I went to visit the Chattanooga Zoo in July to talk the president and CEO Darde Long about her 40th anniversary with the zoo. It had been a while since I’d been there, and once inside, I was gobsmacked. It’s been even longer than I thought, because the zoo at Warner Park has utterly changed. I had no idea what I’ve been missing.
We’ve had several incarnations of zoos here: Oxley Zoo in East Lake, closed by lack of funding in 1911; Warner Park Zoo, opened in 1937 and a popular attraction focused on entertainment; in 1960s, focus shifted to a petting zoo and “Zooville” opened. But inadequate care of the animals and the facilities resulted in significant deterioration, and by the 1980s, the public, along with Friends of the Zoo (FOZ) which had formed shortly before, were demanding improvement or closure.
August 21, 1985, Darde Long became “a zookeeper in charge of the zoo,” beginning major improvement and modernization. The pressure was on, and she rose to the challenge, exceeding everyone’s expectations, even her own. Darde teamed up with FOZ and the few existing zoo employees to undertake the zoo’s renewal and expansion. She emphasizes how significant the FOZ’s dedication and commitment was and continues to be. “The volunteers from Friends of the Zoo helped me out tremendously,” she said. Step by small step, they improved animal care and enclosures, cleaned up and repaired facilities, added landscaping, created new educational programs, and developed incremental master plans, accomplishing a transformation that has surpassed their imaginings.
Donna Deweese, currently director of development at the Chattanooga Zoo, is a “perfect fit” for her job. “A long-time advocate of animal welfare,” she “helps raise funds for programs, habitats, and enrichment for unique animal populations, but also educates the public on conservation in general.” In addition, “It’s certainly a boost for my morale to be able to walk a few feet outside of my office and feed a herd of giraffes!” she said. Donna wrote this beautiful synopsis of Darde’s time at the zoo:
“For over 40 years, Darde Long has been known as the ‘face’ of the Chattanooga Zoo. After attending Auburn University, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and working as a veterinary assistant at a local animal clinic, she was hired as zookeeper in 1985 during a tumultuous period for the Chattanooga Zoo. At the young age of 28 and one of the first female leaders in the zoo industry, Darde worked with the newly formed Friends of the Zoo to manage over $10 million in expansion projects over the course of a decade. The expansion master plans included more education opportunities, an upgrade to existing facilities and construction of new exhibits such as the Gombe Forest, Himalayan Passage, Corcovado Jungle and Deserts & Forests of the World.
In 1998, because of extensive improvements in animal care, exceptional exhibits, multiple conservation efforts and outstanding education programs, the Chattanooga Zoo received accreditation from the Association of Zoo and Aquariums (AZA), a coveted recognition awarded to only 250 organizations worldwide.
In 2008, a new era of the zoo was ushered in with the opening of a new entrance complex greatly increasing the zoo’s visibility and accessibility. Through her vision and leadership over the years, the zoo expanded its overall thumbprint by 35% with the zoo consistently being approved by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
When Darde took the reins at the zoo, the facility only housed a handful of animals on 1.5 acres; today the Chattanooga Zoo is home to over 1,000 animals (on exhibit and off) stretching over 14 acres. Darde went from being the sole zookeeper and one of only two full-time staff members to leading a team of over 80 staff members as the president and CEO of the Chattanooga Zoo. In 2021 almost 300,000 individuals visited the zoo, generating over $3 million in taxes for the local economy. In 2023, the Chattanooga Zoo was awarded nonprofit of the year by the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce.
In 2024, the Chattanooga Zoo opened its Cape of Africa expansion featuring giraffes, Cape porcupine, serval and warthogs. This $4 million expansion continues to elevate the zoo experience and provide multiple opportunities for education and conservation messaging to guests.
Anyone who knows Darde, knows that her heart for animals isn’t just reserved for wild animals. Over her life, she has rescued and found homes for countless dogs and cats. It’s part of her DNA.
