The Randolph Guide | Asheboro NC | Home Page Tom Gillespie

Zoo Tales: Aviary a respite from winter's grasp

2012-01-13T09:44:31-05:00

January and February are seldom thought of as a time for leisurely strolls along trails and stops to smell flowers blooming or to watch colorful birds. But at the N.C. Zoo's R.J. Reynolds Forest Aviary exhibit, that's what's in store for zoo-goers.

Zoo Tales: Sitatunga an odd antelope

2011-12-16T16:00:07-05:00

Mention the words African antelopes and, most likely, images of animals roaming vast, arid drylands would appear. But visitors to the North Carolina Zoo are often surprised to learn that one of the park's antelope species, the sitatunga, is classified as semi-aquatic.

Zoo Tales: Helping hands

2011-12-16T15:52:22-05:00

Over the years, the mission of the North Carolina Zoo – to encourage understanding of and commitment to the conservation of the world’s wildlife and wild places – has often meant going beyond the park’s walls.

Zoo Tales: ‘Good Samaritans’ can unknowingly harm animals

2011-12-16T15:47:17-05:00

Sometimes, no matter how well-meaning the actions of a “Good Samaritan” are, young, injured and disoriented animals can be harmed simply because the person trying to help the animal does not know the facts and proper procedures.

Zoo Tales: Aging animals a concern

2011-12-16T15:44:52-05:00

Although zoos have always faced the problems of aging animals, today it has become an evolving part of their animal husbandry – learning how to care for older animals and to meet their needs

Zoo Tales: Bats often misunderstood mammals

2011-12-16T15:41:15-05:00

Bats. It’s likely that only snakes are more feared and more misunderstood than these nocturnal mammals.

Zoo Tales: Gorillas are treat for Zoo visitors

2011-09-27T20:10:36-04:00

Though often erroneously called monkeys, gorillas are actually great apes. Gorillas are skilled climbers but spend most of their time on the ground.

Zoo Tales: Fringe-eared oryx is zoo’s newest antelope

2011-09-27T20:09:34-04:00

With a nickname like "spear antelope," one could rightly assume that the oryx, one of the N.C. Zoo's newest animal species, would have slender, elongated horns. But then throw in their subfamily name, Hippotraginae (which literally means "horse-goats"), and one might be left guessing.

Zoo Tales: Ocelots a puzzle to many

2011-08-16T19:48:28-04:00

Often, visitors to the N.C. Zoo who see ocelots for the first time aren't sure what they are exactly. Larger than a domestic cat but smaller than a leopard or jaguar, the ocelot is a wild cat ranging from South and Central America, through Mexico and into the extreme southern parts of Texas, with rare sightings in Southern Arizona.

Zoo Tales: Animals beat heat in varying ways

2011-08-16T19:47:11-04:00

At the N.C. Zoo and at many other zoos and animal facilities, keepers help the animals through a variety of cooling techniques from putting ice into the exhibits for the animals to wallow in to air-conditioned holding areas to ponds within the exhibits.