It can be a struggle to get your kids to enjoy eating healthy foods. Just like kids, animals at the Little Rock Zoo can be picky eaters.

Arkansas Children’s Nutrition Center and the Little Rock Zoo have partnered to teach kids about the importance of nutrition. The new, free "Wild About Nutrition" program will visit classrooms and allow students to meet a variety of zoo animals and learn about the nutrition needs of animals and people.

“This is a grant-funded pilot program so availability will be first come, first served,” says Lamor Williams, marketing coordinator at the Little Rock Zoo. “However, we hope to bring it back in the future based on the initial response.”  

The animal ambassadors are divided into three categories to bring into classrooms. The carnivores range from birds of prey such as owls and eagles to snakes such as ball pythons. Omnivores include opossums and turtles and herbivores range from rabbits to tortoises.

The handlers decide which animals to bring based on how much rest each has had. This is done to keep the animals from being stressed.

To participate in the "Wild About Nutrition" program, you must:

  • Be a school or program with underserved students in the Little Rock area.

  • Have a classroom of no more than 30 students. The zoo handlers are happy to make multiple visits to accommodate larger classes in small groups.

  • Contact the Little Rock Zoo’s Education Department at (501) 661-7229 to schedule your program. Be sure to use code “DCP” to receive a special zoo admission coupon for each participant.