NC Zoological Park
With an area of 1,458 acres, the North Carolina Zoological Park in
Asheboro is the largest walk-through natural habitat zoo and is the
first state-supported zoo in the United States when it opened to the
public in August 13, 1976. This is one of the only two state zoos in the
United States; the other one is located in Minnesota. Included in the
zoo's territory is the Uwharrie Mountains which has been considered as
one of world's oldest mountain ranges and the Purgatory Mountain, which
is the tallest point on the zoo grounds at 937 feet above sea level.
With its objective to give visitors the awareness about the human's
connection with the animal world, the North Carolina Zoo incorporated
the simulation of a natural habitat for the animals, the first zoo to
incorporate such setup. The North Carolina Zoo boasts its big collection
of animals on its African and North American exhibits which were
landscaped to resemble the real place where it was based. Visitors can
roam around by walking in the five miles of walking path or they can
choose to ride transportations provided by the park like the trams and
air-conditioned buses. The minimum time to circumnavigate the whole park
with convenience is five hours.
|
|
Aside from the sight of animals roaming around the Zoo, there are
also a number of special events that will surely provide viewers with
fun and educational activities. Samples of these are "On the Wing" (a
live birds-of-prey show), Earth Day Celebration, Holiday Lights, Boo at
the Zoo and Street Rod Safari, which is an automobile show under the zoo
tradition.
There are also a number of educational activities that are targeted
among schooling individuals. There programs include Zoo Camp (for First
Graders to Sixth Graders), Zoo Programming (exhibit viewing), Zoo To You
Programming (inviting a zoo educator to schools), Zoo Snooze (overnight
programs in the zoo), Classroom Programming, Home School Program, Scout
Badge Program and Internship (for pre-professionals).
|
North Carolina Zoo also features the Art in the Park program which
features artists whose works are in line with the zoo's visions. This
includes a showcase of paintings, photographs sculptures and other
artworks that shows appreciation and awareness to the environment. Among
the Art Program's specific goals include the involvement of artists in
the realization of the zoo's conservation vision, making a connection to
the natural environment, preservation of the zoo's visual assets,
creation of the zoo's positive identity, engagement of artists in the
planning and designing, increase of audience in the zoo and promotion of
the park as an educational resource.
Other major exhibits in the Zoo include African Pavilion, Forest Glade,
Sonora Desert and Watani Grasslands Reserve.
|
