Last spring, Jay and Melissa Reeder loaned three of their beloved Huacaya breed alpacas to Zoo Atlanta for a temporary children’s exhibit. Soon the trio became superstars. By the end of their temporary stay, Tuscany, Warrior, and Smurf had racked up nearly a half million fans.
Zoo Atlanta decided to keep them.
“The exhibit was so popular they approached us about purchasing the alpacas to make it a permanent exhibit,” says Jay.
They did.
The three recently moved into their permanent digs at the Orkin Children’s Zoo in Zoo Atlanta. “The boys are a huge hit with guests and staff!” says Lisa Flood, the Lead Keeper at Outback Station Zoo Atlanta.
The alpaca exhibit at Zoo Atlanta has become a destination spot. Since it opened, nearly 100,000 school-age children have filed past the exhibit on field trips and homeschooling adventures.
The zoo now holds “Alpaca Talk” educational sessions every Tuesday and Wednesday at 2 p.m.
“When we read our Facebook page and see posts like, ‘My 4-year-old is in love with Tuscany!’ we can’t get over the impact these three fellas have in Atlanta,” says Jay. “That’s a rewarding day at the office for us.”
