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Jan42024 by Scott PelkeyNo Comments

North Carolina Zoo Set to Temporarily Close for Staff Training and Safety Drills

NC Zoo

Emergency Services Vehicles near Junction Plaza at the NC Zoo. (Scott Pelkey / Acme News Archive) ASHEBORO N.C. – The North Carolina Zoo along will all its public walking trails will be closed to the public from Monday January 8th through January 12th for staff training, including required safety drills and maintenance. As an accredited Zoo through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the North Carolina Zoo is required to conduct various safety drills involving its staff. These drills cover a wide range of scenarios, from protocols for handling animal escapes to responding to diving incidents, to fires, animal bites, and more. “Employees need to drill and practice their responses so that they are prepared in the event of an actual situation,” said Diane Villa, the Zoo’s Di...

NC Zoo to Investigate Death of Polar Bear While being Transported

NC Zoo

Photo provided by N.C. Zoo ASHEBORO N.C. - The North Carolina Zoo says they will investigate what led to the death of a male polar bear during a transfer to another zoo earlier this week. In a press release, the North Carolina Zoo announced that on October 25th, 2023, Payton, the Zoo’s male polar bear, had died while being transported to the Louisville Zoo in Kentucky. According to the N.C. Zoo, an experienced care team, left the North Carolina Zoo with Payton, performing routine checks on the 1,000-pound polar bear during the trip. “On the second check, less than two hours away from the North Carolina Zoo, the care team found Payton non-responsive. He was immediately transported to a nearby large animal veterinarian, who confirmed that Payton had passed,” said the Zoo in the p...

NC Zoo Receives AZA Accreditation

NC Zoo

ASHEBORO, N.C. (NC ZOO) – - The North Carolina Zoo is pleased to announce it has once again received the honor of accreditation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). Every five years, the Zoo is required to go through the entire application process to retain its accreditation. The AZA awarded accreditation to the Zoo following a rigorous inspection visit earlier in the year. Fewer than 10% of all zoos and aquariums worldwide meet the standards to earn accreditation from the AZA. “The AZA has continuously accredited the North Carolina Zoo for more than 37 years, demonstrating the Zoo's ongoing commitment to animal welfare and veterinary care, conservation, education, and guest experience,” said Deputy Secretary Jeff Michael of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Res...