Thanks to Darde’s compassion, dedication and commitment to animals, the Chattanooga Zoo just celebrated the 40th anniversary of Friends of the Zoo. Darde also celebrated her 40th work anniversary with Friends of the Zoo and shows no sign of slowing down.”
Donna’s description of Darde’s 40 years at the zoo underscores the depth and breadth of her involvement and commitment. She knows every aspect of development and care, from land acquisition to how to trim a giraffe’s hooves. Male giraffes can weight up to 4,250 pounds, which puts tremendous pressure on their legs and feet and can cause arthritis. Picking up their feet is “a heavy-lifting job,” Darde said. Sadie, a keeper, is “doing a great job” training them to lift their foot on a block and point it behind them so it can be trimmed.
One of Darde’s early priorities was Hank, a chimpanzee who was the “center of the zoo for 42 years” until he died in his sleep in 2011. Hank had belonged to Ruben, a circus clown, who brought him to the zoo in the late 1970s. A long-time zoo employee, Frank Reno (“a treasure of information” Darde said) alerted her to Hank’s increasing distress. Because primates need companionship, volunteers spent time with him when they could, but Hank was lonely and too confined, running back and forth and banging on the bars. With volunteers and local ironworkers donating their time and labor, a large addition was added to Hank’s enclosure, which included outdoor space, grass, and trees. But Hank wouldn’t come out.
One day Ruben came to see the new addition. When Hank saw Ruben, he was outside so fast that no one watching could ever doubt the importance of companionship for primates. Being outside was therapeutic for Hank. His health improved and he lost weight. He was happier. He wasn’t raised with chimpanzees, and he loved interacting with people. “He could get the most straightlaced adults to do funny things to get his attention,” Darde remembers. Her favorite memory is of inadvertently teaching him to spray her with the hose to hear her squeal. The first time was an accident, but Hank was smart and quickly figured out how to make it happen again. “He made a monkey out of me,” Darde said. Absolutely beloved, he was the zoo’s first ambassador to the public.
He was also the “foundation of the zoo’s mission to create meaningful connections between people and animals.” Programs were developed to educate visitors about animals and conservation, widen the ambassador animal visits, open the zoo for social functions and birthday parties, summer camps, senior safaris, virtual tours, weekly group tours with special feedings, and even interaction with animals behind-the-scenes. Among the many opportunities for kids is an animal trading card program! Four days a week, weather permitting, visitors can feed a giraffe. There’s nothing quite like having George, the oldest of our four giraffes, take lettuce from your hand with his 20-inch tongue!
As Darde begins her 41st year, she’ll be overseeing the new architect-designed animal hospital in 2026. Tony Ashley, a veterinarian who volunteered with the zoo for 30 years, is now the full-time veterinarian. He is an exotic animal specialist and has expertise in caring for geriatric animals. Working with Chattanooga-based Tinker Ma, Darde and her team are working on a “new vision for the zoo,” she said, creating an organizational master plan for the next phase. They’ll be holding a series of community meetings to gather input and suggestions from the public. What new animals and programs would you like to have?
Our zoo is owned by the City of Chattanooga and thus, belongs to all of us. It’s managed by Friends of the Zoo, a nonprofit organization, funded predominantly by FOZ and the city, but also by guests’ visits, donations, grants, and memberships. This last item is more important than it may seem. Memberships not only contribute to our zoo’s budget, they reflect our community’s commitment to it. It’s an easy and affordable way to support the animals, programs, and employees, plus it offers us unlimited visits, perks and discounts, and discounted (sometimes free) entrance fees at other AZA zoos. See chattzoo.org for membership information.
