North Carolina Zoo
Encyclopedia
The North Carolina Zoo is located in Asheboro
in Randolph County
, North Carolina
in the Uwharrie Mountains
near the geographic center of the state, approximately 75 miles west of Raleigh, NC
, United States
. At 1371 acres (554.8 ha) , it is the largest "walk-through" natural-habitat zoo
in the world, the first in the United States, and only one of two state-owned zoos in the United States. The NC Zoo has over 1100 animals from more than 250 species primarily representing Africa and North America. The zoo is open 364 days a year and receives more than 700,000 visitors annually
dedicated the site in spring 1972. Construction of the North Carolina Zoo began in 1974 with the official opening date of August 13, 1976. The first animals, two Galapagos Tortoise
s arrived in 1973 and an interim zoo was opened in 1974. In 1978, Ham the Chimp
, the first hominid in outer space, was moved to the zoo from the National Zoo in Washington, D.C.
. He lived there until his death in 1983 from a heart attack. After construction delays and difficulty securing private funding, an additional $7 million were given by the General Assembly, and the first permanent exhibit opened in 1979.
The zoo has continued to expand ever since. Throughout the 1980s, the exhibits of the Africa region opened and in 1984 the zoo received accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums
(AZA). In 1993, the first of the North America exhibits was completed, showcasing the animals and habitats of the Sonora Desert. The final North America exhibit opened in 1996.
Following the invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, the zoo spearheaded efforts to rebuild and maintain the Kabul Zoo
. Beginning in 2002, the Zoo helped raise funds, organize animal purchases, and provide expertise in animal care, exhibit reconstruction and renovation, staff training, and business strategy. In 2005 the NC Zoo employed a full-time staff member to live for a year in Kabul to assist with the training and retention of staff. Following the 2003 invasion of Iraq, the NC Zoo once again took the lead in the rebuilding efforts at the Baghdad Zoo
. The zoo's exhibits have been replaced and the staff now coordinates with the North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine
in a program set up by the zoo.
A temporary Australian exhibit opened in 2004 and featured the largest collection of Australian plants on the East Coast until 2006. The North Carolina Zoo is the nation’s first state-supported zoo and remains one of only two state zoos (the other state being Minnesota
). In November 2008, the zoo announced that in the first 10 months of 2008, its operating revenue had increased 18% from its intake the previous year.
The African Pavilion has also been slated for replacement. In 2008, the state government provided $600,000 for the replacement planning with an additional $400,000 from the Zoo Society. A new exhibit complex focused on Africa's aquatic ecosystems is also still in the planning stages.
s of any zoo in America as well as the largest collection of Alaska
n seabird
s in the country.
" and "North America
" on opposite ends. There are parking lots located on both ends, so during peak season, visitors can start their day from either side. With approximately five miles of walking paths, the zoo also provides trams and air-conditioned buses for visitors.
The North Carolina Zoo was the first American zoo to incorporate the "natural habitat" philosophy – presenting animals together with plants in exhibits that resemble the habitats in which they would be found in the wild. Most animals are kept in large expanses of land, which reduces many of the behavior problems that can be caused by close confinement. The 37 acre African Plains exhibit alone is as large as many entire zoos.
s of the southeast are to be seen in "Cypress Swamp" area, home to alligator
s, cougars, and a variety of reptile
s and amphibian
s. "Rocky Coast" depicts the rocky coasts of the Pacific Northwest
, with polar bear
s, California sea lion
s, harbor seal
s, arctic fox
es, and the Alaskan seabirds. The stream
s of North Carolina can be seen in the "Streamside" exhibit with bobcat
s, otter
s, and a number of snakes and fish
, including the critically endangered
Cape Fear shiner
. The "Prairie
" enclosure shows off the enormous bison
and elk
of the great plains. The flora and fauna of the American Southwest are on display in the glass-domed "Sonoran Desert," which houses ocelot
s, coati
s, a number of bat
species, and a variety of free-flight birds. Black bear
s, grizzlies
and red wolves
also each have their own exhibits.
s, giraffe
s, and ostrich
es wander together. The "Watani Grasslands" mimic the great savanna of Africa and are home to rhino
s, African elephants, Thomson's gazelle
, gemsbok
, waterbuck
s, ostriches, and greater kudu
. Chimpanzees, lion
s, western lowland gorilla
, red river hog
s and one of the largest baboon
troops in the country each have their own exhibit in the African half of the zoo.
Lemurs from neighboring Madagascar were added to the Africa section of the zoo in 2010 after a $100,000 refurbishment of the former Patas Monkey
exhibit, one of the first exhibits when the zoo opened in June 1980.
