Press Room
If you are a member of the media and would like more information about the Little Rock Zoo, the Arkansas Zoological Foundation or the exciting new things happening at the Little Rock Zoo, please call our main line at 501-661-7200 and ask for our press department to register your contact information for media updates. The Little Rock Zoo sends up-to-date press releases and announcements on a regular basis. There’s always something new and exciting at the Zoo!
Little Rock Zoo Holiday Tradition Shines Brighter and Earlier
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (October 27, 2026) – GloWILD is back for another season of illuminating fun! With nearly 50 nights of spectacular light displays, guests can explore a glowing world of animal kingdom adventures, colorful blooms, winter wonderlands and interactive games. Opening earlier than ever, this year’s GloWILD runs Oct. 29, 2026, through Jan. 3, 2027. “GloWILD has become a special tradition for families, and we’re excited to make this year’s opening even more memorable,” said Zoo Director Susan Altrui. “Opening on October 29 gives guests the chance to celebrate Halloween weekend with a little extra glow.” Back by popular demand, the…
Recognition Marks a Quarter Century of Meeting the Highest Standards in Animal Care, Conservation, Education and Zoo Operations
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (September 22, 2026) – The Little Rock Zoo has reached a milestone few institutions can claim: 25 years of continuous accreditation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)—an achievement now formally recognized with the prestigious AZA Accreditation Quarter Century Award. The honor represents more than the passage of time. It recognizes a sustained institutional commitment to excellence and the generations of professionals, volunteers, community partners and supporters whose work has helped the Little Rock Zoo meet the rigorous standards of AZA accreditation for a quarter century. AZA accreditation is widely regarded as a benchmark of excellence for zoos…
Little Rock Zoo Names Dr. Jessica Scott as Assistant Director
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (September 16, 2026) – Some careers begin with a carefully plotted destination. Others begin with a pair of hands making enrichment for primates. For Dr. Jessica Scott, her connection to the Little Rock Zoo began more than two decades ago as a college student volunteering alongside Animal Keepers Karen Caster and Ann Rademacher, creating enrichment for the Zoo’s primates. That early experience sparked an enduring fascination with animals—and a career that would take her from the forests of Madagascar and Nicaragua to the classroom, the research field and the highest levels of organizational leadership. Now, that journey is bringing…
Little Rock Zoo Names Hannah Baker as General Curator
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (September 16, 2026) – The Little Rock Zoo is pleased to announce Hannah Baker as its new General Curator, recognizing a remarkable career of service, leadership and animal expertise developed over more than a decade at the Zoo. Baker joined the Little Rock Zoo in 2011 and has served in a succession of increasingly responsible roles, including intern, keeper, lead keeper and curator. Her professional experience spans several specialized areas of zoological care, including Ambassador Animals, penguins and reptiles, giving her an unusually broad understanding of both animal care and the many ways zoos connect people with wildlife. “Hannah’s career at…
Arkansas Zoological Foundation Makes Its Largest Gift to Little Rock Zoo
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (September 15, 2026) – The Arkansas Zoological Foundation has made one of its largest gifts to the Little Rock Zoo, committing $1.2 million to support Project Zoo: Wildly Reimagined, the transformative initiative reshaping the future of Arkansas’s only Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)-accredited zoo. The historic contribution represents a powerful collective investment in the future of the Zoo. It includes a $250,000 leadership gift from the Laura P. Nichols Foundation, proceeds generated through the Zoo’s signature fundraising events, and generous contributions from numerous individual, corporate and community donors. Together, these gifts will join more than $11 million in…
