North Carolina Zoo North Carolina Zoo news 2025

I just got back from my first visit of the year to the NC Zoo today, and I have some updates.
  • Asia
    • The construction fencing that surrounded the site has been removed, allowing for unobstructed views of the complex. You can see that a lot of the infrastructure is in place. You can now even see into the complex and the main plaza from the tram ride.
    • The new tram stop is quite elaborate, with 2 loading queues and allowing for trams to load and unload from either direction. It appears mostly complete, although a little finishing work was still taking place.
  • Cypress Swamp
    • The roofing for the Wetlands Interpretive Center has been completely removed, leaving only the frame and supports. The mock cypress knees have also been removed (along with the terrariums inside of them), completely opening up the space. However, this means that the Indigo Snake and Sandhills displays are now subject to some seriously wicked glare that makes it very difficult to see into some of the exhibits.
    • Speaking of which, Southern Toads are gone, and Eastern Newt has been added. Eastern Hognose Snake is signed again, although I did not see them.
    • The Alligator Snapping Turtle exhibit to the right of the Cougar exhibit has been (mostly) drained, is unoccupied, and had its signage removed.
    • The Alligator Snapping Turtle exhibit in the Interpretive Center now has unsigned Golden Shiners and what I think are juvenile Largemouth Bass.
  • Rocky Coast
    • A new wooden barrier has been installed along the length of the Arctic Fox exhibit. While it looks nice, it can make it hard for small children to see into the exhibit without aid.
    • The Seal exhibit remains untouched. Doesn't seem like any work has occurred since Ronan moved out.
  • Streamside
    • There were additional Corn Snakes in the Common Box Turtle exhibit.
  • Northwoods/Prairie
    • In November, I mentioned that netting was installed in front of the Red Wolf exhibit. This is a permanent feature now, and a new railing was installed in front of it.
    • It appears that a new wooden railing has been constructed around the Geyser, along with new pavement being placed.
  • Desert
    • The Gila Monster/Beaded Lizard exhibit is still (mostly) boarded up, but now the animals are off-exhibit and it appears to be in the middle of some maintenence work.
    • I just noticed today that there are now a pair of Superb Starlings in the Desert, although they must have been there for a few months now since there is a picture of them from October. They are not signed. They have even constructed a nest in the ceiling fixture.
    • I am starting to suspect that they do not have Baja Blue Rock Lizards on display. 5th time not seeing them now. Likewise for their Desert Box Turtles.
    • The Sand Cats now have two large running wheels in their exhibit. One was even using them on my visit.
    • Still haven't seen the Tenrec either.
    • The small terrarium in the rocks next to the Tortoise burrow is still unused.
  • Forest's Edge
    • The main trail near the Giraffe Feeding Deck is STILL closed off, requiring visitors to detour through the Shani Loop/Elephant viewing.
  • Gorillas
    • There are still portable barriers in front of both viewing windows for the Gorillas. Why? This is a trend I'm starting to see across the zoo with redundant and "over-safe" barriers been added throughout the zoo. Did something happen at the zoo that I am not aware of?
 
Other Late 2024 News Not Mentioned:

On October 21st, the zoo announced that 2+ northern banded knob-tailed geckos hatched.

https://www.facebook.com/nczoo/posts/pfbid0V4WpGPjazdf5cVur4KkDKHDGs4zVkNP86DMZ3a5UdeznF4RmEcM99WP69mf5AhCbl

On November 23rd, it was announced that the zoo acquired a (1.0) red wolf from Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo in Connecticut.

Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo

On December 24th, the zoo announced they acquired 2 Puerto Rican crested toads, 2 scorpions (species not specified) a lesser hedgehog tenrec, and a salamander (species not specified) which are now ambassador animals, alongside the previously mentioned Virginia opossum and blue death-feigning beetles.

https://www.facebook.com/nczoo/post...97JEkT5nvhSRc2tVodtVb1Bd96xP6YH3LH2eERfRyEmml

On December 25th, the zoo announced that 7 Virgin Island tree boas were born in 2024.

https://www.facebook.com/nczoo/posts/pfbid0HMfVKNfQQt3j27utoq87bgWqZNQzTQcJKWrEdmtshtWPBBJWBgVHEiTu8iLgJDGJl

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On February 14th, it was reported that a (1.0) Hamadryas baboon named Uchovu was born on January 1st which is now on exhibit.

https://myfox8.com/spotlight/zoo-filez/new-baby-baboons-at-the-north-carolina-zoo/

On February 26th, the zoo announced they acquired (2.1) Rüppell's griffon vultures named Gomez, Sammy, and Mufutu which are now behind the scenes.

https://www.facebook.com/nczoo/post...51198sXch3WMQv2DFCHaQPCBMCWuPH8evpUFXHqnz9pcl
 
I received the Spring 2025 issue of Alive and there is an article talking about "Bringing In the Birds" for Asia.

Species mentioned include those that would be familar to guests as they were in the aviary in years past such as Bali mynahs, Crested partridges, Green junglefowl, and Blue-crowned laughingthrushes. New species mentioned include White storks and Himalayan monals.

This seems to be an interesting development as a multi-species aviary for smaller birds was not in the original plans.
 