.
but also mural
s, mosaic
s, and painting
s. Primarily depictions of animals and their habitats, the artwork represents a number of different styles and uses a variety of materials including marble
, steel
, bronze
, fiberglass
, limestone
, glass
, cement
, and others. The zoo's art is intended to enliven and enrich the zoo experience and help fulfill its mission by "promoting individual discovery and new ways of thinking." David Jones, the director of the zoo, said "We want the individual art works to be attractive and intriguing in their own right, (but) the more they make people think and question the better."
The two largest sculptures are located at the zoo's main entrances. One, "Sum of the Parts" is a pile of large metal cubes, about a yard (1 m) on a side. Most of the cubes are shiny and depict extant species, but a few rusted cubes tumbled off to the side memorialize extinct species. The second, "The Elephant Group" depicts several large elephants in bronze. The works were installed in 1998.
, the zoo participates in a project to track the movements of elephants through satellite tracking collars in order to expand reserves and parks in a way that protects the most crucial areas of their habitats. The project was recognized in 2008 by the AZA with a Significant Achievement in Conservation Award. Also in Cameroon and its neighbor, Nigeria
, the zoo is working on a project to monitor the rare Cross River gorilla
, a subspecies
that was thought extinct for many years. Its remote habitat is difficult to access, so with the help of satellite imaging and GPS systems, the zoo coordinates with park rangers and other conservation groups to map their habitat and movements and assist efforts to ensure their continued survival. In another project with the Nigerian Conservation Foundation
, the zoo has assisted with biodiversity surveys of the southwester region of the country. The surveys mapped suitable habitats, primarily the Omo and Oluwa forest reserve
s and recorded observed wildlife while documenting the level of human disturbance in the country of 150 million. After completing the survey, the team made several recommendations to maximize preservation of important habitat for forest elephants, chimpanzees, and other animals in the region.
The zoo also operates projects in Uganda
. An education project around Kibale National Park
has been in place for over ten years and aims to educate young people about the purpose of the park and the value of biological conservation. It also supports research at the Ngogo field research site inside the park. Ngogo researchers study primate plant use and rain forest regrowth after logging among other things, and removes illegal snares from the park which can seriously injure or kill protected animals. Along with Botanic Gardens Conservation International
and the Atlanta Botanical Garden
, the zoo is also advising in the construction and management of the Tooro Botanical Garden, which is designed to preserve and research the extraordinary biodiversity of the Albertine Rift region, with a special program for medicinal plant research.
salamander, which is globally recognized as near threatened
but is classified as "endangered" in a number of US states including North Carolina, is the target of a project in the Appalachian Mountains
. Due to the steep decline in population in the past 30 years, the zoo conducted a thorough survey, with the help of the AZA, into the hellbender populations of western North Carolina.
The zoo is also involved in project to restore population of endangered Schweinitz's sunflower. In 2001, a road expansion project by the North Carolina Department of Transportation
threatened a significant population of the flowers. The zoo partnered with a number of individuals and organizations and successfully managed their transplant to an off-road site, which continues to be managed and monitored by zoo horticulturalists.
Species Survival Plan
and reintroduction program. The Zoo has been home to 48 of these critically endangered animals, including a litter of 5, born at the zoo in 2002, which became the first captive-bred wolves to be adopted by wild parents. The Zoo is also involved in the Gorilla Species Survival Plan and received two female gorillas in early 2010 as part of the effort. The Aviary is also known for a number of high profile hatchings including the first US hatchings of the golden white-eye
, the red-faced liocichla
, the African pied barbet
, the golden-headed manakin
, the horned puffin
, the parakeet auklet
and the thick-billed murre as well as the second US hatchings of the African grey-headed kingfisher
and the African spoonbill
.
. Its operation and development are overseen by a 15-member Zoo Council appointed by the Governor
to six-year terms. The zoo is run by the Director, currently Dr. David Jones. Dr. Jones is a veterinarian
and served as the CEO of the London Zoological Society and the Chairman of Flora and Fauna International among numerous other accomplishments before assuming his current role. The zoo's annual operating budget is roughly $18 million. It receives around 60 percent from the state with the remainder being made up of ticket and merchandise sales and donations from the North Carolina Zoological Society, which remains the zoo's fund-raising and membership arm. The Zoological Society is overseen by its Board of Directors. The Chairman of the Board is always a member of the Zoological Council and the two groups meet once annually.
