Nashville Zoo Nashville Zoo News 2025

StellarChaser said:
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
Click to expand...
I don't know for certain but I suspect the Javan Ferret-Badgers came from the Flying Fox Conservation Fund, which reported receiving a few not long before they appeared at Nashville.
 
Nile Hippo Expert said:
They are now up to four fanaloka pups in the past 18 months alone!
Click to expand...
The first of the four pups was actually born a little more than three years ago, not within the last eighteen months.

JVM said:
I don't know for certain but I suspect the Javan Ferret-Badgers came from the Flying Fox Conservation Fund, which reported receiving a few not long before they appeared at Nashville.
Click to expand...
I had wondered the same thing, but was told that they were imported from Europe earlier in this thread.
 
what is said, which I found is some of the rarest animals they have such as the ferret badgers, banded palm civet and I believe aardwolves were only able to see in their nursery for a short time before going to live behind the scenes of the zoo. you would think for an animal such as the javan ferret badgers, which I did not know what animal this is, and most likely the only zoo in US to have them would be put on display for people to learn about this never before heard of animal and yet they are kept behind the scenes where people will probably never realize a species like this is being kept at a zoo but is not seen to the public
 
While I do agree that it's frustrating knowing that all of these super enticing species are right there, tucked just out of sight, I don't think I can agree with the notion that having them on exhibit would allow the general public to learn about them. I think most of us have spent enough time at zoos to know that if your average Joe saw a Javan ferret badger on exhibit, they’d just go “wait so is it a ferret or a badger haha” and forget they ever saw it before they’d even stepped away from the exhibit (that is, if they ever even saw it in the first place - small nocturnal mammals typically don’t make for “good” exhibit animals for a reason)
 
biggest_dreamer said:
While I do agree that it's frustrating knowing that all of these super enticing species are right there, tucked just out of sight, I don't think I can agree with the notion that having them on exhibit would allow the general public to learn about them. I think most of us have spent enough time at zoos to know that if your average Joe saw a Javan ferret badger on exhibit, they’d just go “wait so is it a ferret or a badger haha” and forget they ever saw it before they’d even stepped away from the exhibit (that is, if they ever even saw it in the first place - small nocturnal mammals typically don’t make for “good” exhibit animals for a reason)
Click to expand...


I have gone on rants IRL and on the forum (I promise I will update my design thread at least once before year ends) about this, but I firmly believe that American zoos simply do not believe in their own ability to make animals interesting. You have “boring” but academically or ecologically important animals? Okay. Tell a story. Make the public care. Dig into the species’ weirder traits or the animals’ individual histories. Use the educational budget for something other than school outreach. It should be as impossible to leave a good zoo without learning something as it would be at a good museum.

There’s always a story. Find it. Tell it. Justify your own existence.
 
Persephone said:
I have gone on rants IRL and on the forum (I promise I will update my design thread at least once before year ends) about this, but I firmly believe that American zoos simply do not believe in their own ability to make animals interesting. You have “boring” but academically or ecologically important animals? Okay. Tell a story. Make the public care. Dig into the species’ weirder traits or the animals’ individual histories. Use the educational budget for something other than school outreach. It should be as impossible to leave a good zoo without learning something as it would be at a good museum.

There’s always a story. Find it. Tell it. Justify your own existence.
Click to expand...

Whenever I encounter the attitude that, "nobody will care/notice/understand" I always want to scream, "ISN'T THAT OUR JOB?"
 
So I just came back from my Tennessee road trip and visited this zoo for the first time last Wednesday. IMO, this is the best of the 4 accredited zoos in Tennessee. Some notes from my visit.
  • Got to see the baby Clouded Leopards, Aardwolves, and even a Fanaloka at the Animal Hospital nurseries.
  • Regarding Unseen New World;
    • In the Tropical Rivers exhibit, there is a Clown Knifefish (Chitala ornata), a Fire Eel (Mastacembelus erythrotaenia), and some Clown Loaches (Chromobotia macracanthus), none of which are from the new world.
    • The South American Bushmaster (Lachesis muta) was off exhibit (thankfully, I got to see them at Chattanooga the day before).
    • There is an unsigned Harlequin Racerunner (Plica umbra) in the Aviary.
    • The unspecified Watersnakes (Nerodia spp) in the Hellbender exhibit look unmistakenly like Diamondback Watersnakes (Nerodia rhombifer).
  • There is an unsigned White-cheeked Turaco (Menelikornis leucotis) and an unsigned Guinea Turaco (Tauraco persa spp. persa) in the Lorikeet aviary. And yes, a keeper did actually specify the subspecies for the latter.
  • The Red River Hogs were off exhibit for a veterinary procedure/observation.
  • Leopard Forest is awesome, but the Klipspringer exhibit was still closed. Signage states that they are in the process of performing improvements. No visible work was being conducted. Also, there was no signage for Hyraxes anywhere.
  • Question for Nashville regulars; was there an exhibit between the Baird's Tapirs and Cape Porcupines? The map on the android app had this area shaded in as if it were an exhibit. Speaking of which, did the Cape Porcupine exhibit hold another species in the past?
 