So I was randomly reviewing my pictures and species list for the NC Zoo and I just noticed something.

Sometime in 2024 (between February and September), they changed the signage for their Rock Rattlesnake (Crotalus lepidus). They were previously signed as Tamaulipan Rock Rattlesnake (Crotalus lepidus morulus), but are now signed as Durangan Rock Rattlesnake (Crotalus lepidus maculosus). The animal graphic on the signage remained unchanged.

Now, the Tamaulipan Rock Rattlesnake has been elevated to a full species (Crotalus morulus), so I wonder if the animals were initially misidentified, they updated the signage to reflect current taxonomy (despite the two now being different species), or if they actually swapped out the species (which I doubt).

Would also be great if they also updated the rest of their snake signage at the zoo.
 
2 Pieces of March 2025 News Not Mentioned:

On March 14th, the zoo announced they transferred a (1.0) red wolf named Sage to the Rosamond Gifford Zoo in New York earlier in 2025.

North Carolina Zoo

On March 19th, the zoo announced that a (1.0) greater kudu named Boreas was born on November 26th which is on exhibit.

North Carolina Zoo

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On March 28th, the zoo announced their (0.1) North American river otter named Hannah passed away at age 14.

North Carolina Zoo
 
Breckenridge said:
Some updates:
-there are now permanent barriers (similar to lion) in front of the gorilla viewing windows, likely to reduce the amount of banging by primates on both sides of the glass
Click to expand...

They seem to have been overhauling quite a few of their exhibits to install redundant barriers. Over the past 2 years, they have upgraded the barriers for the lion, river otter, red wolf, arctic fox and now the gorilla exhibit. I think it's safe to assume this is an ongoing project, and they are far from done (I can see the black bear exhibit also having its barriers upgraded).
 
Astrotom3000 said:
They seem to have been overhauling quite a few of their exhibits to install redundant barriers. Over the past 2 years, they have upgraded the barriers for the lion, river otter, red wolf, arctic fox and now the gorilla exhibit. I think it's safe to assume this is an ongoing project, and they are far from done (I can see the black bear exhibit also having its barriers upgraded).
Click to expand...
Grizzly bear as well, replacing the lower overlook with a high glass wall.
 
Astrotom3000 said:
I just got back from my first visit of the year to the NC Zoo today, and I have some updates.
  • Asia
    • The construction fencing that surrounded the site has been removed, allowing for unobstructed views of the complex. You can see that a lot of the infrastructure is in place. You can now even see into the complex and the main plaza from the tram ride.
    • The new tram stop is quite elaborate, with 2 loading queues and allowing for trams to load and unload from either direction. It appears mostly complete, although a little finishing work was still taking place.
  • Cypress Swamp
    • The roofing for the Wetlands Interpretive Center has been completely removed, leaving only the frame and supports. The mock cypress knees have also been removed (along with the terrariums inside of them), completely opening up the space. However, this means that the Indigo Snake and Sandhills displays are now subject to some seriously wicked glare that makes it very difficult to see into some of the exhibits.
    • Speaking of which, Southern Toads are gone, and Eastern Newt has been added. Eastern Hognose Snake is signed again, although I did not see them.
    • The Alligator Snapping Turtle exhibit to the right of the Cougar exhibit has been (mostly) drained, is unoccupied, and had its signage removed.
    • The Alligator Snapping Turtle exhibit in the Interpretive Center now has unsigned Golden Shiners and what I think are juvenile Largemouth Bass.
  • Rocky Coast
    • A new wooden barrier has been installed along the length of the Arctic Fox exhibit. While it looks nice, it can make it hard for small children to see into the exhibit without aid.
    • The Seal exhibit remains untouched. Doesn't seem like any work has occurred since Ronan moved out.
  • Streamside
    • There were additional Corn Snakes in the Common Box Turtle exhibit.
  • Northwoods/Prairie
    • In November, I mentioned that netting was installed in front of the Red Wolf exhibit. This is a permanent feature now, and a new railing was installed in front of it.
    • It appears that a new wooden railing has been constructed around the Geyser, along with new pavement being placed.
  • Desert
    • The Gila Monster/Beaded Lizard exhibit is still (mostly) boarded up, but now the animals are off-exhibit and it appears to be in the middle of some maintenence work.
    • I just noticed today that there are now a pair of Superb Starlings in the Desert, although they must have been there for a few months now since there is a picture of them from October. They are not signed. They have even constructed a nest in the ceiling fixture.
    • I am starting to suspect that they do not have Baja Blue Rock Lizards on display. 5th time not seeing them now. Likewise for their Desert Box Turtles.
    • The Sand Cats now have two large running wheels in their exhibit. One was even using them on my visit.
    • Still haven't seen the Tenrec either.
    • The small terrarium in the rocks next to the Tortoise burrow is still unused.
  • Forest's Edge
    • The main trail near the Giraffe Feeding Deck is STILL closed off, requiring visitors
Click to expand...
 
Asia looks good, but don't count on it opening on time. This is a state zoo, and things move slowly. The baboon habitat didn't open on time. (not even close). I love our zoo.
 
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