Asheboro, North Carolina
Asheboro is a city in Randolph County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 21,672 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Randolph County, and is the home of the state-owned North Carolina Zoo.-Geography:...
in Randolph County
Randolph County, North Carolina
-Notable people:*Naomi Wise, murder victim*Richard Petty - Nascar driver.*Lee Petty - Nascar pioneer. Richard Petty's father.*Kyle Petty - Nascar driver. Son of Richard Petty*Adam Petty - Nascar driver. Kyle Petty's son...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
in the Uwharrie Mountains
Uwharrie Mountains
The Uwharrie Mountains are a mountain range in North Carolina. The range lies in the counties of Randolph, Montgomery, Stanly, and Davidson, although its foothills stretch into Cabarrus, Anson, Union counties and terminate in the hills of Person. Formed approximately 500 million years ago by...
near the geographic center of the state, approximately 75 miles west of Raleigh, NC
Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. At 1371 acres (554.8 ha) , it is the largest "walk-through" natural-habitat zoo
Zoo
A zoological garden, zoological park, menagerie, or zoo is a facility in which animals are confined within enclosures, displayed to the public, and in which they may also be bred....
in the world, the first in the United States, and only one of two state-owned zoos in the United States. The NC Zoo has over 1100 animals from more than 250 species primarily representing Africa and North America. The zoo is open 364 days a year and receives more than 700,000 visitors annually
History
In 1967, the North Carolina legislature created the NC Zoological Garden Study Commission to examine the feasibility of a state zoo. The nine-member commission found that a zoo was both feasible and desirable. The next year, the North Carolina Zoological Society was formed with the goal of raising funds and public support for the zoo project. The same year, the legislature created the NC Zoological Authority to oversee the project. The site in Randolph County was selected from 6 sites after a 2-year search by the zoo commission, led by State Representative Archie McMillan of Wake County. After the selection of the site, its 1371 acres (5.5 km²) were donated to the state. A $2 million dollar bond was passed and Governor Robert W. ScottRobert W. Scott
Robert Walter "Bob" Scott was the 67th Governor of the state of North Carolina from 1969 to 1973. He was born in Haw River, North Carolina.The son of North Carolina Governor W...
dedicated the site in spring 1972. Construction of the North Carolina Zoo began in 1974 with the official opening date of August 13, 1976. The first animals, two Galapagos Tortoise
Galápagos tortoise
The Galápagos tortoise or Galápagos giant tortoise is the largest living species of tortoise, reaching weights of over and lengths of over . With life spans in the wild of over 100 years, it is one of the longest-lived vertebrates...
s arrived in 1973 and an interim zoo was opened in 1974. In 1978, Ham the Chimp
Ham the Chimp
Ham , also known as Ham the Chimp and Ham the Astrochimp, was the first chimpanzee launched into outer space in the American space program...
, the first hominid in outer space, was moved to the zoo from the National Zoo in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
. He lived there until his death in 1983 from a heart attack. After construction delays and difficulty securing private funding, an additional $7 million were given by the General Assembly, and the first permanent exhibit opened in 1979.
The zoo has continued to expand ever since. Throughout the 1980s, the exhibits of the Africa region opened and in 1984 the zoo received accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums
Association of Zoos and Aquariums
The Association of Zoos and Aquariums was founded in 1924 and is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of zoos and public aquariums in the areas of conservation, education, science, and recreation.The AZA headquarters is located in Silver...
(AZA). In 1993, the first of the North America exhibits was completed, showcasing the animals and habitats of the Sonora Desert. The final North America exhibit opened in 1996.
Following the invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, the zoo spearheaded efforts to rebuild and maintain the Kabul Zoo
Kabul Zoo
The Kabul Zoo is located in Kabul, Afghanistan, on the bank of the Kabul River. The director of Kabul Zoo is Aziz Gul Saqeb.-History:The zoo was inaugurated in 1967 with a focus on Afghan fauna, being very popular with visitors and press. The zoo once had more than 500 animals with about 150,000...
. Beginning in 2002, the Zoo helped raise funds, organize animal purchases, and provide expertise in animal care, exhibit reconstruction and renovation, staff training, and business strategy. In 2005 the NC Zoo employed a full-time staff member to live for a year in Kabul to assist with the training and retention of staff. Following the 2003 invasion of Iraq, the NC Zoo once again took the lead in the rebuilding efforts at the Baghdad Zoo
Baghdad zoo
The Baghdad Zoo is a zoo originally opened in 1971 and located in Baghdad, Iraq, in the al-Zawraa' Gardens area along with the Zawraa Amusement Park and Zawraa' Tower. Before the 2003 invasion of Iraq, the zoo housed 650 animals...
. The zoo's exhibits have been replaced and the staff now coordinates with the North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine
North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine
North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine is a U.S. educational institution located in Raleigh, North Carolina that offers master's and doctorate-level degree programs; interdisciplinary research in a range of veterinary and comparative medicine topics through centers,...
in a program set up by the zoo.
