The Chattanooga Zoo is building a new exhibit that will be added to its existing South American “Corcovado Jungle” area. The new exhibit is slated to open at the end of the year.
The exhibit will initially house one giant anteater. It’s designed to house multiple animals with potential for breeding as part of the zoo’s participation in the Association of Zoos and Aquarium’s Species Survival Plan.
The exhibit will be constructed in current open space within the Chattanooga Zoo’s perimeter. The exhibit will feature an indoor holding and keeper area, a large and spacious outdoor habitat with a pond and multiple public viewing areas.
There are currently over 500 SSP programs across AZA accredited zoos and aquariums. The purpose of the SSP program is to oversee the population management of certain species within AZA facilities and to enhance the preservation of those species in the wild.
The giant anteater is an insectivorous mammal who eats mostly ants and termites – up to 35,000 each day. Anteaters can grow up to seven feet from the tip of their snout to the end of their tail and can weigh up to 140 pounds. The giant anteater species is considered vulnerable, as its population is in decline.
The Chattanooga Zoo will release information about the exhibit’s grand opening at a later date.
Source: The Chattanooga Zoo