Chattanooga Zoo

Annual ReportFiscal Year 2017

The Chattanooga Zoo is constantly diversifying

and renewing itself. Each year is marked with new arrivals, eager

visitors and continued growth and change, all signs of the zoo’s

commitment to being the “Best Little Zoo in America.”

It is hard to believe the Chattanooga Zoo turned 80 this year! What an amazing journey, and what a remarkable demonstration of what a strong community can accomplish. We have been able to create an amazing resource for our community, and for the neighboring counties and communities as well. This year over 252,000 visitors came to our Zoo, and at least 30% of those were from areas more than 50 miles away. Our Zoo does its part in helping convince our tourists to stay a little longer, and it adds so much to the quality of life for our citizens. The Chattanooga Zoo offers something for everyone. It is the most exciting classroom for school students, the most beautiful and unique event venue, and the perfect family destination where toddlers and grandparents alike can marvel at all of the wonderful creatures from all around the world. Every day, we strive to fullfil our mission to educate and inspire our guests to better understand wildlife by providing up close views into worlds far away and help create meaningful connections between people and animals.

Over the last 12 months, we have had many new furry, feathery, and scaly friends make their home here at the Chattanooga Zoo. From a new female komodo dragon and male meerkat, to three male Francois langurs and a screech owl, and lots more. Our collection is always growing and diversifying! Some of the most significant additions this year included the birth of our red panda cubs and pied tamarin infants. If you haven’t met our new babies yet, be sure to come see them soon! It is so rewarding to watch them learn and grow!

To keep up with all of our animals and offerings, our zoo staff is always on the go, and this year was no different! Our education team is always bringing the Zoo To You to local libraries, senior centers, schools, and more. Throughout the school year, eager school children fill the zoo ready for hands-on learning through our field trip programs, homeschool programs, early childhood programs, scout programs, and more! The Zoo’s PEDZ program was a huge success bringing in the most participants in the program’s history this year. Our daily activities, such as Animal Shows, Keeper Chats, Chimpanzee Training, and Zoo Rides continue to be guest favorites and enhance the overall zoo experience. Lastly, the zoo’s Wildlife Rehabilitation Program along with a network of dedicated individual rehabilitators in our area, continues to help hundreds of indigenous species and continue to be the only organization in the area devoted to these efforts at no cost.

The Chattanooga Zoo is honored to be such a great community resource and offer these programs to all. Through our local, national and global conservation efforts, our Zoo renovations, intimate exhibits, educational offerings, and, of course, our amazing animal collection we are proud to continue to inspire our community to better understand and preserve wildlife. It has been a great 80 years, and we cannot wait to see what the next 80 years brings. Grow with us, as we continue “Reaching Great Heights!”

Sincerely For the Animals,

DEAR FRIENDS,

Dardenelle LongCEO & President

Our History at a glance:1937The Chattanooga Zoo was established with two rhesus monkeys.

1940s & 50sIncreased animal acquisitions made the Zoo one of Chattanooga’s favorite entertainment attractions.

1960s & 70sAfter years without significant change, the Zoo shifted its focus to more of a petting zoo environment opening “Zooville” in the spring of 1969. Conditions of the aging facility began to deteriorate the zoo neglected to move toward more natural habitats along with zoos on a national scale.

1980s & 90sAfter public opinion is strongly voices about the conditions of the animal enclosures, a support group, Friends of the Zoo (FOZ) was formed to seek donations and improvements. In 1993, the zoo’s Master Plan is revitalized to focus on education and conservation, a new jaguar exhibit opened in 1996, and the zoo received its accreditation with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) for the first time in 1998.

2000-2010Plans for expanding from 5 acres to 12 acres were put in place. Phase 1 was completed in 2001 with the opening of the Gombe Forest chimpanzee exhibit. In 2002 the African Aviary and the Misunderstood Marvels exhibits were added, and the zoo once again received it accreditation from AZA for another 5 year term. The Himalayan Passage exhibit was constructed and opened in two phases with red pandas in 2004 and snow leopards and langurs in 2006. In 2008, the zoo’s new $4.2 million entrance was opened on the eastern boundary of Warner Park featuring a new gift shop, concessions area, carousel, and ticketing area.

2011-2016Snow leopard parents gave birth to female cub Renji and to twins Maliha and Everest. In celebration of the Zoo’s 75th anniversary, the Deserts of the World exhibit was opened. The Zoo added to its daily offerings by opening a camel ride attraction and train rides. The Zoo opened its newly renovated prairie dog exhibit, acquired a group of seven chimpanzees, and had a record breaking years for attendance. A new event was introduced, Ice Cream Safari, two male red panda cubs were born, new animal acquisitions and the renovation of the naked mole rat exhibit.

2017The Zoo kicked off the year with the launch of its newest program, Kits & Cubs. In February the Zoo partnered with Service System Associates (SSA) as its exclusive culinary and retail provider. The Zoo also announce the birth of two endangered pied tamarins and broke ground for its South American expansion.