A temporary Australian exhibit opened in 2004 and featured the largest collection of Australian plants on the East Coast until 2006. The North Carolina Zoo is the nation’s first state-supported zoo and remains one of only two state zoos (the other state being Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
). In November 2008, the zoo announced that in the first 10 months of 2008, its operating revenue had increased 18% from its intake the previous year.
Future plans
On April 1, 2010, the Zoo announced it had acquired adjacent forestland to bring the total land tract to over 2000 acres (8.1 km²). The main exhibits currently occupy about 500 acres (2 km²). There are plans for expansion to include animals and plants from Asia, which could include tigers, rhinos, and orangutans with the goal of attracting an additional 300,000 people a year. There are also plans for a convention center and a hotel over looking an animal exhibit to establish the zoo as a multi-day destination.The African Pavilion has also been slated for replacement. In 2008, the state government provided $600,000 for the replacement planning with an additional $400,000 from the Zoo Society. A new exhibit complex focused on Africa's aquatic ecosystems is also still in the planning stages.
Attractions
The zoo is home to 1100 animals of more than 200 species. It is home to the largest collection of chimpanzeeChimpanzee
Chimpanzee, sometimes colloquially chimp, is the common name for the two extant species of ape in the genus Pan. The Congo River forms the boundary between the native habitat of the two species:...
s of any zoo in America as well as the largest collection of Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
n seabird
Seabird
Seabirds are birds that have adapted to life within the marine environment. While seabirds vary greatly in lifestyle, behaviour and physiology, they often exhibit striking convergent evolution, as the same environmental problems and feeding niches have resulted in similar adaptations...
s in the country.
Layout
The North Carolina Zoo consists of two main areas: "AfricaAfrica
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
" and "North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
" on opposite ends. There are parking lots located on both ends, so during peak season, visitors can start their day from either side. With approximately five miles of walking paths, the zoo also provides trams and air-conditioned buses for visitors.
The North Carolina Zoo was the first American zoo to incorporate the "natural habitat" philosophy – presenting animals together with plants in exhibits that resemble the habitats in which they would be found in the wild. Most animals are kept in large expanses of land, which reduces many of the behavior problems that can be caused by close confinement. The 37 acre African Plains exhibit alone is as large as many entire zoos.
North America
In the North American half, the swampSwamp
A swamp is a wetland with some flooding of large areas of land by shallow bodies of water. A swamp generally has a large number of hammocks, or dry-land protrusions, covered by aquatic vegetation, or vegetation that tolerates periodical inundation. The two main types of swamp are "true" or swamp...
s of the southeast are to be seen in "Cypress Swamp" area, home to alligator
Alligator
An alligator is a crocodilian in the genus Alligator of the family Alligatoridae. There are two extant alligator species: the American alligator and the Chinese alligator ....
s, cougars, and a variety of reptile
Reptile
Reptiles are members of a class of air-breathing, ectothermic vertebrates which are characterized by laying shelled eggs , and having skin covered in scales and/or scutes. They are tetrapods, either having four limbs or being descended from four-limbed ancestors...
s and amphibian
Amphibian
Amphibians , are a class of vertebrate animals including animals such as toads, frogs, caecilians, and salamanders. They are characterized as non-amniote ectothermic tetrapods...
s. "Rocky Coast" depicts the rocky coasts of the Pacific Northwest
Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
, with polar bear
Polar Bear
The polar bear is a bear native largely within the Arctic Circle encompassing the Arctic Ocean, its surrounding seas and surrounding land masses. It is the world's largest land carnivore and also the largest bear, together with the omnivorous Kodiak Bear, which is approximately the same size...
s, California sea lion
California Sea Lion
The California sea lion is a coastal sea lion of western North America. Their numbers are abundant , and the population continues to expand about 5% annually. They are quite intelligent and can adapt to man-made environments...
s, harbor seal
Harbor Seal
The harbor seal , also known as the common seal, is a true seal found along temperate and Arctic marine coastlines of the Northern Hemisphere...
s, arctic fox
Arctic fox
The arctic fox , also known as the white fox, polar fox or snow fox, is a small fox native to Arctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere and is common throughout the Arctic tundra biome. The Greek word alopex, means a fox and Vulpes is the Latin version...
es, and the Alaskan seabirds. The stream
Stream
A stream is a body of water with a current, confined within a bed and stream banks. Depending on its locale or certain characteristics, a stream may be referred to as a branch, brook, beck, burn, creek, "crick", gill , kill, lick, rill, river, syke, bayou, rivulet, streamage, wash, run or...
s of North Carolina can be seen in the "Streamside" exhibit with bobcat
Bobcat
The bobcat is a North American mammal of the cat family Felidae, appearing during the Irvingtonian stage of around 1.8 million years ago . With twelve recognized subspecies, it ranges from southern Canada to northern Mexico, including most of the continental United States...
s, otter
Otter
The Otters are twelve species of semi-aquatic mammals which feed on fish and shellfish, and also other invertebrates, amphibians, birds and small mammals....
s, and a number of snakes and fish
Fish
Fish are a paraphyletic group of organisms that consist of all gill-bearing aquatic vertebrate animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish, as well as various extinct related groups...
