Zoo Knoxville Knoxville Zoo

GraysonDP said:
Tiger Forest's member preview is this weekend
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Anyone in Knoxville able to make it out to the preview? I've been trying to keep up with the exhibit progress and it looks pretty nice to me. I'd love to hear some feedback from anyone if they attended the preview.
 
Milwaukee Man said:
A few days ago, 33 reptiles were found dead when zoo staff first arrived in the morning. Investigations are under way.

https://www.google.com/amp/www.wbir...the-mysterious-death-of-33-reptiles/425532116
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A statement was posted to the zoo's Facebook page:
We wanted to update you on the findings from the necropsies (animal autopsies) and the insight that provided into the cause of the catastrophic incident that resulted in the death of 34 reptiles in March.
The results indicate the cause of death was most likely due to a toxic agent.
Necropsies showed many animals had swollen blood vessels and changes in the liver and the heart. Veterinarians at the U.T. College of Veterinary Medicine determined the combination of these findings, along with the death of multiple animals, is most consistent with a toxic agent. The blood of affected and unaffected animals was tested for multiple toxins and none were found. Some substances such as carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, as well as electrical shock, cannot be tested for after death and thus cannot be ruled out. No infectious agents were identified during the analysis.
The event occurred in a single building in our reptile complex. We conducted extensive testing of air quality and the building’s HVAC and temperature monitoring systems. All air quality tests in the building were within normal ranges. A thermostat was found to be malfunctioning intermittently, but the temperature monitoring system, which alerts us if temperatures in the building exceed or fall below acceptable ranges, worked reliably during all tests.
During the repeated systems testing, we were unable to replicate an event consistent with the suspected cause, and the decision has been made to take the building out of use as the safest course of action.
If there is a positive to come from this, it is the affirmation that the conservation work we do is important to you, and it strengthens our commitment and urgency to construct a new, state-of-the-art reptile education center as part of our current capital campaign.

Thank you to each of you who sent us a supportive word or thought. The outpouring of kindness from our community helped make a difficult time more bearable.
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Below is a link to a long article that was first published a year ago, but it contains some interesting tidbits of information. I was surprised to learn that the zoo underwent a rebranding, with a new logo and a new name: Zoo Knoxville. The article gives details about Asian Trek (Malayan Tigers, White-Handed Gibbons, Silvered Leaf Langurs, White-Naped Cranes); the fact that about half of the zoo's guests come from more than 50 miles away; and the zoo has America's 9th largest reptile collection in a shoddy Reptile House that is badly outdated and only 10% of the cold-blooded critters are on public display. Also, there could be a possible redesign of the elephant complex in a few years and the goal is to have 800,000 annual visitors by 2025.

Zoo Knoxville Unleashes a New Branding Campaign and an Ambitious Expansion Plan to Double Attendance - The Knoxville Mercury
 
The existing,mostly wooden,reptile house(s) were designed i believe by the same person/firm who designed LA`s old wooden reptile house.Anyone know who this was?..Lovely folks in the herp department at Knoxville incidentally - always very friendly and helpful.
 
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