Zoo Atlanta

From March 3–5, 2025, Zoo Atlanta had the privilege of joining 120 Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) advocates in Washington, D.C., for the annual AZA Advocacy Days. With representatives from 61 AZA-accredited institutions and 31 states, the event was not only the largest in AZA Advocacy Days history—it also set a new record with 170 meetings on Capitol Hill. Check out this recent Conservation Blog from Senior Vice President of Government and Community Affairs Cary Burgess to learn more about this year's Advocacy Days! https://lnkd.in/eAw4qHqN

No matter what kind of neighbor you are, you're invited to Zoo Atlanta's first ever Neighborhood Block Party presented by Kaiser Permanente! From 3:30-7:30 p.m. on June 8, we're offering special discounted admission for our community to come enjoy the Zoo. In addition to rubbing (figurative) elbows with Atlanta's wildest residents, check out yard games, inflatable fun, special Keeper Talks, and more! Details and tickets at the link! #OnlyZooATL https://lnkd.in/gc6ZWHD9

In honor of the Atlanta Braves hosting the 2025 Major League Baseball (MLB) All-Star Game at Truist Park this summer on July 15, we’re teaming up with the Atlanta Braves to offer an exciting series of exclusive baseball cards celebrating Animal All-Stars from the Zoo! Once a week beginning May 24 through July 13, Zoo Atlanta will reveal a new card of its eight Animal All-Star Cards. These cards will be available for collection at the Zoo the weekend following each announcement. The first Animal All-Star Card available will be Hondo the African lion – a debut to roar about in celebration of the recent opening of Zoo Atlanta’s all-new lion complex. The Hondo All-Star Card will be available at Zoo Atlanta Admissions this Saturday and Sunday, May 24 and 25, while supplies last. Purchase a Zoo Atlanta general admission ticket or present a Zoo Atlanta Membership card to collect cards! Weekly on Mondays on Zoo Atlanta Facebook and Instagram, Zoo Atlanta will announce which of Hondo’s seven fellow Animal All-Stars – a bird, two reptiles, and five mammals – will have a card to collect in the coming weekend. #OnlyZooATL #BravesCountry

Zoo Atlanta is pleased to launch a new access initiative designed to make the wonders of wildlife more accessible to Georgia families by offering deeply discounted general admission and Family Membership for participants in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Guests with proof of program participation may receive daytime general admission at $6 plus tax per ticket for up to six admissions with no blackout dates; children under 3 are free. SNAP participants may also purchase a Zoo Atlanta Family Membership at $50. The Family Membership provides unlimited daytime admission, in-Zoo discounts, and other benefits for a full year for two adults and up to four children. Present a valid SNAP/EBT or WIC card with accompanying photo ID at Zoo Atlanta Admissions to redeem the discounted tickets and at the Zoo Atlanta Member Services Office to redeem the discounted Family Membership. Benefits may only be redeemed in person at Zoo Atlanta and may not be redeemed online. Participation is limited to the state of Georgia only. Expanding access to the enriching experiences Zoo Atlanta offers is central to the Zoo’s mission, and it allows the Zoo to connect directly with the communities that benefit most from greater support in accessing these opportunities. With the launch of this new, more targeted access program, the Zoo Atlanta Library Pass program will end on June 1, 2025. Passes may continue to be checked out at participating libraries within the Georgia Public Library Service through May 31, 2025. Zoo Atlanta will honor any vouchers already accessed through the program through June 30, 2025. SNAP is administered by the Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS) through the Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) and local County Department of Family and Children Services. Learn more about planning a visit at zooatlanta.org.

Zoo Atlanta is excited to welcome Veronica Jacobs, CPA, as Chief Financial Officer. Jacobs will serve as a strategic member of the Senior Leadership Team and will lead the Zoo’s Finance, Human Resources, and Information Technology Teams while providing guidance and support to other departments across the organization.     Jacobs joins Zoo Atlanta most recently from Ernst & Young LLP, where in her more than 12 years of experience, she supported clients in a variety of industries in both the U.S. and the U.K. A member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, she is a graduate of the University of Alabama with a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce and Business Administration and a Master of Accountancy.     “Zoo Atlanta is thrilled to welcome Veronica to her new role. She brings a wealth of expertise, business acumen, and strategic insight to the organization,” said Raymond B. King, President and CEO. “Importantly, she is passionate about wildlife and conservation and brings with her a keen devotion to our mission.”     Learn more about Zoo Atlanta’s mission and programs at zooatlanta.org.  

