KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Do you love the sound of nature and the great outdoors? Do you know how to
distinguish the sounds you hear? Knoxville Zoo's education department invites you to do "Ribbit Research"
as it continues to celebrate the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Year of the Frog.

In honor of the AZA's Year of the Frog, Knoxville Zoo is introducing "Ribbit Research" to help Seven Islands Wildlife Refuge. "Ribbit Researchers" will study the frogs found at Seven Islands Wildlife Refuge by listening for frog calls, identifying calls, and recording the data in research surveys. The collected data will be used to help monitor the frog population.

The purpose of the "Ribbit Research" is to monitor activities and species of frogs at Seven Islands Wildlife Refuge, to assist with amphibian conservation within the refuge, and to better understand the local frog population.

Ribbit Research will be held Saturday, June 7 and Saturday, July 19 from 8:30 until 11:00 p.m. The program is open to adults and children ages ten and above. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Participants will need to provide their own transportation to Seven Islands Wildlife Refuge. Space is limited and advance registration is required. A $10.00 donation is requested to help cover the cost of the program. For more information, or to register for this program, contact Steve McGaffin, Knoxville Zoo outreach coordinator, at (865) 637-5331, ext. 371 or by email at mcgaffin@knoxville-zoo.org.

Knoxville Zoo is located off exit 392A from Interstate 40 West and is open every day except Christmas Day. The zoo is nationally accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and is committed to the highest standards in animal care and well-being, ethics, conservation, and education. Beginning May 26, the zoo is open everyday from 9:30 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.  Admission and ticket sales stop one-hour before the zoo closes. Next-day admission is free after 3 p.m. For more information, please call 865.637.5331 ext. 300 or