Then known as Warner Park Zoo, 1988 Zoo

Animal Births Red PandasOn July 10, 2016, first time parents, Wyatt and Maina, gave birth to two twin red panda boys, Avi and Anndii.

Henkel’s Leaf Tailed GeckosThe Zoo’s breeding pair of leaf tailed geckos has had 8 successful hatchlings thus far.

Pied Tamarins On May 25, 2017, seasoned mother and first time father, Zafra and Sammy gave birth to triplet pied tamarins.

FY 2017 Highlights:

Education ProgramsKits & CubsKits & Cubs is an early childhood educational programs for ages 2-5 using hands-on activities, interaction learning, and exploration.

Sensory Safari Sensory Safari is a program dedicated to those with special needs and sensory barriers to learn with hands-on activities and education stations.

Partnerships Service System Associates In February 2017, the Chattanooga Zoo partnered with SSA, a national leader in culinary and retail management in cultural attractions. SSA manages the Zoo’s retail, culinary, and admission services.

FY 2017 By the Numbers

252,635Total visitors to the Zoo

4,339Member households

811Volunteers culminating in a total monetary value of $180,585 8,026 donated work hours

904*Total animals living at the Zoo*Includes on and off exhibit animals

550Total number of animals exhibited at the Zoo daily

555Animals helped through the Zoo’s Wildlife Rehabilitation Center

Zoo Education29,823Students reached through Zoo education programs

15,429Students reached through 302 Off Site programs

14,394Students reached through 155 On Site programs

9,462People reached through informal programs

588Zoo Campers

Significant New Education OfferingsKits & Cubs: Early childhood development program for ages 2-5.Sensory Safari: Program dedicated to individuals with special needs.

FY 2017 Animal Collection

Significant Births

Animal Collection by the NumbersInvertebratesTotal Specimens: 130Total Species: 30

Fish Total Specimens: 188Total Species: 3

AmphibiansTotal Specimens: 187Total Species: 12

BirdsTotal Specimens: 56Total Species: 23

MammalsTotal Specimens: 118Total Species: 40

ReptilesTotal Specimens: 225Total Species: 68

Red Panda: 2 malesPied Tamarins: 2 malesLeaf Tailed Gecko: 2 unknown

Significant AcquisitionsFrancois Langurs: 3 males

Leaf Tailed Geckos: 2 male, 2 female

Komodo Dragon: 1 female

Meerkat: 1 male

Mexican Lance Headed Rattlesnake: 1 unknown

Spotted Turtle: 1 female

Screech Owl: 1 female

Honduran Milksnake: 1 female

Virginia Opossum: 1 male

Blue Tongued Skink: 1 male

Spiny Tailed Monitor: 1 unknown

FY 2017 Animal Collection

Extinct in the WildKihansi Spray Toads: 75 specimens

Endangered AnimalsSnow Leopard: 1 female

Red Panda: 3 male, 1 female

Pied Tamarin: 3 male, 1 female

Spotted Turtle: 1 male, 1 female

Chimpanzee: 2 male, 5 female

Elongated Tortoise: 2 male

Forsten’s Tortoise: 2 male, 4 female

Grey Crowned Crane: 2 male

African Grey Parrot: 1 male

Francois Langur: 3 male

Black Handed Spider Monkey: 2 male, 2 female

Critically Endangered Gooty Sapphire Tarantula: 2 sex unknown

Radiated Tortoise: 1 male, 1 female

Madagascar Spider Tortoise: 4 sex unknown

Chinese Alligator: 1 male, 1 female

Cotton Top Tamarin: 3 male, 2 female

Bali Mynah: 1 male

Other Revenue$510,237.27

City of Chattanooga$675,000

FY 2017 Revenue

Special Events$316,609.858%

7%

6% Memberships$245,481.68

Education Dept$260,157.10

Donations & Grants$1,165,164.58

Admissions$909,186.42

16%

22%

12%

29%

Other Expenses$1,230,466.60

Employee Cost $925283.41

FY 2017 Expenses

Education Dept $234,575.706%

6%

4% Utilities $111,512.02

Maintenance$221,518.18

Capital Improvements$65,317.07

Animal Care$707,529.97

26%

20%

35%

2% Conservation$4,766.081%

**Other Expenses include Marketing and Development expense, Accreditation Dues, Insurance, Special Events expenditures, and Earned Revenue expenses.

Friends of the Zoo, Inc. Board of DirectorsExecutive BoardGary Chazen, PresidentBrenda Flinn, Vice PresidentDoug Warner, TreasurerBeverly Coulter, Secretary Dardenelle Long, Zoo CEO & President

DirectorsMimi Warner IversenDr. Thomas Donovan Catherine Colby Sonia YoungCurtis BoweChase Carter Pete Lapina

301 North Holtzclaw AvenueChattanooga, TN 37404

(423) 697-1322www.chattzoo.org

The mission of the Chattanooga Zoo is to engage and inspire our community to better understand

and preserve wildlife by creating meaningful connections between people and animals.