The Nature Conservancy. Protecting nature. Preserving life.™

Cory Holliday © Cory Holliday

"It's a little like that Field of Dreams movie: if you build it, they will come." Cory Holliday, The Nature Conservancy's Tennessee Cave Program Director, talking about the artificial cave

Please join The Nature Conservancy at the Memphis Zoo
to learn about Tennessee's bats, their importance to
our communities and the serious threat they face.

Saturday, April 21, 2012 - Memphis Zoo
"Animals of the Night" exhibit will open with new bat features
including photos, videos and touchscreen interactives.

• Giveaways and children's activities
• Bat keeper chats at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
• Book signing by author Mary Kay Carson

Tuesday, April 24, 2012 - Memphis Zoo
Presentation on bats and plans for an artificial cave by Cory Holliday, Nature Conservancy's Tennessee Cave Program Director

• Lecture at 6:30 p.m. in the zoo's Distance Learning Classroom
• Guided tour of the bat exhibit immediately following
• Parking and admission are free for this event

RSVP for lecture to bmoore@memphiszoo.org or call (901) 333-6566.

Tennessee Cave Program

Under the direction of Cory Holliday, The Nature Conservancy runs what is widely regarded as the leading cave protection program in Tennessee. Since the 1980s, the Tennessee Chapter of the Conservancy has purchased and protected 9 caves and has gated more than 15 to keep out vandals.

Currently, we are leading the fight against white-nose syndrome, a deadly fungus that threatens to annihilate several bat species. Bats are the leading predator of night-flying insects, helping to keep agricultural pests in check. To combat this epidemic that is decimating bat populations across the eastern United States, the Tennessee Chapter is building an artificial bat cave prototype, which can be replicated elsewhere. It will provide bats a safe environment where scientists can study this disease and work to defeat it.