, including the critically endangered
Critically endangered
Version 2010.3 of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species identified 3744 Critically Endangered species, subspecies and varieties, stocks and subpopulations.Critically Endangered by kingdom:*1993 Animalia*2 Fungi*1745 Plantae*4 Protista-References:...
Cape Fear shiner
Cape Fear Shiner
The Cape Fear Shiner, Notropis mekistocholas, is a species of ray-finned fish in the Cyprinidae family. It is endemic to the central part of the state of North Carolina in the southeastern United States and is only found in the shallow streams of the Cape Fear River Basin. The fish is small and...
. The "Prairie
Prairie
Prairies are considered part of the temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome by ecologists, based on similar temperate climates, moderate rainfall, and grasses, herbs, and shrubs, rather than trees, as the dominant vegetation type...
" enclosure shows off the enormous bison
Bison
Members of the genus Bison are large, even-toed ungulates within the subfamily Bovinae. Two extant and four extinct species are recognized...
and elk
Elk
The Elk is the large deer, also called Cervus canadensis or wapiti, of North America and eastern Asia.Elk may also refer to:Other antlered mammals:...
of the great plains. The flora and fauna of the American Southwest are on display in the glass-domed "Sonoran Desert," which houses ocelot
Ocelot
The ocelot , pronounced /ˈɒsəˌlɒt/, also known as the dwarf leopard or McKenney's wildcat is a wild cat distributed over South and Central America and Mexico, but has been reported as far north as Texas and in Trinidad, in the Caribbean...
s, coati
Coati
Coatis, genera Nasua and Nasuella, also known as the Brazilian aardvark, Mexican tejón, hog-nosed coon, pizotes, crackoons and snookum bears, are members of the raccoon family . They are diurnal mammals native to South America, Central America, and south-western North America...
s, a number of bat
Bat
Bats are mammals of the order Chiroptera "hand" and pteron "wing") whose forelimbs form webbed wings, making them the only mammals naturally capable of true and sustained flight. By contrast, other mammals said to fly, such as flying squirrels, gliding possums, and colugos, glide rather than fly,...
species, and a variety of free-flight birds. Black bear
American black bear
The American black bear is a medium-sized bear native to North America. It is the continent's smallest and most common bear species. Black bears are omnivores, with their diets varying greatly depending on season and location. They typically live in largely forested areas, but do leave forests in...
s, grizzlies
Grizzly Bear
The grizzly bear , also known as the silvertip bear, the grizzly, or the North American brown bear, is a subspecies of brown bear that generally lives in the uplands of western North America...
and red wolves
Red Wolf
The red wolf is a North American canid which once roamed throughout the Southeastern United States and is a glacial period survivor of the Late Pleistocene epoch...
also each have their own exhibits.
Africa
The "Forest Edge" is a 3.5 acres (14,164 m²), lightly wooded grassland enclosure where zebraZebra
Zebras are several species of African equids united by their distinctive black and white stripes. Their stripes come in different patterns unique to each individual. They are generally social animals that live in small harems to large herds...
s, giraffe
Giraffe
The giraffe is an African even-toed ungulate mammal, the tallest of all extant land-living animal species, and the largest ruminant...
s, and ostrich
Ostrich
The Ostrich is one or two species of large flightless birds native to Africa, the only living member of the genus Struthio. Some analyses indicate that the Somali Ostrich may be better considered a full species apart from the Common Ostrich, but most taxonomists consider it to be a...
es wander together. The "Watani Grasslands" mimic the great savanna of Africa and are home to rhino
Rhinoceros
Rhinoceros , also known as rhino, is a group of five extant species of odd-toed ungulates in the family Rhinocerotidae. Two of these species are native to Africa and three to southern Asia....
s, African elephants, Thomson's gazelle
Thomson's Gazelle
The Thomson's gazelle is one of the best-known gazelles. It is named after explorer Joseph Thomson and, as a result, is sometimes referred to as a "tommie"...
, gemsbok
Gemsbok
The gemsbok or gemsbuck is a large antelope in the Oryx genus. It is native to the arid regions of southern Africa, but formerly some authorities included the East African Oryx as a subspecies...
