Immunizing a clouded leopard. A physical for an armadillo. And an eye exam for a milk frog. That’s Friday’s lineup in the Nashville Zoo’s newest attraction: an animal hospital.
The 23,000-square-foot facility will even allow the staff to conduct surgery for zoo-goers to observer. But veterinary director Heather Robertson says the more mundane features have her personally excited.
“Little things, like a wet table where you can clean teeth. If you go and get your teeth cleaned, you’ll spit in a cup and stuff. But animals, you can’t, right. It’s just draining on the ground. We never had one of those tables to be able to clean from.”
More:
Newest Zoo Attraction Provides A Glimpse At Live Animal Surgeries
The grand opening is Saturday at 9:30 a.m. Starting next week, the daily schedule of procedures will be posted on Twitter at
@NashZooVet.
A tiered seating area provides enough space for 200 people to watch procedures, along with video monitors for overflow crowds.
Priscilla the guinea pig will be coming up for an exam at 2:55 PM.— HCA Healthcare Veterinary Center (@nashzoovet)
February 19, 2019
The $13 million hospital, at the rear of the zoo’s property, was funded by private donors, led by human hospital operator HCA. Metro Government also contributed to build the complex.
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