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Zoo Hosts Chilling Event
BY: Tom GillespieAug. 06, 2009
ASHEBORO—Visitors can get a first-hand look at how the North Carolina Zoo helps its animals beat the heat when the park hosts “ZooCool” on Saturday, Aug. 8, and Sunday, Aug. 9, beginning at 9 a.m. each day.
The zoo’s animals will be given ice treats throughout the day as keepers give talks on how they keep the animals cool. Along with these “Meet the Keeper” talks, visitors can enjoy the musical sounds of environmentalist singer/songwriter Pamlico Joe in the zoo’s Africa Plaza each day at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Additionally, Radio Disney will provide games and prizes each day in the North America Plaza from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m.
To set the mood, zoo forecasters are calling for a blizzard both days, thanks to special evaporative snow machines placed on the bridge just inside the park’s North America entrance.
Times for animal ice treats are: cougars, 10:30 a.m.; polar bears, 11 a.m.; red river hogs, 11 a.m.; seals/sea lions, 11:30 a.m. & 2:30 p.m.; sea birds, 11:30 a.m.; lions, 11:30 a.m.; gorillas, 11:30 a.m. & 1:30 p.m.; and baboons, 2 p.m.
More information and a detailed schedule of all “ZooCool” activities are available on the zoo’s Web site at www.nczoo.org. Events are subject to change due to weather. This year’s ZooCOOL event is sponsored by Rock-Ola Café; the park’s seasonal event sponsor is Pepsi®. All events are free with paid admission of $10 for adults, $6 for children 2-12 and $8 for seniors 62-plus. Operating hours from April through October are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
The zoo is an agency of the N.C. Department of Environment & Natural Resources, Dee Freeman, Secretary; Beverly Eaves Perdue, Governor.