Veterinary, Wild Science and Middle School Animal
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Magazine of the NC Zoo Society www.nczoo.com Summer 2018 :: 1 THIS ISSUE... Summer 2018 Issue No. 93 SOCIETY BOARD MICHAEL J. FISHER Chair Dear Readers: Greensboro MARJORIE M. RANKIN This issue is about Animals and the Outdoors. Secretary Asheboro f you like either or both, you JOHN RUFFIN can find lots of reasons to visit Treasurer the North Carolina Zoo. Always Winston-Salem Iremarkable for its wildlife, vistas, and RICHARD W. CARROLL Cary natural habitats, the Zoo becomes NICOLE CRAWFORD even more spectacular during its “high Durham season,” when warm temperatures BILL CURRENS, JR. Charlotte open up possibilities for cozying up SUMNER FINCH to wildlife or taking on a few outdoor High Point challenges. SCOTT JONES The first four pages of this issue Further into the magazine, the Zoo’s Clemmons SCOTT E. REED outline some of these seasonal Big new Natural Science Curator talks Winston-Salem Happenings and supply Insider Tips about two formal education programs DAVID K. ROBB on the best ways to take advantage that the Zoo plans to implement this Charlotte of these options. When it comes to fall. These programs—both made BARRY C. SAFRIT Greensboro pleasing toddlers and grandparents, as possible by a grant from Wells Fargo— MARGERY SPRINGER well as all the tweens, teens, and adults will enhance the Zoo’s educational Raleigh in between, our Zoo supplies a varied outreach by opening up structured KENT A. VARNER Charlotte menu of adventures and experiences discovery learning experiences at the DON F. WELLINGTON that families and friends can take on Zoo and by broadcasting educational Asheboro and enjoy together. programs using a social media plat- CHARLES M. WINSTON, JR. This issue also highlights some of form. As always, we also provide dates, Raleigh the animal encounters that the Zoo times, and descriptions of special CHERYL TURNER Executive Director opens up to visitors through its VIP events that the Zoo and the Zoo Society Assistant Secretary tour program (page 9) or through have placed on their high season chance encounters with a growing list calendars. EDITORIAL BOARD of animal ambassadors (page 10). Both Thank you for the support your Jayne Owen Parker, Ph.D., Managing Editor stories also provide fascinating insights membership provides the Zoo. We De Potter, Design & Layout into the Zoo’s extensive animal enrich- hope to see you at the Zoo soon. John D. Groves ment and animal welfare programs. Jayne Owen Parker, Ph.D., Managing Editor Corinne Kendall, Ph.D. Mark MacAllister Tonya Miller The North Carolina Zoo is open every day of the year, except on Christmas Jb Minter, DVM Day. Summer admission hours begin on April 1 and extend from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Winter admission hours begin on November 1 and extend from 9 a.m. FPO/FSC Pat Simmons through 3 p.m. Standard admission prices are $15 for adults, $13 for seniors Dustin Smith and $11 for children. Zoo Society members and registered North Carolina school groups are admitted free. The Zoo offers free parking, free tram and Cheryl Turner shuttle service between parking lots, picnic areas, visitor rest areas, food Diane Villa service and gift shops. Financial information about the NC Zoo Angie Kahn, Proofreader For information, call 1-800-488-0444. Society and a copy of its license are available The Zoo is a program of the N.C. Department of Natural & Cultural Resources. The NC Zoo from the Charitable Solicitation Licensing Printed by Hickory Printing Solutions Society is the non-profit organization that supports the North Carolina Zoological Park Section at 888-830-4989. The license is not and its programs. Society offices are open Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, please call 336-879-7250 or logon to the Society’s Web page at nczoo.com. an endorsement by the State. 2 :: ALIVE TABLE OF CONTENTS 4 Big Happenings at the Zoo Exciting Zoo extras for all ages..........Diane Villa, Contributing Editor 8 Save the Date: Zoo To Do 2018 Promises to be an "Enchanted Evening" 9 What’s All the Fuss About the VIP Aviary Tour? ................................Bria Stambaugh, Guest Contributor 10 Training Tales: A Prickly Situation Meet our Cape Porcupine .............Cat Clauson, Guest Contributor 13 Spring Request You are the wind................... Cheryl Turner, Contributing Editor 4 14 A Blueprint for Education New educational programming.......Elizabeth Folta, Guest Contributor 17 All Aboard the Polar Bear Express! Coming to the Zoo depot again this November and December 17 Veterinary and Wild Science Camps for 2018 18 The Discovery Page: Eggs-ellent Design and Architecture Eggs come in a multitude of colors and shapes. Jayne Owen Parker, Editor BC More Zoo Extras and Add-Ons Regular Features 8 Thank Yous 12 Travel 12 2018 