KNOXVILLE, Tenn.- Knoxville Zoo is excited to announce that 430,088 people visited the zoo in 2007, more than in any other year in its 60-year history. Knoxville Zoo has provided fun educational experiences for millions of children and adults since it opened in 1948. It has long been recognized as Knoxville's largest year-round attraction, and is among the top 20 most attended attractions in Tennessee.

"Thanks to the support of the citizens of Knoxville, Knox County and East Tennessee as we continue to grow," said Jim Vlna, executive director of Knoxville Zoo. "We look forward to adding much more to the zoo in the future." 

The zoo can attribute much of its success to the very popular summer exhibit which featured the albino white alligator.  Guests came from far and wide to "Look into Dem Eyes," and hope for luck and prosperity. In October, the opening of The Boyd Family Red Panda Village invited even more guests to Knoxville Zoo to see the new home for the red pandas. The exhibit allows guests to walk into an aviary-like habitat and have a really great, close-up look at our red pandas. 

Along with The Boyd Family Red Panda Village, ZooSpy: This Place Is Bugged was another great reason to visit the zoo. Kids loved this popular exhibit which featured more than 40 different species of invertebrates, mammals, and reptiles.

"Although Knoxville Zoo earns about 84 percent of its annual income through admissions, retail and concession sales and programs, we still greatly appreciate and depend on the continued support of the City of Knoxville, Knox County and all of our donors," stated Vlna. "They are the ones who make possible all of our new exhibits which result in our continued growth. All of those hundreds of thousands of guests tell us by coming to the zoo, that they like what we do."

In 2008, the zoo is celebrating the Year of the Frog and a milestone 60th birthday. "We expect to continue to grow during our 60th birthday year and hope our guests enjoy the new Bloomin' Butterflies exhibit that will open this spring," Vlna said.

Knoxville Zoo is located off exit 392 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. Currently, the zoo is open daily from 10 a.m. until 4:30 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 ext. 300 or visit www.knoxville-zoo.org.