My mom,sister,and I are thinking about going to The North Carolina Zoo this Saturday.

[ccharles000]

We don't live that far from it about 30 minutes(we live in Greensboro). I have not been there since third grade on a school field trip. I was reading about it and it seems really nice. When we go I will post pics. Here is some info if you have never heard about it.


North Carolina Zoological Park is located in Asheboro, which is about 75 miles (120 km) west of Raleigh, North Carolina in the United States. At 1,458 acres (5.90 km2) , it is the largest walk-through natural-habitat zoo. Construction of the North Carolina Zoo began in 1974 with the official opening date of August 13, 1976. The first exhibit opened in 1979. The North Carolina Zoo is the nation’s first state-supported zoo and remains one of only two state zoos (the other state being Minnesota). The NC Zoo has a variety of different animals whose habitats range from Africa to North America.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Carolina_Zoo

[Forkboy]

1. Zoos really just bum me out.

Even as a kid on school field trips I didn't want to go to one. It's not a big deal for a lot of the animals like snakes and what have you, but seeing tigers and other large animals that need lots of territory being cooped up always brings me down. I can't even go into pet stores without getting seriously depressed.

I will say that a lot of zoos have really tried to make it better for the animals in the last decade or so, so maybe they aren't as bad as I remember them. I'll read your recap after you go. :)

[Lex]

2. "At 1,458 acres (5.90 km2) , it is the largest walk-through natural-habitat zoo."

From the link.

And: "The North Carolina Zoo was the first American zoo to incorporate the "natural habitat" philosophy - presenting animals together with plants in exhibits that resemble the habitats in which they would be found in the wild.

"Most animals are kept in large expanses of land, which reduces many of the behavior problems that can be caused by close confinement."

[Forkboy]

3. Ah, that's cool.

Still kind of bums me out, but that's certainly a major step up from the zoos of my childhood.

[Lex]

4. Yes, the NC Zoo requires lots of walking

because you walk to them, to their habitats, and get a glimpse of them. One of the most highly regarded zoos in the country.

[Forkboy]

5. The zoos when I was a kid were horrible.

There was no thought of natural environment, just shove them in a cage with some hay and a big ball. To this day I can't get the image of one tiger all alone and looking ready to die out of my head. I'm glad to hear that this zoo is doing what it is.

[Lex]

6. Yes, I agree

that those type of zoos are depressing--I've been to one like that too and it turns out to be the opposite of fun.

[ccharles000]

7. I would not want to go to a zoo like that

[taterguy]

8. Have a great time in Chapel Hill!

(Obscure reference to an old Jesse Helms quote)

[ccharles000]

9. lol

you know I have never been to CH but I would love to visit one day.

[Mudoria]

10. It's been about 10 years since I was there

You really need a good pair of walking shoes if try to see as much as possible. It's a LOT of walking...

[ccharles000]

12. Good I like walking

[applegrove]

11. I went to a zoo when I was about 24. I enjoyed it more than when I went as a kid. Much more. I could

appreciate the beauty of the animals.

[Minimus]

13. Come on down! I live in Asheboro but it has been a few years since I have

visited the zoo. I do want to check out the giraffe feeding deck that recently opened. It would be so cool to feed one.

It is quite a walk - hilly in some spots. Thank goodness there is a tram - my knees can no longer make it through the whole zoo.

I hope y'all have good weather and a fun time if you do decide to go.

[Blue Diadem]

14. Will be waiting for the pictures. :)

I love the bigger zoos where animals have room to roam and live in nature. Have a good time Charles and don't forget the pictures.

[ccharles000]

16. We are going to take a lot of pics

[supernova]

15. Ah, the NC Zoo, providing fresh rotating human displays

for the animals' amusement.

The place is so big it always seemed that way to me. The people are more confined than the animals. :P :rofl:

edit: I was there about five years ago. Planning on going again soon with my new SO. :-)

[TreasonousBastard]

17. WOW! Almost 1500 acres! That's 5 times the size..

of the Bronx Zoo, which is an all-day affair and tires me out.

The Bronx zoo, renamed the Wildlife Conservation Society because it prefers to be known for its network of conservation projects than simply as a menagerie of animals, was always a great place for me to hang out and relax when I lived cloesr to it. It was also a suprise cheap date and fantastic place to take nieces, nephews, grandkids, and whoever that they would love and would cost less than a day at the beach. Membership was an excellent investment-- not only for the Zoo, but for me.

I can't see from its website how much the NC zoo is doing beyond exhibiting animals, but it looks like it's doing a great job at that, and it seems like the sort of place you can keep going back to.

Have fun!

[ccharles000]

18. I think they do a lot of Conservation type things.

here is their youtube page that has many good videos of what they do.

http://www.youtube.com/user/nczoo