CONTACT: TomGillespie
FOR RELEASE: April 18, 2001
Telephone: 336-879-7202
NC Zoo’s Earth Day Celebrates Biodiversity
ASHEBORO -- Biodiversity (the variety of life) is the highlight for
this year’s Earth Day celebration at the North Carolina Zoological Park
on April 21.
A variety of demonstrations, games and lectures will begin at 10
a.m. and continue into the afternoon throughout the zoo’s Africa and
North America regions.
From 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the North America Bridge, visitors can
see photos of the different species of plants and animals native to the
zoo, as well as the zoo’s latest animal survey results. At the same
time and place, educators will help visitors discover the variety of
animal and plant life in the North America Lake.
At 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2 p.m., zoo keepers will demonstrate the
biodiversity of the zoo’s swamp tadpoles and other amphibians as they
use dip nets and collection systems at the Cypress Swamp exhibit in the
North America region.
Visitors can use a biodiversity index from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at
the Touch and Learn Center (TLC) to see which habitat – the zoo orchard
or the zoo Butterfly Garden -- has the most variety of life. The TLC is
in the North America region.
From 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., visitors can play Bioblitz Bingo at the
Streamside complex in the North America region and can see how many
different species of plants and animals they can find. Players can win
stickers.
A zoo horticulturist will demonstrate and discuss the rare plant
collection at the Streamside exhibit’s new Mountain Bog display from 10
a.m. until 2 p.m.
Bird watchers and lovers can use binoculars at the Streamside
complex from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. to view some of the many birds that
live and stop at the zoo. Educators will be available to help visitors
spot and identify the many bird species.
At 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. at the Red Wolf exhibit in the North
America region, keeper Hannah Decker will discuss the zoo’s efforts to
reintroduce the endangered red wolf back into the wild in coastal North
Carolina.
The zoo’s curator of horticulture, Gin Wall, will talk about the
joint project between the zoo and the Limbe Garden in Cameroon, Africa,
to grow endangered African plants at the N.C. Zoo. She will be in the
African pavilion from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
Also from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., zoo educator Mark MacAllister will
discuss the efforts of N.C. Zoo Veterinarian Dr. Mike Loomis to place
tracking collars on endangered elephants in Cameroon, Africa. The
collaring has helped to save both the elephants and the crops of local
farmers.
Admission to all the Earth Day festivities is free with regular
admission to the zoo. For more information on the zoo’s animal and
plant collections, special events, festivals, and conservation and
education programs, go to the zoo Web site at www.nczoo.org.
The zoo is an agency of the N.C. Department of Environment and
Natural Resources, William G. Ross Jr., Secretary; Michael F. Easley,
Governor.
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