Nashville Zoo Nashville Zoo News 2025

King of Komodo Dragons said:
The zoo received 2, 14 week old, Aardwolves from the Safari Wild Animal Preserve in Mississippi

The post also mentions a Spotted Fanaloka was born August 24th

Nashville Zoo
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Feels like one of the most insane zoo Facebook posts ever, both insanely rare species I'd say (correct me if I'm wrong though)! They are now up to four fanaloka pups in the past 18 months alone!
 
This is incredible news! I just saw their Insta post this morning before getting to work, I knew you guys would be excited about this news. Even though I really doubt it, I hope the aarwolves get an exhibit when Nashville eventually makes their African expansion alongside the new exhibits for giraffes, hippos, mandrills, birds, etc.
 
pachyderm pro said:
Per the zoo's LinkedIn page, they are seeking sponsors to build a new exhibit for the aardwolves.

#nashvillezoo #corporatepartnerships #conservation #zoobabies | Nashville Zoo
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That’s good. When I first heard of the news I rolled my eyes since this looked like just another vanity acquisition that won’t lead to anything sustainable in the long term. But then I realized, unlike fanalokas and ferret-badgers, there are more (known) holders of aardwolves and that there’s at least an attempt at creating a sustainable population, albeit managed by the ZAA. I hope this will result in more interest for the species in the AZA, assuming other AZA members are willing to work with non-AZA zoos to secure the future of this species within the US. The aardwolves being displayed in an enclosure instead of vet check-ups, social media posts, and animal ambassador displays looks like a greater effort to actually show people the species as well.
 
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PossumRoach said:
That’s good. When I first heard of the news I rolled my eyes since this looked like just another vanity acquisition that won’t lead to anything sustainable in the long term. But then I realized, unlike fanalokas and ferret-badgers, there are more (known) holders of aardwolves and that there’s at least an attempt at creating a sustainable population, albeit managed by the ZAA. I hope this will result in more interest for the species in the AZA, assuming other AZA members are willing to work with non-AZA zoos to secure the future of this species within the US. The aardwolves being displayed in an enclosure instead of vet check-ups, social media posts, and animal ambassador displays looks like a greater effort to actually show people the species as well.
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How many AZA Zoos have them, and what are they doing to breed Aardwolves?
 
PossumRoach said:
I hope this will result in more interest for the species in the AZA, assuming other AZA members are willing to work with non-AZA zoos to secure the future of this species within the US.
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At the risk of provoking the ire of aardwolf fans... is there a compelling reason for other zoos to have this species in their collection? Are they not primarily nocturnal and also too large for most nocturnal exhibits? (IIRC the same problem zoos have with the similarly named aardvark...)
 
Coelacanth18 said:
At the risk of provoking the ire of aardwolf fans... is there a compelling reason for other zoos to have this species in their collection? Are they not primarily nocturnal and also too large for most nocturnal exhibits? (IIRC the same problem zoos have with the similarly named aardvark...)
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It depends on your definition of "compelling" a lot, of course. ;) They could arguably fill the 'hyaenid' niche without having the requirements of Spotted Hyena.

I thought I had heard the ones at Cincinnati are fairly diurnal in practice, so I'm not sure how much of a problem that is. Brookfield once held Aardwolf at Desert's Edge, rotating with the Cape Porcupine that have remained in a day-lit, moderate to large indoor habitat. I do not expect them to acquire the species, but they would be in a better position than some and could avoid the space issue, at least.

Nocturnal mammals are in a bit of a self-fulfilling problem. As nocturnal and small mammal houses shut down and often are not replaced, these species are held by fewer facilities, reducing the population. The cost of investment becomes higher for new holders without an existing nocturnal space and there is less reason to do so when their numbers are declining already. Also, besides bats they all tend to be obscure.

That said, I had once heard a contributing issue was that Aardwolf needed a specialized diet that was expensive and I could see that eating up interest in them even more so than space/habitat issues.
 
JVM said:
That said, I had once heard a contributing issue was that Aardwolf needed a specialized diet that was expensive and I could see that eating up interest in them even more so than space/habitat issues.
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Might be more of a past issue, given non-AZAs are out there breeding them now. Same argument is also applicable to the Giant Anteater but plenty of those about. Hard to say sometimes.
 
1.0 clouded leopard cub "Meru" has arrived from Fort Wayne Zoo.
Nashville Zoo on Instagram: "Meet Meru! ⁠ ⁠ We’re thrilled to welcome a male clouded leopard cub from Fort Wayne Zoo. Meru has been paired with Gemma through the AZA’s Species Survival Plan, which recommends raising cubs together from an early age to build strong bonds and improve future breeding success. Nashville Zoo is a global leader in clouded leopard care, with more than 45 births since 1991, and each new pairing plays an important role in conserving this vulnerable species.⁠ ⁠ With cubs Joker and Quinn also on view, you can now see at Nashville Zoo! Visit Meru and Gemma at the Veterinary Center viewing windows, while Joker and Quinn can be seen exploring their new temporary habitat within the Critter Encounters area.⁠"
 
Do you guys have ideas about where did Nashville Zoo acquire the Javan Ferret-badgers and Banded Palm Civets? Both of these species are rarely kept in their native countries' facilities
 
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