North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences Exhibit-by-Exhibit Review

[biggiesmalls]

This thread will contain a detailed review of every exhibit within the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences that contains live animals. Although this isn't an AZA/ZAA-accredited facility, and isn't even primarily a zoo/aquarium, it is still a personal favorite of mine for a number of reasons. Namely:

1. Free Entry - All but the rotating special exhibits are free for anyone to view, and the special exhibits can be seen for as little as $5/month with a membership. Plenty of free parking nearby is also a nice touch.
2. Interesting Species - While there are really no "big ticket animals" at this facility, there are some unique species that are seldom seen in zoological collections, and a heavy emphasis on North Carolina's native species is enjoyable to me.
3. Diverse Exhibits - Admittedly, there are a few less-than-stellar exhibits at this facility, but when it's good, it's GREAT. There are some creative ideas coming to life within most exhibits, many of which give way to a much bigger and more impressive scale down the line. Most of the exhibits also lend themselves nicely to being photographed, with multiple viewing angles being common.
4. Crowds -The museum certainly has it's busy times, but the good news is that these are predictable and infrequent. The majority of the time, this four-story, two-building complex has one or two school classes and a roughly equal amount of other guests. Most people overlook the live animal exhibits for more than a mere second or two, meaning zoo nerds can feel free to sit and geek out or try to get a picture of an obscure species.
5. Location - This is definitely one for me personally, but I live within 10 minutes of the museum, so access is especially easy. I'm here for an hour or two just to practice photography a good 2-3 times a week

Upfront, this is not a facility that I anticipate many people will visit, although I would certainly recommend at least a quick walkthrough if you're in the area. My goal with this thread is to take a close, detailed look at every single exhibit this facility has to offer. I'll include photo(s) of each enclosure, I'll give my thoughts on the exhibit, and I'll give my ideas on possible renovations to enhance the exhibit. Hopefully this brings up an interesting discussion or two, and some creative but realistic ideas on exhibit design