage grows in more, that won't be as much of a problem.
The third exhibit is for a group of mantled guereza - I saw four on exhibit. An excellent exhibit with plenty of climbing opportunities and lots of space. There was some vegetation in the exhibit, but not much so hopefully over time more is planted
The fourth and final new exhibit is for klipspringer (and rock hyrax as signed). A worker told me while I was there that they were concerned that both the klipspringer and hyrax would be able to escape, so were looking at options to modify the exhibit before the animals would be viewable. An unfortunate set-back, the exhibit is attractive and includes two viewing options - behind mesh and open-top view.
Other positives:
For much of the walk through the complex, the white rhino exhibit runs alongside on the right, including a very attractive viewing point over a small pond for the rhinos. I found the viewing options much stronger on this side of the exhibit than alongside the path to the animal hospital. The giraffes are now back on exhibit, in an attractive, well planted, yard. I found the theming to be simple but strong, mostly just including some attractive metal animal sculptures.
Negatives:
My only complaint is the on the layout of the new complex. Leopard forest is a dead end trail, requiring guests to walk up and then back along the same path. Combined with the path to the animal hospital and to grassmere, to see the entire zoo requires walking up and back down the same hill three separate times.
The exhibits:
The first exhibit is for De brazza's monkeys - I saw a pair on exhibit. Of the four new exhibits, I found this to be the weakest, although still a solid exhibit. My main critique is the lack of verticality and overall size of the exhibit. However, the inclusion of vegetation in the exhibit and the sheer variety of climbing options makes for a engaging environment.
The next exhibit is for amur leopards - the namesake and highlight of the complex. The exhibit is large and well planted with plenty of climbing opportunities, and includes a bridge over the pathway for the leopards to enter and exit the on view habitat. There are three guest viewing options, two behind mesh and one behind glass. I found that the cross viewing behind the mesh view points to be distracting, although I think once the foliage grows in more, that won't be as much of a problem.
The third exhibit is for a group of mantled guereza - I saw four on exhibit. An excellent exhibit with plenty of climbing opportunities and lots of space. There was some vegetation in the exhibit, but not much so hopefully over time more is planted
The fourth and final new exhibit is for klipspringer (and rock hyrax as signed). A worker told me while I was there that they were concerned that both the klipspringer and hyrax would be able to escape, so were looking at options to modify the exhibit before the animals would be viewable. An unfortunate set-back, the exhibit is attractive and includes two viewing options - behind mesh and open-top view.
Other positives:
For much of the walk through the complex, the white rhino exhibit runs alongside on the right, including a very attractive viewing point over a small pond for the rhinos. I found the viewing options much stronger on this side of the exhibit than alongside the path to the animal hospital. The giraffes are now back on exhibit, in an attractive, well planted, yard. I found the theming to be simple but strong, mostly just including some attractive metal animal sculptures.
Negatives:
My only complaint is the on the layout of the new complex. Leopard forest is a dead end trail, requiring guests to walk up and then back along the same path. Combined with the path to the animal hospital and to grassmere, to see the entire zoo requires walking up and back down the same hill three separate times.
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Nile Hippo Expert
Well-Known Member
Clouded leopard siblings arrive:
Nashville Zoo celebrates birth of clouded leopard cub, acquires sibling pair
1.1 Clouded leopard cubs have been transferred in from Tanganyika Wildlife Park to join Nashville’s female cub for socialisation:
In addition to the birth of this clouded leopard, the zoo also acquired a 10-week-old brother and sister pair from Tanganyika Wildlife Park. Once it’s age appropriate, the zoo will introduce their newest cub to the siblings for social interaction.
Nashville Zoo celebrates birth of clouded leopard cub, acquires sibling pair
1.1 Clouded leopard cubs have been transferred in from Tanganyika Wildlife Park to join Nashville’s female cub for socialisation:
In addition to the birth of this clouded leopard, the zoo also acquired a 10-week-old brother and sister pair from Tanganyika Wildlife Park. Once it’s age appropriate, the zoo will introduce their newest cub to the siblings for social interaction.
Nile Hippo Expert
Well-Known Member
More information about the upcoming Southeast Asian complex (set to begin this year already!) has been posted:
Future Plans
One interesting thing I noticed is that the gibbons will be getting a new habitat as part of this development. Perhaps that rumored douc langur deal fell through or maybe the gibbons are just a placeholder…?
Future Plans
One interesting thing I noticed is that the gibbons will be getting a new habitat as part of this development. Perhaps that rumored douc langur deal fell through or maybe the gibbons are just a placeholder…?
Or they're not saying anything for now, until they have a better confirmation. I'm not holding my breath about it though.
In other news, nice to see Great Hornbill getting some attention. Pity the species is basically dead end at this point, unless somebody can get the code cracked on breeding them.
biggest_dreamer
Well-Known Member
The tree kangaroo pictured is Goodfellow's, but Matschie’s is the only one currently kept in the US. Is there any reason to expect they’ll actually be importing those as opposed to just using a picture of the wrong species?
Where will these new exhibits be built on grounds I've only been to this zoo one time and that was last month we highly enjoyed ourselves
I would doubt they'll import Goodfellow's, doesn’t make sense to.
Nile Hippo Expert
Well-Known Member
When I visited last Tuesday I overheard a group of keepers talking by the hornbill exhibit and they were talking about how their pair was recently given a breeding recommendation.
Since they succeed in breeding Rhinoceros Hornbills, now how are they gonna figure out tackling on breeding the more difficult Great Indian Hornbills?