FAST FACTS:
(Memphis 10/02/2009) Yellowstone National Park isn't the only place you'll find "Old Faithful."
The Memphis Zoo has a geyser of it's own at the new $16 million Teton Trek Exhibit. Friday, zoo members got their first look at the four-acre attraction that has been years in the making.
Just a month ago, three orphaned grizzly bears were roaming around Yellowstone National Park. Now, they're getting used to their new surroundings that mimic the famous park.
The bears are the main attraction of the new Teton Trek and already getting lots of attention.
"They've really come around to become, friendly is not the right word, but they come up to us now and interact and seem almost glad to be here," said Matt Thompson, Curator of Mammals at the Zoo.
Four young wolves, Sandhill Cranes and Trumpeter Swans are also making themselves at home in the Teton Trek exhibit and introducing Mid-Southerners to the greater Yellowstone eco-system.
The zoo wanted to make the miniature park as realistic as possible and get the public as close as it could to the western wildlife.
"With the Grizzly Bears, there is an area where the grizzlies can fish right in front of you and hopefully they will pull out a bass right beneath you and in wolves area there is window you can go and they are less than 3 feet away," said Drew Smith, spokesperson for the zoo.
Some of the zoo's youngest visitors are already interacting with the animals and like what they see so far.
"Our daughter, Alexa is fascinated by wolves and she's been waiting months for this to open," said Amy Dunn.
Zoo members are getting their first look over the next several days. The grand opening of the exhibit is October 10th.
Some neighborhood groups were concerned about the number of the forest land cleared away for the zoo expansion, but the zoo says it replanted more trees than it removed. For more news updates from the field follow me at http://www.twitter.com/melissamoon3.
- Zoo members get first look at the new Teton Trek Exhibit
- Teton Trek is the zoo's version of Yellowstone National Park
- The Exhibit include 3 grizzly bears orphaned in Montana
(Memphis 10/02/2009) Yellowstone National Park isn't the only place you'll find "Old Faithful."
The Memphis Zoo has a geyser of it's own at the new $16 million Teton Trek Exhibit. Friday, zoo members got their first look at the four-acre attraction that has been years in the making.
Just a month ago, three orphaned grizzly bears were roaming around Yellowstone National Park. Now, they're getting used to their new surroundings that mimic the famous park.
The bears are the main attraction of the new Teton Trek and already getting lots of attention.
"They've really come around to become, friendly is not the right word, but they come up to us now and interact and seem almost glad to be here," said Matt Thompson, Curator of Mammals at the Zoo.
Four young wolves, Sandhill Cranes and Trumpeter Swans are also making themselves at home in the Teton Trek exhibit and introducing Mid-Southerners to the greater Yellowstone eco-system.
The zoo wanted to make the miniature park as realistic as possible and get the public as close as it could to the western wildlife.
"With the Grizzly Bears, there is an area where the grizzlies can fish right in front of you and hopefully they will pull out a bass right beneath you and in wolves area there is window you can go and they are less than 3 feet away," said Drew Smith, spokesperson for the zoo.
Some of the zoo's youngest visitors are already interacting with the animals and like what they see so far.
"Our daughter, Alexa is fascinated by wolves and she's been waiting months for this to open," said Amy Dunn.
Zoo members are getting their first look over the next several days. The grand opening of the exhibit is October 10th.
Some neighborhood groups were concerned about the number of the forest land cleared away for the zoo expansion, but the zoo says it replanted more trees than it removed. For more news updates from the field follow me at http://www.twitter.com/melissamoon3.