Zoo Atlanta is excited to welcome Buttercup, a 2-year-old female Sumatran tiger, to the animal population. Buttercup arrived late in the evening of April 16, 2025, from Wildlife Safari in Winston, Oregon.  The Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) Sumatran Tiger Species Survival Plan® (SSP) recommended that Buttercup move to Atlanta to be paired with Bob, the male Sumatran tiger at Zoo Atlanta.  The new arrival will complete a routine behind-the-scenes quarantine period of around a month before exploring the Zoo’s John P. Imlay Tiger Habitat, so she is not yet visible to Members and guests.  “Zoo Atlanta is thrilled to welcome Buttercup and to share the important story that she and Bob have to tell as ambassadors for a critically endangered species,” said Gina Ferrie, PhD, Vice President of Collections and Conservation. “In the case of Sumatran tigers, the species’ most urgent conservation challenges are ones we can all influence here at home in our own daily lives.”  Sumatran tigers are among Earth’s rarest cats. Classified as Critically Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the species is believed to number fewer than 400 in the wild. They face serious pressures from habitat loss and habitat fragmentation, largely because of deforestation for palm oil plantations. Other threats include illegal poaching for their skins and bones, believed by some cultures to have medicinal value, and killing by humans when they approach local villages and prey on livestock.  Zoo Atlanta is a member of the Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil® and is a strong advocate for encouraging the use of only sustainably produced palm oil, the unsustainable harvest of which threatens Sumatran tigers, Sumatran orangutans, and many other species. PalmOil Scan, a sustainable palm oil mobile shopping guide, makes these choices easy and accessible for everyday users.  Zoo Atlanta is a participating partner in the Wildlife Trafficking Alliance, a coalition of AZA zoos and aquariums, nonprofits, and corporate organizations working to raise awareness of the illegal wildlife trade and reduce consumer demand. The Zoo’s Corridor to Change pathway highlights the global impact of the trade, with an interactive display educating guests about the pervasive nature of wildlife trafficking as detected at major airports around the world, including Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. Importantly, Corridor to Change also sheds light on the role of social media in fueling the wildlife trade and the negative impact on animal populations that can result from the sharing of content featuring wild animals in unsuitable care situations or selfies of inappropriate and unsafe encounters with animals such as big cats and primates.  Stay tuned for updates on Buttercup. Visit zooatlanta.org to learn more about the Zoo’s animals, mission, and programs.  (Photo courtesy of Wildlife Safari)  

One of Atlanta’s most anticipated galas returns on Saturday, May 3, 2025, at the Beastly Feast presented by Norfolk Southern. Sophisticated elegance, a one-of-a-kind locale, and signature auctions are hallmarks of Zoo Atlanta’s largest annual fundraiser. In celebration of the opening of the Zoo’s newly renovated African lion complex, the 2025 event is themed “The Mane Event.” The evening will feature cocktails and hors d’oeuvres on an evening stroll through the Zoo, followed by a seated dinner from Zoo Atlanta’s premier caterer, Proof of the Pudding; dancing in the Zoo’s grand tent spectacularly transformed by Tony Brewer & Company; and silent and live auctions of travel adventures, jewelry, art, sports and cultural opportunities, Zoo experiences, and more. Event Co-Chairs are Ellen and John Yates. Executive and Auction Committee members are Tony Brewer, Sandra Edwards, Ashley Heintz, Elizabeth Hood, Carli Huband, Kim Lyman, and Lia Santos. “The Beastly Feast is a shining example of the longtime tradition of significant generosity shown to Zoo Atlanta by our community. The Zoo is at its most beautiful and inspiring, filled with friends and supporters of our mission,” said Raymond B. King, President and CEO. “We are deeply grateful to our Presenting Sponsor, Norfolk Southern, for their commitment to conservation, education, and community engagement.” Proceeds of the Beastly Feast benefit Zoo Atlanta’s innovative and award-winning education programs and local and global conservation efforts. “Norfolk Southern is proud to support Zoo Atlanta and the Beastly Feast – a celebration of bold conservation, community, and shared purpose,” said Jason Morris, EVP and Chief Legal Officer, Norfolk Southern. “Just like rail connects communities across the country, partnerships like this connect people to the natural world and inspire action that lasts well beyond one evening.” To reserve tables or tickets or to support the event as a Beastly Backer, visit the Beastly Feast event page on zooatlanta.org: https://lnkd.in/gWhVDDYE

