North Carolina Zoo North Carolina Zoo News 2022

[OkapiFan]

Amazon, I am hopeful that they go all out with the species roster, or also highlight animals from the Andes as well. Andean bears would be an absolutely fantastic addition as well, in addition to other highland species like Andean condors and llamas/alpacas. But that's just pure speculation - either way, by the time all this is done, North Carolina would truly be an absolute JUGGERNAUT. Not that it isn't already, but these zones would definitely seal the deal.

I'm hopeful that Tapirs will be added, and maybe, just maybe, Giant Otters and Harpy Eagles (though this is just personal preference). This would also be a great opportunity to bring back the poison dart frogs and some of the birds that were moved because the aviary closed.
And just like @pachyderm pro said some more primate diversity would be outstanding!

 

[OkapiFan]

Regarding the Asia section, I too find it underwhelming. Tapir, Rhino, Asian Bear and ORANGS, any single or combo of these species would have me more excited. If they really wanted to nail it the addition of the other species of big gray slugs would be incredible. I'm sure it still will be great exhibitery wise but the lineup leaves me wanting more

Both the tapir and orangutans were apart of the original plans. Hopefully the Asia area will get expanded in the future to included some of these species.

 

[StoppableSan]

I actually find it interesting how North Carolina made a nod towards the Chinese Zodiac in the promo video with its choices for Asia. The equivalents/picks they did go with Zodiacwise include the following:
Snake = Cobra (most likely King)
Monkey = Gibbon (species undetermined, tossup between Lar and White-Cheeked)
Pig = Visayan Warty Pig
Tiger = That's a given. (Most likely Malayan given Greensboro's focus on Sumatran Tigers.)
Dragon = Komodo Dragon

I'm curious if they would go the full nine yards with the whole Zodiac motif they're nodding towards -I'm not entirely sure if they will, but if they did, a lot of these species would certainly round out the Asian collection IMO.
Horse = N/A (I'd go with Przewalski's Horse)
Goat = N/A (Markhor or even Transcaspian Urial)
Rooster = N/A (Red Junglefowl would be cool)
Dog = N/A (Dholes woule be fantastic)
Rat = N/A (Northern Luzon Cloud Rat?)
Ox = N/A (Singapore put Lowland Anoa on exhibit in 2021 based on the year of the ox)
Rabbit = N/A (are there even any Asian rabbit species on display in North American zoos?)

 

[OkapiFan]

I actually find it interesting how North Carolina made a nod towards the Chinese Zodiac in the promo video with its choices for Asia. The equivalents/picks they did go with Zodiacwise include the following:
Snake = Cobra (most likely King)
Monkey = Gibbon (species undetermined, tossup between Lar and White-Cheeked)
Pig = Visayan Warty Pig
Tiger = That's a given. (Most likely Malayan given Greensboro's focus on Sumatran Tigers.)
Dragon = Komodo Dragon

I'm curious if they would go the full nine yards with the whole Zodiac motif they're nodding towards -I'm not entirely sure if they will, but if they did, a lot of these species would certainly round out the Asian collection IMO.
Horse = N/A (I'd go with Przewalski's Horse)
Goat = N/A (Markhor or even Transcaspian Urial)
Rooster = N/A (Red Junglefowl would be cool)
Dog = N/A (Dholes woule be fantastic)
Rat = N/A (Northern Luzon Cloud Rat?)
Ox = N/A (Singapore put Lowland Anoa on exhibit in 2021 based on the year of the ox)
Rabbit = N/A (are there even any Asian rabbit species on display in North American zoos?)

If they were to do this that would be incredible! Though for the goat, I would choose the Takin (but that's just because they're my favorite animal)

 

[Breckenridge]

So based off the video, the zoo is looking at Cinereous Vultures and White-naped Cranes as of right now. Does anyone know the cobra species shown on the thumbnail?

 

[SwampDonkey]

So based off the video, the zoo is looking at Cinereous Vultures and White-naped Cranes as of right now. Does anyone know the cobra species shown on the thumbnail?

