Zoo plans new reptile exhibit

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Zoo Atlanta plans to upgrade reptile exhibit

South Salem Elementary students from Covington, Justin Jenkins, 6, left, and Naveh Cartwright, 6, right, look at one of two large facades outside the main entrance of the World of Reptiles exhibit at Zoo Atlanta.

A Medusa head eyes student visitors exiting the main entrance of the World of Reptiles exhibit at Zoo Atlanta.

A group of student visitors view several reptile and amphibian exhibits inside the World of Reptiles exhibit at Zoo Atlanta.

A group of student visitors walk by a few of the photographs of reptiles and amphibians on display inside the World of Reptiles exhibit at Zoo Atlanta.

Zoo Atlanta Curator of Herpetology Joe Mendelson holds a Guatemalan Beaded Lizard as an example of several animals part of the conservation breeding program behind the scenes of the World of Reptiles exhibit at Zoo Atlanta.

Ammie McGinley, of Marietta, holds her daughter Libby, 4, up to see a display of a Black Mamba, one of Africa's most dangerous and feared snakes. Oddly, the snake is not black ... it is usually green. It gets its name from the color of its mouth.

A Cagle's Map Turtle swims in his tank with other species. It is endemic to the United States.

An American Alligator sits in his naturalistic environment in the largest enclosure of the World of Reptiles building at Zoo Atlanta. The reptile / amphibian exhibit was the only bad mark the zoo got recently from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, which accredited the zoo recently. Zoo Atlanta plans to build a new building over the next 2 to 3 years that will be a major upgrade from the 1960s building.

A group of student visitors view an exhibit for Caiman Lizards.

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South Salem Elementary students from Covington, Justin Jenkins, 6, left, and Naveh Cartwright, 6, right, look at one of two large facades outside the main entrance of the World of Reptiles exhibit at Zoo Atlanta.

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