Take a Walk on the Wild Side: The South’s Best Zoos and Aquariums
By Kellie Walton Benz
Lions, tigers, and bears, oh my! You don’t have to journey to the Sahara to learn about the incredible animals that roam among us. All across the South stand zoos and aquariums housing thousands of animal species, each focused on research, education, and conservation. Stand tall with giraffes, interact with sea otters, or find your roar at lion enclosures at wildlife centers in your own town or one nearby.
Escape to the jungles or journey under the sea at these top Southern zoos and aquariums.
Memphis Zoo
Home to more than 3,500 animals spanning over 500 species, the Memphis Zoo is a destination for exploration. The animals housed within include giant pandas, polar bears, lions, and so many more in protected enclosures that mimic each species’ natural habitat. Explore the Grand Teton or plan your day around scheduled sea lion feedings to maximize your viewing experience.
With an emphasis on conservation, the Memphis Zoo aims to solve real-world problems that are threatening wildlife globally. The zoo aims to improve the security and stability of animal populations, not only for those onsite, but for wild species as well. Achievements have included recovery for the dusky gopher frog, returning America’s rarest snake to the wild, preserving biodiversity, and working with partners to understand the ecology of giant pandas.
memphiszoo.org
Audubon Nature Institute
In the heart of New Orleans stands the Audubon Nature Institute, a zoo and aquarium hybrid home to over 2,000 animals from around the world with plenty of immersive exhibits to explore. See animals native to the state, like alligators and alligators, at the Louisiana Swamp exhibit, or take a journey to the Jaguar Jungle to view jaguars and monkeys. The zoo places an emphasis on educational programs, including daily animal presentations, chats and feeds, and hands-on animal encounters.
Also onsite is the Audubon Aquarium, which houses more than 15,000 animals from over 600 species. The aquatic destination is undergoing extensive renovations, slated to reopen during summer 2023. Rated one of the top 10 aquariums in the country by Travel + Leisure, the Audubon is one of the best attractions in the booming city of New Orleans. See endangered species like African penguins, white alligators, and more, all spanning the underwater worlds from the Caribbean to the Amazon Rainforest and the New Orleans ecosystem itself.
audubonnatureinstitute.org
Houston Zoo
The 55-acre Houston Zoo is home to more than 6,000 permanent animal residents drawing more than two million human guests. For each ticket sold, a percentage goes toward funding protection efforts for all the species both in the zoo and in the wild. In total, the Houston Zoo supports 49 wildlife conservation projects in 27 countries globally. The efforts for giving back are made even more sweet when you consider that Houston is the second most visited zoo in the United States.
Onsite animals run the gamut from slithering reptiles to bald eagles and bats, giant Asian elephants to tiny tree frogs, and everything in between. In addition to the interactive exhibits the Kipp Aquarium and McNair Asian Elephant Habitat are also onsite.
North Carolina Zoo
The North Carolina Zoo is the largest zoo in the world, home to more than 2,000 acres of exhibits. Among them wander more than 1,700 animals from some 250 species, including lions, birds, bees, bears, bucks, and a variety of reptiles. The zoo features several immersive habitats, including the Watani Grasslands exhibit with elephants and rhinos, and the Streamside exhibit with otters and bears.
Located in Asheboro at the cross section of Raleigh, Greensboro, and Charlotte, conservation is at the core of the mission for the North Carolina zoo. For more than two decades, the zoo has remained committed to protecting endangered plants and amphibians native to North Carolina, and works closely with conservation groups globally to protect wildlife populations and their habitats.
www.nczoo.org
Birmingham Zoo
As “Alabama’s Must-See Attraction,” the Birmingham Zoo is the ever-evolving home to over 800 animals from around the world. With exhibits like “Trails of Africa” and a dedicated Children’s Zoo, the 122-acre property houses animals from all over, including endangered species such as the red panda and the African wild dog.
As with the others on the list, the Birmingham Zoo is known for its conservation, particularly for efforts with elephants. The Trails of Africa exhibit gives the zoo the distinction of being a national leader in the care and conservation of threatened elephants, featuring a herd that’s exclusively male. The exhibit has put the Birmingham Zoo on the global map, becoming a destination for kids and adults alike to learn more about the world’s endangered animals.
www.birminghamzoo.com
Georgia Aquarium
In the heart of Atlanta stands a stunning building containing more than 11 million gallons of water – and plenty of aquatic critters calling Georgia home. The primary goal of the Georgia Aquarium is to inspire awareness and preservation for the ocean and its animals worldwide, featuring exhibits and programs that offer engaging guest experiences – including incredible encounters with dolphins and sea lions. Guests can also interact with sharks, belugas, and stingrays.
The aquarium hosts more than 500 species, among which are the enormous whale sharks – the largest fish in the sea! The whale sharks are worth a visit all their own, though the entire Ocean Voyager exhibit is incredible with a 100-foot-long tunnel surrounded by sharks and manta rays swimming above.
www.georgiaaquarium.org
Tennessee Aquarium
One of the primary attractions in Chattanooga, Tennessee, is the Tennessee Aquarium, a two-building attraction housing more than 12,000 animals. The pair of aquariums allow visitors to come face-to-face with animals that inhabit both Tennessee waterways and some of most remote locations in the world. One side features all freshwater critters found in rivers and lakes around the country, including river otters, turtles, and countless species of fish. The ocean side contains an impressive collection of animals from the deep blue sea (and beyond), among them are sand tiger sharks, penguins, stingrays and jellyfish.
A notable addition to the Tennessee Aquarium is the Butterfly Garden, a tropical oasis packed with beautiful plants and fluttering insects. Walk among a beautiful collection of butterflies, including the malachite, postman, monarch, and white angled sulpher.
tnaqua.org
South Carolina Aquarium
The stunning South Carolina Aquarium is located on the Charleston Harbor, housing more than 5,000 animals from over 60 species. With an award-winning education team onsite, the aquarium offers programs dedicated to protecting local species – in the Carolinas, that includes both freshwater and saltwater fish and other reptiles. The aquarium has received an accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), achievable by maintaining the highest standards of animal welfare, care, and management. With this designation, the aquarium is among some of the best in the nation dedicated to the health and wellness of its residents.
The aquarium features plenty of immersive exhibits, including the 220,000-gallon Great Ocean Tank filled with marine life. Sea an impressive collection of sea turtles, otters, sharks and so much more onsite.
scaquarium.org