I'm pretty confident that it's a king Cobra in the thumbnail.

 

[Jambo]

So based off the video, the zoo is looking at Cinereous Vultures and White-naped Cranes as of right now. Does anyone know the cobra species shown on the thumbnail?

I'm pretty confident that it's a king Cobra in the thumbnail.

Yeah, it's a King Cobra.

 

[Jambo]

I'm honestly not sure if white-cheeked gibbons or lar gibbons are more likely, or if they decide to go with siamangs.

Well, Lar Gibbons are in the thumbnail.

 

[OkapiFan]

Well, Lar Gibbons are in the thumbnail.

But they showed Javan gibbons in the video (though that's not going to happen).

 

[Jambo]

But they showed Javan gibbons in the video (though that's not going to happen).

I don't know. They've probably just gone with the best footage of any gibbon they could get, that mimics what their enclosure is planned to look like (the gibbons look almost in the wild).

 

[Persephone]

If it’s years away they’re probably just going to take what they can get at the time. Anyway, I doubt all the plans are set in stone. I’ve been lurking the AZA job boards for a while and North Carolina has been hiring a lot of exhibit designers. Tells me that they aren’t close to done with their planning yet.

 

[15399]

Monkey = Gibbon (species undetermined, tossup between Lar and White-Cheeked)

If they're going for Monkey, why wouldn't they just get a langur species? I can't stand when people misuse the term monkey to apply to any non-human primate.

 

[Jambo]

If they're going for Monkey, why wouldn't they just get a langur species? I can't stand when people misuse the term monkey to apply to any non-human primate.

Yeah, Gibbons are Apes; but I think they were just referring to the comparison and alignment with the species selection and the Chinese zodiac. Where technically gibbons would represent the 'monkey' species.

 

[OkapiFan]

Here is a new video about the Asia!
North Carolina Zoo gets ready to break ground on Asia continent
Some highlights include:

• Red Crowned Crane has been officially confirmed to be the crane species!
• There is a new piece of concept art of what appears to be a classroom with a window into the indoor gibbon habitat, and it looks awesome!

 

[OkapiFan]

Also just found that the zoo now has a page for Asia on its website (finally)!!!! There is some awesome stuff here.

Asia Continent - Zoo Expansion | North Carolina Zoo

• It confirms that the hornbills will be wrinkled (I think this might have been confirmed a while ago), the vulture will indeed be cinererous, the cobra will be king, and that the gibbon species will be white-cheeked (@StoppableSan got it!)
• It also announces that the Chinese Giant Salamander will be in this expansion!! Which is awesome! The page also says to keep a look out for any additional species to be added as they continue to build, so....we'll have to see what comes out of that.
• There is also a new concept art that is labeled Asia pavilion sketch

 

[Breckenridge]

The groundbreaking ceremony is happening today! I’m at the zoo and half the NA parking lot is blocked off for ceremony attendees. Prairie Outpost is blocked off and decked out in paper lanterns for a staff luncheon. The whole zoo is abuzz with activity.

 

[PSO]

Great news, I'll be up there on Friday. After reading the Asia species list (which is nice) I feel they'll be adding at least one of the "big species" when all said and done

 

[OkapiFan]

According to the news articles about Asia, it seems like the zoo is planning to build a hotel on site!

 

[StoppableSan]

Great news, I'll be up there on Friday. After reading the Asia species list (which is nice) I feel they'll be adding at least one of the "big species" when all said and done

Back when I visited in 2017, one of the keepers at the giraffe exhibit mentioned she wanted Indian rhinos to be brought to the zoo, and while it is just an opinion/desire, it could eventually transpire...

 

[Jambo]

According to the news articles about Asia, it seems like the zoo is planning to build a hotel on site!

I'm not a fan of hotels in zoos. Zoos and hotels just don't add up together. Something along the lines of a Slumber Safari camp seems better 'zoo themed' imo.