, waterbuck
Waterbuck
The Waterbuck is a large antelope found widely in Sub-Saharan Africa.Waterbuck stand at the shoulder. Males weigh and females . Their coats are reddish brown in colour and become progressively darker with age; they have a white 'bib' under their throats and white on their rumps...
s, ostriches, and greater kudu
Greater Kudu
The Greater Kudu is a woodland antelope found throughout eastern and southern Africa. Despite occupying such widespread territory, they are sparsely populated in most areas, due to a declining habitat, deforestation and hunting....
. Chimpanzees, lion
Lion
The lion is one of the four big cats in the genus Panthera, and a member of the family Felidae. With some males exceeding 250 kg in weight, it is the second-largest living cat after the tiger...
s, western lowland gorilla
Western Lowland Gorilla
The western lowland gorilla is a subspecies of the western gorilla that lives in montane, primary, and secondary forests and lowland swamps in Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. It is the gorilla usually found in zoos...
, red river hog
Red River Hog
The red river hog , also known as the bush pig , is a wild member of the pig family living in Africa, with most of its distribution in the Guinean and Congolian forests...
s and one of the largest baboon
Baboon
Baboons are African and Arabian Old World monkeys belonging to the genus Papio, part of the subfamily Cercopithecinae. There are five species, which are some of the largest non-hominoid members of the primate order; only the mandrill and the drill are larger...
troops in the country each have their own exhibit in the African half of the zoo.
Lemurs from neighboring Madagascar were added to the Africa section of the zoo in 2010 after a $100,000 refurbishment of the former Patas Monkey
Patas Monkey
The patas monkey , also known as the Wadi monkey or Hussar monkey, is a ground-dwelling monkey distributed over semi-arid areas of West Africa, and into East Africa. It is the only species classified in the genus Erythrocebus...
exhibit, one of the first exhibits when the zoo opened in June 1980.
Aviary
The R. J. Reynolds Forest Aviary recreates the hot, humid conditions of a tropical forest. It displays more than three thousand tropical plants and allows visitors to walk among 35 species of free-flying tropical birds. Since 2007, the aviary has also been home four species of poison dart frogs. The Aviary was listed among the top 10 American habitat exhibits in the US by USA TodayUSA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
.
Art
The zoo is home to a large collection of art, primarily sculptureSculpture
Sculpture is three-dimensional artwork created by shaping or combining hard materials—typically stone such as marble—or metal, glass, or wood. Softer materials can also be used, such as clay, textiles, plastics, polymers and softer metals...
but also mural
Mural
A mural is any piece of artwork painted or applied directly on a wall, ceiling or other large permanent surface. A particularly distinguishing characteristic of mural painting is that the architectural elements of the given space are harmoniously incorporated into the picture.-History:Murals of...
s, mosaic
Mosaic
Mosaic is the art of creating images with an assemblage of small pieces of colored glass, stone, or other materials. It may be a technique of decorative art, an aspect of interior decoration, or of cultural and spiritual significance as in a cathedral...
s, and painting
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
s. Primarily depictions of animals and their habitats, the artwork represents a number of different styles and uses a variety of materials including marble
Marble
Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or dolomite.Geologists use the term "marble" to refer to metamorphosed limestone; however stonemasons use the term more broadly to encompass unmetamorphosed limestone.Marble is commonly used for...
, steel
Steel
Steel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
, bronze
Bronze
Bronze is a metal alloy consisting primarily of copper, usually with tin as the main additive. It is hard and brittle, and it was particularly significant in antiquity, so much so that the Bronze Age was named after the metal...
, fiberglass
Fiberglass
Glass fiber is a material consisting of numerous extremely fine fibers of glass.Glassmakers throughout history have experimented with glass fibers, but mass manufacture of glass fiber was only made possible with the invention of finer machine tooling...
, limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
, glass
Glass
Glass is an amorphous solid material. Glasses are typically brittle and optically transparent.The most familiar type of glass, used for centuries in windows and drinking vessels, is soda-lime glass, composed of about 75% silica plus Na2O, CaO, and several minor additives...
, cement
Cement
In the most general sense of the word, a cement is a binder, a substance that sets and hardens independently, and can bind other materials together. The word "cement" traces to the Romans, who used the term opus caementicium to describe masonry resembling modern concrete that was made from crushed...
, and others. The zoo's art is intended to enliven and enrich the zoo experience and help fulfill its mission by "promoting individual discovery and new ways of thinking." David Jones, the director of the zoo, said "We want the individual art works to be attractive and intriguing in their own right, (but) the more they make people think and question the better."
The two largest sculptures are located at the zoo's main entrances. One, "Sum of the Parts" is a pile of large metal cubes, about a yard (1 m) on a side. Most of the cubes are shiny and depict extant species, but a few rusted cubes tumbled off to the side memorialize extinct species. The second, "The Elephant Group" depicts several large elephants in bronze. The works were installed in 1998.