Spring comes roaring in with a newly renovated African lion complex, now open at Zoo Atlanta. The six-month, $3 million project introduces an array of new features designed for lions Hondo, Hatari, and Azizi and a new experience for Members and guests.     Design elements incorporated specifically for lion wellbeing and behaviors include around 1,500 new square feet of habitat space for the lions. From the visitor perspective, the complex features three separate viewing areas, including an expansive observation deck with seating area that promotes views of the entire habitat, including a new in-habitat pool.    African lions Hondo, Hatari, and Azizi are 11-year-old brothers born at Zoo Atlanta. The trio has been recommended by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Species Survival Plan® (SSP) to live in an all-male group, called a coalition. These coalitions are also often seen in wild lions. The brothers are known not just for their magnificent appearance, but for their trademark roars, which can occasionally be heard well beyond the Zoo. Throughout the construction process, the lions had access to both indoor and outdoor spaces in a behind-the-scenes area of the complex.     The African lion habitat is part of the Zoo’s African Savanna zone, all of which has been redesigned and updated over the past five years. The Savanna includes expanded habitats for African elephants Kelly, Tara, Msholo and new herd-mate Titan; a mixed-species habitat for giraffes, zebras, and ostrich; and habitats for warthogs, meerkats, kori bustards, and blue cranes. Next door to the African lion complex, the Delta Air Lines Rhino Habitat was redesigned for rhinos in 2023 and is home to southern white rhinos Mumbles, Dakari, Kiazi, and 1-year-old Zuri.     Found in savannas, grasslands, and scrub habitat in sub-Saharan Africa, African lions are currently classified as Vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The wild population has decreased by more than 40 percent in just the past two decades, largely because of habitat loss and human encroachment. Another threat is human-wildlife conflict, as habitat loss and a decrease in available prey forces lions closer to human settlements, where they are killed for preying on livestock.     Visit zooatlanta.org to plan your visit or to learn more about African lions and their conservation.  

In 2024, our Zoo Atlanta Vice President of Education, Staci Wiech, and Vice President of Animal Collections and Conservation, Dr. Gina Ferrie, had the opportunity to support our partner Associação Mico-Leão-Dourado (AMLD) by visiting their home base in Brazil. While Staci and Gina both visited the same locations and sites, the goals of their visit were very different, and both had truly incredible but different experiences, focused on contributing to varying aspects of in situ conservation through their expertise. Check out the link below to hear their stories. #OnlyZooATL https://lnkd.in/gdDym2xF

We are thrilled to share that Zoo Atlanta has received the preliminary construction review from the Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI), and the Rollins Animal Health Center has earned enough points to be awarded LEED Gold certification! Achieving LEED Gold certification for new construction projects is a key sustainability goal for Zoo Atlanta. Specifically, beginning with the design and construction of Scaly Slimy Spectacular (opened in 2015), Zoo Atlanta has a built-in engagement to achieve LEED Silver or higher. These efforts reinforce our commitment to building environmentally responsible, energy-efficient facilities that align with our conservation mission. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is the world’s most widely used green building rating system, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and administered by GBCI. It provides a framework for healthy, highly efficient, and sustainable buildings. New construction projects earn points across several categories, including energy efficiency, water conservation, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, and site sustainability. For Zoo Atlanta, achieving LEED Gold certification aligns with our sustainability and conservation mission by reducing environmental impact, lowering energy consumption, and promoting responsible resource use. We are very proud that the Rollins Animal Health Center marks Zoo Atlanta’s fourth LEED Gold certification, following Scaly Slimy Spectacular, the Zambezi Elephant Center, and Savanna Hall. #OnlyZooATL