KNOXVILLE, Tenn.— Due to overwhelming response, Animal Encounters at Knoxville Zoo are back for the summer!  Beginning Saturday, May 23, Knoxville Zoo visitors can have a close encounter with some of the zoo’s most exciting animals.  Animal Encounters allows visitors to go behind-the-scenes to meet elephants, giraffes, penguins, rhinos or tortoises and even have the opportunity to touch or feed the animal, too.  These special encounters also feature a chance to meet the animal’s keeper and take a souvenir photo of you and your new animal friend.   

This year’s Animal Encounter line-up promises to be more exciting than ever.  Take an Elephant Excursion on Tuesdays and Wednesdays to meet the zoo’s resident African elephant females Jana and Edie, or attend a Giraffe Gathering on Saturdays or Sundays to feed these graceful creatures a leafy treat.  The Penguin Party is a “black tie” affair, hosted each Saturday by Gypsy penguin, and at Rhino Rendezvous on Thursdays visitors can find out where gentle giant Mondo loves to be scratched.  New this year is Tortoise Time, an encounter held on Saturdays with beloved Aldabra tortoises Al and Tex, two lively giants at 550 and 350 pounds each.  A complete Animal Encounter schedule can be found on the zoo’s website at www.knoxville-zoo.org.  

Animal Encounters take place May 23 through September 6.  Each Animal Encounter session is $20 per person and sessions are limited to 10 people.  A special Saturday package that includes 3 animal encounters is offered for $50 per person.  Reservations are highly recommended and can be scheduled by contacting Val Doyle at (865) 637-5331, extension 384 or by emailing her at           vdoyle@knoxville-zoo.org.  (General admission to Knoxville Zoo is not included in the price of each Animal Encounter ticket.)  Proceeds from the Animal Encounters program help support Knoxville Zoo’s animals and conservation projects in the countries where featured animals can be found.                                                              

Knoxville Zoo is located off exit 392A from Interstate 40 and is open every day except Christmas Day. The 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. Beginning May 25, the zoo is open everyday 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 3:00 p.m. For more information, please call 865.637.5331 ext. 300 or visit www.knoxville-zoo.org

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