Zoo Knoxville is an accredited, award-winning zoological park in Knoxville, Tennessee, home to more than 800 animals representing over 200 species. The zoo’s mission is to connect people with wildlife and inspire the conservation of our natural world, and it is one of the most-visited cultural attractions in East Tennessee.
The zoo is widely recognized for its conservation work. It is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA), and is a multi-year recipient of the Candid (formerly GuideStar) Platinum Transparency seal, the Candid Seal of Transparency for accountability, and other independent recognition. Zoo Knoxville is an active participant in Species Survival Plans (SSPs) for several rare and endangered species, including red pandas, gibbons, and other threatened taxa, and contributes to field conservation through its Quarters for Conservation program, in which a portion of every membership and ticket directly funds field conservation projects around the world.
Zoo Knoxville also operates KnoxOwl, the zoo’s overnight raptor education program, and hosts seasonal conservation-education events for the broader East Tennessee community.