Africa
The NC Zoo is involved in several research and conservation projects. Together with the World Wildlife Fund and the government of CameroonCameroon
Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon , is a country in west Central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Cameroon's coastline lies on the...
, the zoo participates in a project to track the movements of elephants through satellite tracking collars in order to expand reserves and parks in a way that protects the most crucial areas of their habitats. The project was recognized in 2008 by the AZA with a Significant Achievement in Conservation Award. Also in Cameroon and its neighbor, Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
, the zoo is working on a project to monitor the rare Cross River gorilla
Cross River Gorilla
The Cross River gorilla is a subspecies of the western gorilla that can be found on the border between Nigeria and Cameroon, in both tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests which are also home to the Nigeria-Cameroon Chimpanzee, another subspecies of great ape...
, a subspecies
Subspecies
Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...
that was thought extinct for many years. Its remote habitat is difficult to access, so with the help of satellite imaging and GPS systems, the zoo coordinates with park rangers and other conservation groups to map their habitat and movements and assist efforts to ensure their continued survival. In another project with the Nigerian Conservation Foundation
Nigerian Conservation Foundation
The Nigerian Conservation Foundation is a prominent environmental non-governmental organization which works to preserve the natural resources and biodiversity of Nigeria. The Foundation was founded in 1980 and has worked since then on a number of resource management and conservation projects...
, the zoo has assisted with biodiversity surveys of the southwester region of the country. The surveys mapped suitable habitats, primarily the Omo and Oluwa forest reserve
Oluwa Forest Reserve
The Oluwa Forest Reserve is located in southwestern Nigeria, and covers over 829 km². It is part of the Omo-Shasha-Oluwa forest reserves, although it has become separated from the Omo and Shasha reserves . The three reserves contain some of the last remaining forest in the area...
s and recorded observed wildlife while documenting the level of human disturbance in the country of 150 million. After completing the survey, the team made several recommendations to maximize preservation of important habitat for forest elephants, chimpanzees, and other animals in the region.
The zoo also operates projects in Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
. An education project around Kibale National Park
Kibale National Park
Kibale National Park is a national park in South Uganda protecting moist evergreen rain forest. It is 766 km^2 in size and is located between 1100 and 1600 meters in elevation. Despite encompassing primarily moist evergreen forest, it contains a diverse array of landscapes . Kibale is one of the...
has been in place for over ten years and aims to educate young people about the purpose of the park and the value of biological conservation. It also supports research at the Ngogo field research site inside the park. Ngogo researchers study primate plant use and rain forest regrowth after logging among other things, and removes illegal snares from the park which can seriously injure or kill protected animals. Along with Botanic Gardens Conservation International
Botanic Gardens Conservation International
Botanic Gardens Conservation International is a plant conservation charity based in London, England. It is a membership organisation, working with 800 botanic gardens in 118 countries, whose combined work forms the world's largest plant conservation network.Founded in 1987, BGCI is a registered...
and the Atlanta Botanical Garden
Atlanta Botanical Garden
The Atlanta Botanical Garden is a botanical garden located adjacent to Piedmont Park in Midtown Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Incorporated in 1976, the garden's mission is to "develop and maintain plant collections for the purposes of display, education, conservation, research and...
, the zoo is also advising in the construction and management of the Tooro Botanical Garden, which is designed to preserve and research the extraordinary biodiversity of the Albertine Rift region, with a special program for medicinal plant research.
North Carolina
A number of projects are also underway in North Carolina. Protection and research of the hellbenderHellbender
The hellbender , also known as the hellbender salamander, is a species of giant salamander that is endemic to eastern North America...
salamander, which is globally recognized as near threatened
Near Threatened
Near Threatened is a conservation status assigned to species or lower taxa that may be considered threatened with extinction in the near future, although it does not currently qualify for the threatened status...
but is classified as "endangered" in a number of US states including North Carolina, is the target of a project in the Appalachian Mountains
Appalachian Mountains
The Appalachian Mountains #Whether the stressed vowel is or ,#Whether the "ch" is pronounced as a fricative or an affricate , and#Whether the final vowel is the monophthong or the diphthong .), often called the Appalachians, are a system of mountains in eastern North America. The Appalachians...
. Due to the steep decline in population in the past 30 years, the zoo conducted a thorough survey, with the help of the AZA, into the hellbender populations of western North Carolina.
