Fall for the Animals Day, organized by UTC students, will offer insights into primate behavior, among other activities, Saturday at Chattanooga Zoo. It is being held in conjunction with Snow Leopard Appreciation Day.A special group of visitors to Chattanooga Zoo on Saturday, Nov. 16, will take their cues from monkeys for a little "human see, human do."
Anthropology and psychology students enrolled in Dr. H. Lyn Miles' primate behavior class at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga have organized a new event called Fall for the Animals Day in which they'll act out scenarios that provide information about the discovery of several species, important researchers and the conservation challenges faced by endangered species.
In these living-history demonstrations, students will impersonate chimpanzee expert Dr. Jane Goodall, re-enact a Hindu legend about the Hanuman monkey god and illustrate how monkeys use their tails.
"This is the first event we know of where street theater and living history has been attempted at a zoo," says Miles. "It's historic."
Student William Smith says the living-history event "provides everyone with a more engaged learning experience that draws us in."
Snow leopards also will be featured as part of the zoo's existing Snow Leopard Appreciation Day. Both events will be celebrated from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The zoo will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
All activities are free with regular admission of $8.95 adults, $5.95 children 3-12, $6.95 seniors 65-74, free for older seniors during the zoo's 75th anniversary year.
For more information, call 423-697-1319 or visit www.chattzoo.org.