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NC Zoo

May242023 by Scott PelkeyNo Comments
NC Zoo – Baboon Habitat Reopens & New Event Premiers This Weekend

NC Zoo – Baboon Habitat Reopens & New Event Premiers This Weekend

NC Zoo
[Scott Pelkey | North State Journal] ASHEBORO N.C. - The Baboons are back with a newly renovated habitat, and this weekend you can check it out yourself along with a brand-new event in 2023. Baboon Habitat Re-Opens In the 45 years the Baboons have been at the Zoo they have become one of the most popular attractions, and the Zoo's troop of twenty-two baboons ranging in age from senior adults to infants, is the largest in the United States (tied with San Diego Zoo). When the Baboons first came to the Zoo in the 19080's, their original habitat, what is now Lemar Island, lasted until 2005 when they were moved to the Africa Pavillion. Old African Pavilion / Acme News Archive In March of 2020, Zoo staff took a final walk through the Africa Pavillion before the iconic building ...
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May182023 by Scott PelkeyNo Comments
SECU Foundation Donates $2 Million to Asia at NC Zoo

SECU Foundation Donates $2 Million to Asia at NC Zoo

NC Zoo
Pat Simmions, Director of the NC Zoo, poses for photos with the leadership of the NC Zoo Society and the SECU Foundation. [Scott Pelkey | North State Journal] ASHEBORO N.C. - On May 17th, 2023, the SECU Foundation gifted $2 million to go towards the new Asia expansion currently under construction. Asia, the NC Zoo’s first new continent since North America in 1994, broke ground on August 17th, 2022, after $46 million in funding from the state budget was allocated to the project. Combined with the approximately $28 million raised through donations by the NC Zoo Society’s capital fundraising campaign brings the approximate total for Asia to around $75 million dollars. At a private event held at the newly renovated baboon habitat on May 17th, 2023, the SECU Foundation presented a che...
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May92023 by Randolph News NowNo Comments
NC Zoo Offering Mother’s Day Discount

NC Zoo Offering Mother’s Day Discount

NC Zoo
ASHEBORO N.C. - This Sunday, May 14th, is Mother's Day and if you are looking to do something special to do with your mother this weekend, how about a trip to the North Carolina Zoo? The North Carolina Zoo will be offering a $2 discount off the price of admission for Moms with a paying guest on Sunday, May 14th, 2023. Moms simply need to mention the “Mother's Day coupon” at the admissions gate to receive the discount. Mother's Day comes just in time to check out the Kaleidoscope Butterfly Garden. Located in Junction Plaza, the exhibit recently opened for the season. Open to guests every day from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. through September, tickets are $3 and can be purchased at the ticket booth near the Junction Tram Stop.
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May42023 by Scott PelkeyNo Comments
NC Zoo has Dedicated ‘Quiet Days’ for Guests with Sensory Issues

NC Zoo has Dedicated ‘Quiet Days’ for Guests with Sensory Issues

NC Zoo
Photo provided by NC Zoo ASHEBORO N.C. - The North Carolina Zoo has announced monthly dedicated 'quiet days' for guests with sensory issues. In March of 2019, the NC Zoo announced they had become a 'Certified Sensory Inclusive venue' by KultureCity, a worldwide, leading non-profit recognized for using their resources to revolutionize and effect change in the community for those with sensory needs. “We are very excited to offer this program to enhance our inclusion efforts for all guests,” said the Zoo’s Guest Service Officer Jamie Merchel in a press release announcing the certification. The certification process included training for the Zoo’s staff and volunteers on how to recognize guests with sensory needs and how to handle a sensory overload situation. In an article fo...
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Apr52023 by Randolph News NowNo Comments
NC Zoo Announces they are Expecting Giraffe Calf this Spring

NC Zoo Announces they are Expecting Giraffe Calf this Spring

NC Zoo
ASHEBORO N.C. - "We're Expecting," that was the announcement from the North Carolina Zoo on social media as they prepare for a new giraffe calf as soon as this spring. In a post on Facebook on March 30th, 2023, the NC Zoo said that Jack and Leia, two of the Zoo's giraffes are expecting parents. A baby giraffe, also called a calf, may look small, but when they are born, they are up to six feet tall and weigh anywhere from 110-150 lbs. Mother giraffes carry their baby through a gestation period of 15 months (400-470 days), which is necessary to allow the calf to mature so that it can stand, walk, feed, and keep up with the pack within just an hour or so of being born. Due to the impending birth, the giraffe herd may not be visible in their habitat. As giraffes are herd animals...
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Feb232023 by Randolph News NowNo Comments
North Carolina Zoo Announces the Arrival of New Male Lion