The zoo is also involved in project to restore population of endangered Schweinitz's sunflower. In 2001, a road expansion project by the North Carolina Department of Transportation
North Carolina Department of Transportation
The North Carolina Department of Transportation is responsible for building, repairing, and operating highways, bridges, and other modes of transportation, including ferries in the U.S. state of North Carolina.-History:...
threatened a significant population of the flowers. The zoo partnered with a number of individuals and organizations and successfully managed their transplant to an off-road site, which continues to be managed and monitored by zoo horticulturalists.
Breeding
The NC Zoo keeps active breeding pairs of nearly all of its species. Since 1995, the Zoo has been a part of the Red WolfRed Wolf
The red wolf is a North American canid which once roamed throughout the Southeastern United States and is a glacial period survivor of the Late Pleistocene epoch...
Species Survival Plan
Species Survival Plan
The American Species Survival Plan or SSP program was developed in 1981 by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums to help ensure the survival of selected species in zoos and aquariums, most of which are threatened or endangered in the wild....
and reintroduction program. The Zoo has been home to 48 of these critically endangered animals, including a litter of 5, born at the zoo in 2002, which became the first captive-bred wolves to be adopted by wild parents. The Zoo is also involved in the Gorilla Species Survival Plan and received two female gorillas in early 2010 as part of the effort. The Aviary is also known for a number of high profile hatchings including the first US hatchings of the golden white-eye
Golden White-eye
The Golden White-eye is a species of bird in the white-eye family Zosteropidae. It is the only species within the genus Cleptornis. The Golden White-eye was once considered to be a honeyeater in the family Meliphagidae and although it is now known to be a white-eye, its position within that family...
, the red-faced liocichla
Red-faced Liocichla
The Red-faced Liocichla is a species of bird in the Timaliidae family. It is also known as the Crimson-faced Liocichla....
, the African pied barbet
Pied Barbet
The Acacia Pied Barbet or Pied Barbet is a species of bird in the Lybiidae family. It is found in Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.-References:...
, the golden-headed manakin
Golden-headed Manakin
The Golden-headed Manakin, Pipra erythrocephala, is a small passerine bird which breeds in tropical South America. It is found from Panama, Colombia and Trinidad south and east to the Guianas and Brazil and northern Peru...
, the horned puffin
Horned Puffin
The Horned Puffin is an auk, similar in appearance to the Atlantic Puffin; this bird's bill is yellow at the base and red at the tip. It is a pelagic seabird that feeds primarily by diving for fish. It nests in colonies, often with other auks.The yellow bill plate grows before the breeding...
, the parakeet auklet
Parakeet Auklet
The Parakeet Auklet is a small seabird of the North Pacific. It used to be placed on its own in the genus Cyclorrhynchus but recent morphological and genetic evidence suggest it should be placed in the genus Aethia. It is associated with the boreal waters of Alaska and Kamchatka and Siberia...
and the thick-billed murre as well as the second US hatchings of the African grey-headed kingfisher
Grey-headed Kingfisher
The Grey-headed Kingfisher has a wide distribution from the Cape Verde Islands off the north-west coast of Africa to Mauritania, Senegal and Gambia, east to Ethiopia, Somalia and southern Arabia and south to South Africa....
and the African spoonbill
African Spoonbill
The African Spoonbill is a long-legged wading bird of the ibis and spoonbill family Threskiornithidae. The species is widespread across Africa and Madagascar, including Botswana, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. It lives in marshy wetlands with some open shallow water and...
.
Organization
The zoo is part of the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural ResourcesNorth Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
The North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources is the state's leading stewardship agency for the preservation and protection of natural resources and public health.- Divisions :* Air Quality* Aquariums...
. Its operation and development are overseen by a 15-member Zoo Council appointed by the Governor
Governor of North Carolina
The Governor of North Carolina is the chief executive of the State of North Carolina, one of the U.S. states. The current governor is Bev Perdue, North Carolina's first female governor.-Powers:...
to six-year terms. The zoo is run by the Director, currently Dr. David Jones. Dr. Jones is a veterinarian
Veterinarian
A veterinary physician, colloquially called a vet, shortened from veterinarian or veterinary surgeon , is a professional who treats disease, disorder and injury in animals....
and served as the CEO of the London Zoological Society and the Chairman of Flora and Fauna International among numerous other accomplishments before assuming his current role. The zoo's annual operating budget is roughly $18 million. It receives around 60 percent from the state with the remainder being made up of ticket and merchandise sales and donations from the North Carolina Zoological Society, which remains the zoo's fund-raising and membership arm. The Zoological Society is overseen by its Board of Directors. The Chairman of the Board is always a member of the Zoological Council and the two groups meet once annually.
External links
- Heart of North Carolina Visitors Bureau
- Official Visitor Info for the Greater Asheboro Area
- North Carolina Zoological Society - the non-profit organizationNon-profit organizationNonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
that supports the zoo.