Knoxville Zoological Gardens Inc

"ZOO KNOXVILLE WILL PLAN, DESIGN, AND INSTALL A NEW HERPETOLOGY LEARNING EXHIBITION TO IMPROVE THE EDUCATIONAL AND INTERPRETIVE EXPERIENCE FOR VISITORS TO ITS REPTILE AND AMPHIBIAN COLLECTION. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE KNOX COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT, THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE, AND THE NATURE CONSERVANCY, THE ZOO WILL CREATE A HERPETOLOGY LEARNING CENTER FEATURING INDOOR, OUTDOOR, AND STRUCTURED CLASSROOM SPACES FOR INTERACTIVE LEARNING. PROJECT ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE EVALUATION, PLANNING AND VISIONING, BENCHMARKING VISITS TO MUSEUMS AND CONFERENCES; WHILE ALSO CREATING DESIGN DEVELOPMENT, FABRICATION, AND INSTALLATION OF THE NEW LEARNING EXPERIENCE SCHEDULED TO OPEN IN SPRING 2020."

ZOO KNOXVILLE?S HERPETOLOGY CARE AND CONSERVATION PROJECT WILL IMPROVE ENVIRONMENTS FOR A COLLECTION OF 920 REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS THAT REPRESENT 90 SPECIES. IT WILL ENSURE THE ZOO?S SIGNIFICANT COLLECTION HAS OPTIMAL ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS MIMICKING NATIVE HABITATS AND MEETING HEALTH AND WELFARE NEEDS. THE PROJECT SUPPORTS THE CARE AND CONSERVATION OF THE COLLECTION BY ADDING AN EMERGENCY BACK-UP GENERATOR; ENHANCING AQUATIC ENVIRONMENTS WITH NEW LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEMS; AND INSTALLING MODERN ENHANCEMENTS FOR IMPROVED ENVIRONMENT LIGHTS FOR HEAT AND UVB; MIST LINES FOR HUMIDITY; AND PLANTS FOR OXYGEN, SHADE, AND HIDING/SHELTER. THE ZOO WILL EVALUATE THE PROJECT?S IMPACT BY MEASURING SYSTEM EFFICIENCIES AND HEALTH AND WELFARE EXPERIENCED BY THE ANIMALS.

THIS ACTION APPROVES AN AWARD IN THE AMOUNT OF $25,000 TO THE KNOXVILLE ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS, INC TO PROMOTE AND SUPPORT IT'S ZOO SENSE PROJECT, DESIG