Staff writer Gabrielle Chevalier is photographed as two of the zoo’s three monkeys greet her. More Info
Before you goAll Wild Encounter programs must be booked at least one week in advance. However, due to high demand, it’s recommended to book one month in advance. Learn more, including prices, at chattzoo.org/visit/wild-encounters. To book your encounter, contact Hannah Hammon at 423-697-1322, ext. 5703, or hhammon@chattzoo.org.
On a recent Friday afternoon, I took a long lunch from work and headed to the Chattanooga Zoo. As I was winding my way along the walkway headed to the Corcovado Jungle, the animals began calling out to me. But all their caterwauling in the world couldn’t convince me to stop and take a look – I was on a mission.
This wasn’t just any trip, this was my Wild Encounter with the capybaras and the spider monkeys that call the zoo home.
Wild Encounters grant anyone the unbelievable opportunity for one-on-one interaction with some of the zoo’s most popular creatures, and are available to both zoo members and non-members. The price varies according to the animal you choose.
In case you’re unfamiliar with the capybara, picture the guinea pigs at your local pet store and then make the adorable creatures about 100 times larger. I was excited to get to know the strange creatures a little bit better, but I was admittedly most enthused about hanging with the monkeys.