Feed a Giraffe at Knoxville Zoo's New Williams Family Giraffe Encounter

Communications Director

Kristin Farley
[email protected]
(865) 215-2589

400 Main St., Room 691
Knoxville, TN 37902

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Feed a Giraffe at Knoxville Zoo's New Williams Family Giraffe Encounter

Posted: 07/15/2013
Starting today, Knoxville Zoo is giving zoo-goers a brand new experience; the opportunity to get eye level with a giraffe and offer them a snack at the all-new Williams Family Giraffe Encounter.

Beginning Monday, July 15th, The Williams Family Giraffe Encounter will be open to visitors from 10:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. daily. Featuring a twostory tall covered deck, this new addition to the zoo's Grasslands Africa! area gives visitors a giraffe's eye view of their habitat. Beginning each day at 10:30 a.m. and continuing until the day's allotment of produce is gone, guests can purchase a tempting treat for $5 and have the exhilarating experience of offering them to the zoo's three giraffe, male Jumbe, (pronounced JOOM-bay), and females Patches and Lucille.

The Williams Family Giraffe Experience was generously underwritten by Knoxville Zoo Board Chairman Tim Williams and his wife Amy. "In the past, this was an experience that we could only offer in a limited capacity," says Mr. Williams. "Now all our visitors can enjoy a VIP introduction to one of the zoo's most popular animals."

Knoxville Zoo members are invited to try this new giraffe feeding experience for free from July 15 through 31st. Food will be available for purchase for non-members as well. Schedules are subject to change as the giraffe will have final say about any modifications to the feeding and viewing schedule as they acclimate to this new enrichment option.

Knoxville Zoo is Knoxville's largest year-round attraction. Located off exit 392A from Interstate 40, the zoo is open every day except Christmas Day. Knoxville Zoo is nationally accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and is committed to the highest standards in animal care and well-being, ethics, conservation, and education. Currently, the zoo is open Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 9:30 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. Admission and ticket sales stop one-hour before the zoo closes. Next-day admission is free after 3 p.m. For more information, please call 865-637-5331 or visit www.knoxvillezoo.org