wild boar said:
The ferret-badgers, Javan yellow-throated martens, and spotted fanalokas are more perplexing additions, but I wouldn’t say that there is any issue at all with the Nashville Zoo having them and breeding them. We actually don't even know where the ferret-badgers came, do we? Correct me if I'm wrong. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if these two came from the Flying Fox Conservation Fund in Chicago. That organization originally received their ferret-badgers from somewhere in Europe but they aren't listed on their most recent USDA inspection report, which is from last April. It seems possible that the Nashville and Chicago animals are the same pair.
Click to expand...
I do not understand why keep these species, likely the only individuals in the entire US, behind the scenes, for an animal buff like me who loves to go to a zoo that exhibits an uncommon animal species is always a fun thing. I think it is stupid that they keep these animals behind the scenes and not for the public even though I feel like they could teach people about these animals. instead these animals are kept behind the scenes, and only a few of them, which means that only a few are used as ambassadors. and while this can still mean an opportunity to see these, what event or condition determines that this rare species will be used as an ambassador and what is the chances that this species would even be used compared to one of your more common ambassadors such as reptiles, armadillos. etc. as well as this some species i could agree could make an ambassador species such as binturong because they have made or are used as animal ambassador at other institutions. but keeping an animal that is the only of its kind in the US how do they know how to handle a ferret-badger or a Javan marten knowing that their is no previous experience of handling these species in the US. so while i am pleased they have these species, I feel like it is a waste to only have them behind the scenes and not as a way to represent the species in the wild.
 
Is the fanaloka continuously on display in the nursery, or is it a rotating thing? Any idea how much longer it might be there? I may try to be insane and make a trip up here within the next few weeks.
 
 
Other Summer 2025 News Not Mentioned:

On July 4th, it was mentioned that the zoo transferred (1m.2f) lesser birds of paradise to Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chonburi, Thailand*.

Zoofan15 said:
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.
Click to expand...

On August 16th, the zoo announced they named the clouded leopards Joker and Quinn respectively.

161K views · 8.7K reactions | Our two new older clouded leopard cubs, Joker and Quinn, are practicing to become egg-perts in hunting and pouncing! As the egg seems to be winning (they’ll get ’em next time), the final tally is: : 5002 : 1. | Nashville Zoo

On August 21st, it was announced that the zoo acquired a (0.1f) king vulture from David Traylor Zoo of Emporia in Kansas.

Emporia Zoo

On September 11th, it was announced that 2 striped skunks were born in April, and subsequently transferred to Elmwood Park Zoo in Pennsylvania.

27K views · 746 reactions | Who's black & white and cute all over? Meet Ruby and Maple! These 5-month-old striped skunks recently joined us from the Nashville Zoo as part of an AZA breeding program. Since arriving, they’ve been hard at work preparing for their future as educational ambassadors. They've spent time socializing with staff, exploring new spaces, and learning training behaviors such as crate training and targeting. Both are curious, quick learners, and full of energy, so we’re excited for them to make their programming debut very soon. Keep an eye out for when these two become part of our skunk encounter, because they can't wait to meet you! | Elmwood Park Zoo

* Information sourced from @Flat headed cat in the Khao Kheow Open Zoo news thread (Page 7 Post #129).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

On November 11th, the zoo announced they acquired a (0.1f) meerkat named Muffuletta from Memphis Zoo in Tennessee, which is now on exhibit. The zoo also announced they transferred (0.2f) meerkats Bioko and Harpua to Memphis Zoo.

Nashville Zoo
 
The zoo is sending its two cougars to Tiger Haven and will not be continuing with the species. Their enclosure will be demolished to make way for the new Southeast Asian exhibit starting construction next year.

Nashville Zoo on Instagram: "A Heartfelt Farewell to Kokanee and Rainier ⁠ ⁠ After more than a decade at Nashville Zoo, our cougar brothers Kokanee and Rainier will be transitioning to a new home that better suits their needs as senior cats on Monday, November 24. The 14-year-old siblings arrived here in 2012 at just five months old after being rescued near Shelton, Washington, when their mother was illegally killed. Since then, they’ve been beloved mainstays at the Zoo and incredible ambassadors for their species.⁠ ⁠ As they’ve gotten older, Kokanee and Rainier’s comfort and mobility have become our top priority. With that in mind, they will be relocating to Tiger Haven, a non-profit big cat sanctuary that offers an environment designed specifically for aging felines.⁠ ⁠ We will not be bringing new cougars into this space as the Zoo moves forward with the development of our upcoming Asian-inspired area, including the future Orangutan exhibit.⁠ ⁠ Stop by this weekend and give Kokanee and Rainier warm wishes as they begin this next chapter. They will always hold a special place in our history and in the hearts of our staff and guests."
 
pachyderm pro said:
The zoo is sending its two cougars to Tiger Haven and will not be continuing with the species. Their enclosure will be demolished to make way for the new Southeast Asian exhibit starting construction next year.

Nashville Zoo on Instagram: "A Heartfelt Farewell to Kokanee and Rainier ⁠ ⁠ After more than a decade at Nashville Zoo, our cougar brothers Kokanee and Rainier will be transitioning to a new home that better suits their needs as senior cats on Monday, November 24. The 14-year-old siblings arrived here in 2012 at just five months old after being rescued near Shelton, Washington, when their mother was illegally killed. Since then, they’ve been beloved mainstays at the Zoo and incredible ambassadors for their species.⁠ ⁠ As they’ve gotten older, Kokanee and Rainier’s comfort and mobility have become our top priority. With that in mind, they will be relocating to Tiger Haven, a non-profit big cat sanctuary that offers an environment designed specifically for aging felines.⁠ ⁠ We will not be bringing new cougars into this space as the Zoo moves forward with the development of our upcoming Asian-inspired area, including the future Orangutan exhibit.⁠ ⁠ Stop by this weekend and give Kokanee and Rainier warm wishes as they begin this next chapter. They will always hold a special place in our history and in the hearts of our staff and guests."
Click to expand...

On one hand, it’s a shame to lose a halfway decent cougar exhibit. On the other, the clouded leopard exhibit is in need of improvement.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top