We are blessed and privileged to have a highly regarded zoo here, managed by such dedicated and devoted people. August 21, 2025, when the zoo honored the 40th anniversary of both FOZ’s and Darde Long’s 40 years of remarkable achievements, it was not only a “Thank You So Much” to them, it was both a reminder of how fortunate we are and an opportunity to contribute to its continuing growth and success by supporting it in whatever way we can.
by Carol Lannon and Donna Dewesse
We’ve had several incarnations of zoos here: Oxley Zoo in East Lake, closed by lack of funding in 1911; Warner Park Zoo, opened in 1937 and a popular attraction focused on entertainment; in 1960s, focus shifted to a petting zoo and “Zooville” opened. But inadequate care of the animals and the facilities resulted in significant deterioration, and by the 1980s, the public, along with Friends of the Zoo (FOZ) which had formed shortly before, were demanding improvement or closure.
August 21, 1985, Darde Long became “a zookeeper in charge of the zoo,” beginning major improvement and modernization. The pressure was on, and she rose to the challenge, exceeding everyone’s expectations, even her own. Darde teamed up with FOZ and the few existing zoo employees to undertake the zoo’s renewal and expansion. She emphasizes how significant the FOZ’s dedication and commitment was and continues to be. “The volunteers from Friends of the Zoo helped me out tremendously,” she said. Step by small step, they improved animal care and enclosures, cleaned up and repaired facilities, added landscaping, created new educational programs, and developed incremental master plans, accomplishing a transformation that has surpassed their imaginings.
Donna Deweese, currently director of development at the Chattanooga Zoo, is a “perfect fit” for her job. “A long-time advocate of animal welfare,” she “helps raise funds for programs, habitats, and enrichment for unique animal populations, but also educates the public on conservation in general.” In addition, “It’s certainly a boost for my morale to be able to walk a few feet outside of my office and feed a herd of giraffes!” she said. Donna wrote this beautiful synopsis of Darde’s time at the zoo:
“For over 40 years, Darde Long has been known as the ‘face’ of the Chattanooga Zoo. After attending Auburn University, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and working as a veterinary assistant at a local animal clinic, she was hired as zookeeper in 1985 during a tumultuous period for the Chattanooga Zoo. At the young age of 28 and one of the first female leaders in the zoo industry, Darde worked with the newly formed Friends of the Zoo to manage over $10 million in expansion projects over the course of a decade. The expansion master plans included more education opportunities, an upgrade to existing facilities and construction of new exhibits such as the Gombe Forest, Himalayan Passage, Corcovado Jungle and Deserts & Forests of the World.
In 1998, because of extensive improvements in animal care, exceptional exhibits, multiple conservation efforts and outstanding education programs, the Chattanooga Zoo received accreditation from the Association of Zoo and Aquariums (AZA), a coveted recognition awarded to only 250 organizations worldwide.
In 2008, a new era of the zoo was ushered in with the opening of a new entrance complex greatly increasing the zoo’s visibility and accessibility. Through her vision and leadership over the years, the zoo expanded its overall thumbprint by 35% with the zoo consistently being approved by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
When Darde took the reins at the zoo, the facility only housed a handful of animals on 1.5 acres; today the Chattanooga Zoo is home to over 1,000 animals (on exhibit and off) stretching over 14 acres. Darde went from being the sole zookeeper and one of only two full-time staff members to leading a team of over 80 staff members as the president and CEO of the Chattanooga Zoo. In 2021 almost 300,000 individuals visited the zoo, generating over $3 million in taxes for the local economy. In 2023, the Chattanooga Zoo was awarded nonprofit of the year by the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce.
In 2024, the Chattanooga Zoo opened its Cape of Africa expansion featuring giraffes, Cape porcupine, serval and warthogs. This $4 million expansion continues to elevate the zoo experience and provide multiple opportunities for education and conservation messaging to guests.
Anyone who knows Darde, knows that her heart for animals isn’t just reserved for wild animals. Over her life, she has rescued and found homes for countless dogs and cats. It’s part of her DNA.
Thanks to Darde’s compassion, dedication and commitment to animals, the Chattanooga Zoo just celebrated the 40th anniversary of Friends of the Zoo. Darde also celebrated her 40th work anniversary with Friends of the Zoo and shows no sign of slowing down.”
