Nashville Zoo Guests to Record Animal Behavior during Solar Eclipse

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Do animals behave differently when experiencing a total solar eclipse? That’s what Nashville Zoo intends to find out noon to 3 p.m. Aug. 21, 2017 when much of Middle Tennessee witness an event that last took place in this area more than 150 years ago. To accomplish this, Nashville Zoo officials are asking guests to observe and record their findings.

Guests are asked to record animal behaviors using their mobile devices by downloading an app called iNaturalist (https://www.inaturalist.org) developed specifically to record and share observations of nature.

Guests can also share their observations by posting on social media, tagging Nashville Zoo and/or using #nashvillezoo or #nzooeclipse. The zoo plans to share the information for use in the future.

The first 5,000 guests to enter the zoo Aug. 21 receive a free pair of solar eclipse glasses.

For Nashville, the solar eclipse begins at noon on Aug. 21, 2017 and reaches totality about an hour and half later. Totality (when the moon is completely covering the sun) lasts about 1.5 minutes before the sun begins to shine again.

While there are many areas within the zoo to see the eclipse, the zoo’s Festival Field is an ideal spot for guests to gather during the time of eclipse totality. Additionally, the zoo has bounce houses and information tables on Festival Field during the eclipse.

For more information, visit www.nashvillezoo.org/upcoming-events/entry/solar-eclipse/instance/8-21-2017.

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