NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — For the second year in a row, the Nashville Zoo has received top honors for the Exhibit Design Award. This marks only the third time in Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) history that a zoo has won the award two years in a row.
The zoo said Friday that its Tiger Crossroads exhibit received AZA's Exhibit Design Award. This award was also given to the zoo in 2019 for their Expedition Peru: Trek of the Andean Bear exhibit.
The award was presented during the virtual AZA Annual Conference on Sept. 14-18.
According to a release, the AZA Honors and Awards Committee was unanimous in their decision based on the “overall aesthetics and authenticity of the exhibit, the improvements to the original space both for the animals and guests, the extraordinary level of exhibit detail, the high level of educational content, and Nashville Zoo’s long term commitment to tiger conservation.”
“This is, quite honestly, the highlight of my 30 plus years here at the Zoo,” said Nashville Zoo President and CEO Rick Schwartz. “For our Zoo to stand alongside two of the most respected and well-known zoos in the country is a huge accomplishment. Our staff, board, Zoo members, and donors should all be very proud of what their support has been able to achieve.”
The news release says only two other zoos have won top honors in exhibit design for two years in a row. The first was in 1976 and 1977 at the Saint Louis Zoo. The Bronx Zoo became the second when it won tops honors in 1986 and 1987.
