This summer, some families will follow elephants in Kenya or watch monkeys swing through the jungles of Costa Rica. But the Tennessee Aquarium wants you to realize some of the most interesting animals can be found much closer.
Every day from 10:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m., a menagerie of feathered, scaled and furry friends parade through the Aquarium’s newest exhibit, Ranger Rick’s Backyard Safari, located in the lower lobby of the River Journey building. Organizers hope the display will act as a springboard for kids (and parents) to learn more about the animals in their own backyards.
“The experience opens the door for a new level of understanding of these species that can only happen in face-to-face interaction,” says Thom Benson, communications manager for the Aquarium.
With more than 60 animals in rotation, visitors can expect to meet three animals in a 30-minute time frame. An avian stage show takes place twice an hour, showcasing anything from a Eurasian owl – one of the largest owl species in the world – to an African gray parrot who answers math problems. There are also opportunities to touch some of the animals, including a legless lizard, called a scheltopusik, an African pygmy hedgehog or a sable rabbit.
With a dynamic exhibit, the Aquarium seeks to attract new members who will come again and again, says Benson. Intermingled with the exotics are many native species, such as the Eastern screech owl or the cornsnake, whose job is to open people’s mind to the role of non-poisonous snakes in our environment.