Donna’s description of Darde’s 40 years at the zoo underscores the depth and breadth of her involvement and commitment. She knows every aspect of development and care, from land acquisition to how to trim a giraffe’s hooves. Male giraffes can weight up to 4,250 pounds, which puts tremendous pressure on their legs and feet and can cause arthritis. Picking up their feet is “a heavy-lifting job,” Darde said. Sadie, a keeper, is “doing a great job” training them to lift their foot on a block and point it behind them so it can be trimmed.
One of Darde’s early priorities was Hank, a chimpanzee who was the “center of the zoo for 42 years” until he died in his sleep in 2011. Hank had belonged to Ruben, a circus clown, who brought him to the zoo in the late 1970s. A long-time zoo employee, Frank Reno (“a treasure of information” Darde said) alerted her to Hank’s increasing distress. Because primates need companionship, volunteers spent time with him when they could, but Hank was lonely and too confined, running back and forth and banging on the bars. With volunteers and local ironworkers donating their time and labor, a large addition was added to Hank’s enclosure, which included outdoor space, grass, and trees. But Hank wouldn’t come out.
One day Ruben came to see the new addition. When Hank saw Ruben, he was outside so fast that no one watching could ever doubt the importance of companionship for primates. Being outside was therapeutic for Hank. His health improved and he lost weight. He was happier. He wasn’t raised with chimpanzees, and he loved interacting with people. “He could get the most straightlaced adults to do funny things to get his attention,” Darde remembers. Her favorite memory is of inadvertently teaching him to spray her with the hose to hear her squeal. The first time was an accident, but Hank was smart and quickly figured out how to make it happen again. “He made a monkey out of me,” Darde said. Absolutely beloved, he was the zoo’s first ambassador to the public.
He was also the “foundation of the zoo’s mission to create meaningful connections between people and animals.” Programs were developed to educate visitors about animals and conservation, widen the ambassador animal visits, open the zoo for social functions and birthday parties, summer camps, senior safaris, virtual tours, weekly group tours with special feedings, and even interaction with animals behind-the-scenes. Among the many opportunities for kids is an animal trading card program! Four days a week, weather permitting, visitors can feed a giraffe. There’s nothing quite like having George, the oldest of our four giraffes, take lettuce from your hand with his 20-inch tongue!
As Darde begins her 41st year, she’ll be overseeing the new architect-designed animal hospital in 2026. Tony Ashley, a veterinarian who volunteered with the zoo for 30 years, is now the full-time veterinarian. He is an exotic animal specialist and has expertise in caring for geriatric animals. Working with Chattanooga-based Tinker Ma, Darde and her team are working on a “new vision for the zoo,” she said, creating an organizational master plan for the next phase. They’ll be holding a series of community meetings to gather input and suggestions from the public. What new animals and programs would you like to have?
Our zoo is owned by the City of Chattanooga and thus, belongs to all of us. It’s managed by Friends of the Zoo, a nonprofit organization, funded predominantly by FOZ and the city, but also by guests’ visits, donations, grants, and memberships. This last item is more important than it may seem. Memberships not only contribute to our zoo’s budget, they reflect our community’s commitment to it. It’s an easy and affordable way to support the animals, programs, and employees, plus it offers us unlimited visits, perks and discounts, and discounted (sometimes free) entrance fees at other AZA zoos. See chattzoo.org for membership information.
We are blessed and privileged to have a highly regarded zoo here, managed by such dedicated and devoted people. August 21, 2025, when the zoo honored the 40th anniversary of both FOZ’s and Darde Long’s 40 years of remarkable achievements, it was not only a “Thank You So Much” to them, it was both a reminder of how fortunate we are and an opportunity to contribute to its continuing growth and success by supporting it in whatever way we can.
by Carol Lannon and Donna Dewesse
RSS Feed