North Carolina Zoo Announces the Arrival of New Male Lion

NC Zoo
https://youtube.com/shorts/9EIlAXPje6I?feature=share ASHEBORO N.C. (NC ZOO) - The North Carolina Zoo is excited to officially announce its new male lion, Haji, has arrived.  Haji, three years old and weighing 400 pounds, came from the Audubon Zoo in New Orleans as a companion for the Zoo's female lion Mekita, 13. The Association of Zoos and Aquarium (AZA) Lions Species Survival Plan (SSP) recommended the pairing.   Mekita's last mate—23-year-old Reilly—died in August 2022, leaving her as the Zoo's only lion. Reilly lived at the Zoo for 21 years, spending most of his time as Mekita's mate. Haji was brought to the Zoo mainly as a companion for Mekita because lions are big cats that live in social groups called prides.   Although Haji arrived in...
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Feb162023 by Randolph News NowNo Comments
The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee Welcomes Artie from North Carolina Zoo

The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee Welcomes Artie from North Carolina Zoo

NC Zoo
Artie, African male elephant at the NC Zoo (Credit: NC Zoo) ASHEBORO N.C. (NC ZOO) - The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee and North Carolina Zoo are pleased to announce that African elephant Artie arrived at The Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, Tennessee on Tuesday, January 31. Artie (Aardvark), a 40-year-old African male, was born in the wilds of Zimbabwe and brought to the United States in 1986 with a group of young elephants that were orphaned due to culling carried out by the Zimbabwe government. Artie arrived at North Carolina Zoo at the age of 15 years. North Carolina Zoo staff describes Artie as “the most talkative of the elephants at the zoo – he chortles often, especially for breakfast!” Artie has lived at the zoo since 2007, he weighs 13,900 pounds and is 11 feet tall, a...
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Feb102023 by Scott PelkeyNo Comments
NC Zoo Council Approves Price Increase

NC Zoo Council Approves Price Increase

NC Zoo
A ticket line at the North American Entrance of the North Carolina Zoo (Scott Pelkey / North State Journal) ASHEBORO N.C. - The NC Zoo Council voted this week to approve an increase in the cost of admission to the North Carolina Zoo, which could start as soon as next month. The N.C. Zoo Council, a 15-member board appointed by the governor to oversee the operation and development of the Zoo held a planned virtual meeting on February 8th, 2023. In that meeting the group voted to approve an increase in ticket prices as well as other changes. Council members listened to N.C. Zoo Director Pat Simmions as she presented the Zoo’s 2023 Fee Proposal. “Zoo’s funding comes 50% from the State with the other 50% from gate ticket sales,” said Simmons. Going on to explain that the cost of ru...
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Jan172023 by Scott PelkeyNo Comments
North Carolina Zoo Mourns Loss of Natalie the Rhino

North Carolina Zoo Mourns Loss of Natalie the Rhino

NC Zoo
Credit: North Carolina Zoo ASHEBORO N.C. -The North Carolina Zoo announced today that Natalie, one of the zoo's southern white rhinoceros, was euthanized on Jan. 10th after a period of declining health. This week, keepers at the North Carolina Zoo are mourning the loss of Natalie, a female southern white rhinoceros who had been at the NC Zoo since 2007. Veterinarian and animal care teams had been treating the 30-year-old, 4,000+ pound, southern white rhinoceros for chronic kidney failure, anemia, and multisystemic disease for the past several months. “Unfortunately, her health was in a steep decline despite treatment efforts, which led to a decrease in quality of life,” said Associate Veterinarian for the North Carolina Zoo, Dr. Tim Georoff. “This week, the animal care an...
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Dec72022 by Scott PelkeyNo Comments
NC Zoo Offers Free Admission to Moore County Residents

NC Zoo Offers Free Admission to Moore County Residents

NC Zoo
ASHEBORO N.C. - The North Carolina Zoo is offering free admission to residents of Moore County affected by the recent power outages. According to the Moore County Edition of the North State Journal on Saturday, Dec. 3, Moore County saw two substations attacked, leaving over 40,000 customers without power. Just after 7 pm, customers across Moore County started seeing power outages. As utility companies sent our crews, they found evidence that indicated that intentional vandalism had occurred at multiple sites. Moore County Sheriff Ronnie Fields said at a Sunday news conference in Carthage that authorities have not determined a motivation. The sheriff said it appeared the culprits pulled up and "opened fire on the substation, the same thing with the other one." On Wednesday December 7t...
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