Events 17 16 VIP Tours 14 COVER PHOTO Cape Porcupine Natalie LeDonne BIGSTOCK Summer 2018 :: 3 Big Happenings at the Zoo Diane Villa, Director of Communicationsiiiii oo-made memories belong in a class all by themselves. Nothing Dragonflyi says “fantastic” like watching a little Zone’s face light up when he or she stares into iPaddle Boatsi the eye of a giraffe or sees an elephant raise Audience: Appropriate for all ages its trunk and blare out a trumpet. These Requirements: Maximum weight allowed is 250 pounds moments stay fresh and warm throughout Cost: $3 per person (or one section of a Fun Ticket) a lifetime. Hours: 9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. daily, April through October Already renowned for its quality guest (weather permitting) services; spacious natural habitats; and ..... remarkable and well cared for giants (African A cool and easy way for families to grab some quality time Elephants, White Rhinos, and Grizzly, Black with the kids! This trip works best if guests power down their and Polar bears), the North Carolina Zoo phones, pull on their life vests, climb aboard a 4-seater paddle is gaining a new reputation, too. It’s taking boat, and row, row, row across the beautiful North America on the mantle of a family-friendly place for lake. teens, tweens, and active adults who want to Comfortable and stable, our pontoon-style boats make dive into some exotic, often challenging, and boarding and paddling easy and come equipped with awnings that supply plenty of shade. Guests who want to drive or always fun outdoor adventures. paddle need to grab one of the two front seats. Guests more These add-on exploits pack variety into a interested in resting should settle into a back seat. typical Zoo visit and ensure that guests can tailor their experiences to meet the expec- tations of different ages, tastes, and activity levels. And, as the list of offerings continues to grow, Zoo administrators are finding ways to bundle some costs together to make them more affordable for families. Throughout the season, guests can buy a “Fun Ticket” package for $9 to acquire four tickets for the price of three. Guests are free to use these tickets in any order or combi- nation to ride the Carousel, enter the 4-D Theater, sail on the Paddle Boats, or climb up the Giraffe Deck. The following stories offer Insider Tip: Guests seeking a leisurely paddle should a quick overview of the attractions currently schedule a morning boat trip. Crowds begin to gather around available at the Zoo. the boats in the afternoon. 4 :: ALIVE Zoofarii Activity level: Easy and Exciting Audience: Everyone, but an adult must accompany anyone younger than 12. Shutterbugs—bring your cameras! Cost: $20 per person Hours: Thursday through Sunday, April through October; Zoofari departs the junction plaza at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., and Kidzonei again at noon (weather permitting) Activity Level: Calm to High Energy ..... Audience: A premier, protected play space The open-air Zoofari ride takes visitors for 2- to 10-year old explorers and inside the Zoo’s Watani Grasslands to get playmates. Babies need to wear close to the antelopes, rhinoceros, and swim diapers. birds that occupy this 40-acre grassland habitat. An experienced guide Cost: Included with Zoo admission enriches every excursion with stories and facts about the elephants and Open: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. every day except other animals that guests encounter during this hour-long tour. Christmas Day (weather permitting) ..... Insider Tips: • Tickets go on sale in Kidzone is the Zoo’s way of supporting the the Junction Plaza at national movement to reconnect children with 9 a.m. and usually sell nature by letting them play outside. This play- out early. Staff recom- ground encourages kids to just be kids by mends that guests buy laying out play zones that tempt them to climb their tickets first thing in up treetop trails, construct forts from sticks, the morning to ensure a splash around in a stream, or run through a place on the truck. rock maze. • Ticketed guests should Close encounters with Zoo animal ambas- go to the Junction Plaza sadors occur throughout the day (weather 30 minutes before their permitting). These keeper directed meet-and- tour time to ensure that greets introduce youngsters to the wildlife that they are seated in time for the vehicle’s departure. shares their neighborhoods. Youngsters learn • The animals tend to be most active during the morning, so staff recom- what these animals eat, where they shelter, mends that guests buy tickets for the 10 a.m. ride if possible. how they protect themselves, and what people can do to help keep wildlife safe. 4-D Theatrei Activity Level: Relaxed, Cool, & Comfortable Audience: Everyone that loves fun Cost: $3 per person or one section of a Fun Ticket Open 9:30 a.m.