MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Memphis Zoo is preparing for a major exhibit that will be open to the public this week.
WREG got a sneak peak of the Zambezi River Hippo Camp.
Seven-year-old Jalynn Johnson is like many people we spoke to who plans to visit the Zambezi River Hippo Camp exhibit.
“I’ll like the thing they have there because I like all the things in the zoo,” she said.
The brand-new exhibit opens to the public Friday.
The four-acre exhibit was made to look like you’re walking along the banks of the Zambezi. The hippos are expected to be a major attraction, especially the male hippo from Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
“We’ve had hippos for 102 years, it’s actually the same family, one of the girls behind me, her grandfather was the original hippo that we had so people grew up coming and seeing these hippos,” said Laura Doty with the Memphis Zoo.
“I know a lot about them because I’ve learned about these hippos,” said Johnson.
Doty said the new exhibit means more money into the local economy.
Thousands are expected to view the new attraction.
“I think that you’re going to see a surge of tourists as well which is exciting, people from across the Mid-South and further know that we’ve been building this exhibit. Now they know that it’s finally open because of that, a lot of them will come in and check out the Memphis Zoo.”
Although it’s too early to know how much extra money this will bring into the zoo and local economy, park-goers are looking forward to seeing some of their favorite animals, especially the crocodiles.
The project was more than $22 million. The ribbon cutting for the zoo is Friday at 11:30 a.m.
Doty said the Zambezi is the first major exhibit opening since Teton Trek in 2009.