The “Best Little Zoo in America” will soon reach new heights.
The Chattanooga Zoo is preparing to begin construction on phase one of its African expansion. This stage of the project will include the construction of a giraffe barn and a 4,000-square-foot outdoor giraffe lawn.
The groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled to take place Tuesday, March 26, at noon at the Chattanooga Zoo, 301 North Holtzclaw Ave. The ceremony is open to the public.
Weather permitting, phase one of the expansion is set to open in late 2019.
The giraffe barn will include multiple stalls to house giraffe and other species, built-in veterinary equipment, zookeeper areas, a catwalk to be used for daily animal care and behind-the-scenes tours, and an indoor day yard. The indoor day yard will allow guests to come indoors to visit the giraffe herd during inclement weather or colder months.
The outdoor giraffe lawn will be placed alongside the giraffe barn and will provide an African savanna-inspired habitat capable of holding a small herd of giraffes and offering multiple viewing opportunities.
Once construction is complete, the Chattanooga Zoo will acquire the appropriate number of individual giraffes through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan. The SSP is a population management program for endangered or vulnerable animal species within AZA-accredited institutions.