Chattanooga Zoo to Celebrate Valentine’s Day with Special “Hearts and Hisses” Event

Graphic Courtesy of Chattanooga Zoo

In The Know with Gino…

On February 15th, the Chattanooga Zoo is gearing up for its annual Valentine’s Day event, “Hearts and Hisses,” inviting visitors to enjoy a day packed with fun activities and animal interactions. Admission to the event is included with a regular zoo ticket, allowing patrons to make Valentine’s cards for both their favorite animals and loved ones, embark on a zoo-wide scavenger hunt, and witness the animals engage in themed enrichment activities designed to highlight their natural instincts.

Throughout the day, zookeepers will host special talks focusing on the zoo’s breeding pairs and their offspring, explaining how these efforts fit into various Species Survival Plans (SSP) aimed at conserving vulnerable species.

The schedule for keeper chats includes sessions featuring red pandas, chimpanzees, tamarins, blue duikers, hellbender salamanders, and indigo snakes. Additionally, visitors can meet and greet with two ambassador animals.

The festivities will also include a variety of enrichment activities for the animals across the zoo, aimed at stimulating both their minds and bodies.

The event runs from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., while the zoo will welcome visitors from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Besides Valentine’s Day celebrations, the zoo will recognize “I <3 Eastern Indigo Snake Day” as part of its involvement with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ SAFE program, dedicated to the conservation of this species. This initiative includes informational booths, keeper chats, crafts, and more, all included in the regular admission.

For further details about “Hearts and Hisses,” visit CHATTZOO.ORG.

SOURCE: Chattanooga Pulse