Visited the zoo and everyone from the visitors to docents were excited about the rhino calfs. The weather was relatively cool at 87 degrees today, compared to the 95 degree days that filled last week.
Notes from my visit today:
- Both White Rhino calfs were shockingly on display. The zoo had been keeping Linda and her baby behind the scenes on their own, and that was their plan with Kit's baby as well. Yet Kit refused to move off exhibit and therefore the zoo decided to move Linda and her baby on exhibit as well. The other 3 rhinos in the herd are off exhibit and the zoo is currently observing the other females for signs of pregnancy. The 13 day old was alert and was interacting with the various antelope all morning, while the 1 day old calf mostly slept at its mothers feet. The rhinos are rarely recalled to their off exhibit area, so I imagine Kit simply felt more comfortable in the 40 acre habitat. As a result the zoo has closed to safari tour ride for a few days, to minimize disturbance.
- C'sar the African Elephant, was mixed with all 4 females in the North Yard. Artie was alone in the South Yard.
- A docent told me that the zoo has adopted a no touch policy for the majority of its mammals, meaning that they want as little interaction between keepers and animals as possible. This is evidenced by the zoo rarely pulling the white-rhino and elephant off exhibit.
- White-headed buffalo weaver are now free-ranging the Desert. Their former exhibit is currently empty.
- The zoo currently has (0,2) Red-river hog and anticipates bringing in more females in the near future.
- The ringtail are no longer on exhibit, instead both large nocturnal displays are home to the zoos potential breeding pair of Sand Cat's.
- Only 1 red wolf was on exhibit. Usually their are 2 in this exhibit.
- The new Hellbender exhibit in Streamside is pretty large and is also home to 8 smaller native fish species. The exhibit is actually 2 tanks next to each other, although I could not observe a hellbender in either.
- The Polar bears have been separated again, after a 3rd failed breeding season. The zoo does not think breeding even took place last year. The zoo has also removed most of the hotwire from the larger exhibit, as the plants have now matured.
- The filtration system in the sea lion exhibit appears to be fixed, as the pool is finally clear. On previous visits it was pretty green.
2 of the larger alligator exhibits, previously separated by a fence have now been combined.
- The Alligator-snapping turtle exhibit with underwater viewing is current drained, with the animal moved to one of the smaller alligator exhibits.
- The frogs of the world display in the alligator viewing shed in the Cypress Swamp has been replaced. In its place is an exhibit themed like a longleaf pine forest, showcasing the zoos head-starting of Carolina gopher frog (upper left) It also has Carolina pygmy rattlesnake (upper left), glass lizard and eastern tiger salamander (the bottom right burrows).
- The other amphibian displays in the Cypress Swamp are now Mabee's salamander, Barking Tree Frog, and Pine Barren Treefrog (window was blocked off.
- The waterfowl exhibit in the cypress swamp is currently vacant.
- One funny piece of news. The zoo has renovated the cafe in the African entry village into "Billy D's Fried Chicken." This is totally authentic right
- One last note: The state has begun construction on the zoo parkway extension that will connect the zoos main road right onto the highway. This is part of a project that will already bring the highway closer to the zoo, allowing visitors to bypass the traffic in Asheboro and the 5 mile residential road needed to reach the zoo.
I hope to be back at the zoo in the next few weeks, as the rhinos hopefully start to venture closer to the viewing area. I also skipped the aviary and primate exhibits this time, as I spent 1.5 hours at the rhinos, and needed to head home to walk my dog.
