New wonder awaits at Georgia Aquarium! Our Southern Company River Scout gallery has been reimagined to bring guests even closer to incredible animals and the habitats they call home.

Now open as the second phase of this transformative project, made possible through our partnership with Smurfit WestRock. This reimagined environment features exciting enhancements for both animals and guests, including:

• A new species: binturongs!
• A doubled-in-size Asian small-clawed otter habitat with two overhead habitat trails, surrounding guests in the otters’ environment
• Enhanced habitat elements 
• A brand-new Canopy Walk experience
• Reimagined theming and signage 
• A new single-player river cleanup game that puts guests’ conservation knowledge into action
• Updated lighting to support animal wellness and enhance guest safety

The reimagined experience continues throughout Peterson Preserve! Experience a new Gator Shack theme, educational signage, tactile interpretation signs, and interactive kiosks. 

These enhancements elevate animal care, deepen guest engagement, and create richer opportunities for learning and discovery. The expanded otter habitat provides more space and environmental complexity to support natural behaviors. While new interactive experiences help guests connect with the animals and ecosystems throughout the space. Together, these improvements create a more immersive environment for visitors of all ages while strengthening educational and conservation experiences for children, families, and school groups. This project was made possible by the meaningful support of our partners Smurfit WestRock and Southern Company, whose collaboration helped bring these enhancements to life.

With new animals, enhanced habitats, and interactive experiences, our reimagined River Scout invites guests of all ages to explore, learn, and connect with the vital ecosystems that rivers support.