New African exhibit to open in April
Visitors will experience an imaginary African national park complete with elephants, rhinoceros and antelope, when the Watani Grasslands Reserve opens on the first weekend of April. From the moment guests step onto the walkway leading to the African Entrance at the North Carolina Zoo, they begin to enter another world. Expect to spend two to three hours enjoying all that the exhibit has to offer.
View of the Watani Grasslands Reserve exhibit at the N.C. Zoo. (Randolph Observer file photo)
Designed and built to expand the elephant habitat to seven acres, the Watani Grasslands Reserve will not only give visitors a better view of the elephants, but will provide discovery trails with a variety of sculptures representing wildlife such as the cheetah, ostrich and African dung beetle. Real herds of rhinoceros and antelope roam the adjacent African Plains. Visitors can take the 130-foot walkway that allows them to observer the animals in their daily routines.
The expanded elephant habitat is more than just a tourist destination. The $8.5 million project also allows the addition of more elephants and rhinos and facilitates the N.C. Zoo's goal of breeding both elephants and rhinos. “State of the art technology will enable keepers to not only provide the animals with the best veterinary care and husbandry available,” stated Rod Hackney, public relations manager for the North Carolina Zoo, “but will also help the staff gain knowledge about the animals that can contribute to improved breeding, nutrition and physical well-being.”
The Cameroon Elephant Project uses satellite and radio technology to track the migration routes of elephant herds in Cameroon. Dr. Mike Loomis, chief veterinarian at the North Carolina Zoo and Dr. Martin Tchamba, head of WWF's Cameroon elephant conservation programs, lead the project.
The N.C. Zoo and N.C. Zoological Society host an educational Web site that includes photos and field reports form Dr. Loomis and others. The site is called Field Trip Earth
The zoo has also taken a special interest in the life of elephants in the wild. For the past 10 years, the North Carolina Zoo has worked with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the Cameroon Ministry of Environment and Forest to use satellite and radio tracking technology on elephant herds in Cameroon, Africa.
For this reason, one of the displays in the imaginary African park is bush-helicopter hangar, complete with a chopper, where visitors can learn more about the conservation program. They will be able to view maps and radio collars used for tracking the elephants. At certain times, the hanger doors will be opened to allow guests to view the elephants as the zoo elephant keepers work with them.
Discovering desirable vacations that deliver value
(NAPSI)-With the rising cost of gas and the depreciating dollar, many travelers are challenged to find a vacation destination that delivers genuine value.
Lower fuel prices can be a great attraction for anyone who wants to explore scenic byways on their vacation. Pictured above: Caesars Head State Park.
A destination that maximizes travel dollars will feature lower gas prices, inexpensive accommodations and a great climate, as well as lots to see and do. For example, South Carolina, which attracts more than 30 million visitors yearly with its scenic splendor, historical grandeur and opportunities for fun, also offers:
- Lower gas prices. South Carolina's gasoline prices tend to be noticeably less than the U.S. average. That's a big break for travelers interested in exploring the state's scenic byways. Popular routes include the Ashley River National Scenic Byway, with three National Historic Landmark plantations, and the Cherokee Foothills National Scenic Highway.
- Good lodging prices. South Carolina's average daily rate for a room in 2006 was about $80 versus around $98 in both the South Atlantic and the U.S. overall, according to Smith Travel Research.
- A moderate climate makes the state perfect for outdoor enthusiasts of all kinds, especially the penny-wise. Vacationers find the best prices at renowned Hilton Head and Myrtle Beach resorts, for example, toward the beginning or end of the busy summer season, and in late fall and spring.
- Year-round opportunities for fun. Surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains, Greenville has a big-city feel in a small-town setting with boutiques, art galleries and outdoor cafés. It's a “best value” destination, according to Hotwire's Travel Value Index, thanks to wallet-friendly lodging in such high-end properties as the Westin Poinsett, which can go for as low as $135 a night. At the gateway to South Carolina's mountain wilderness, the area provides outdoor enthusiasts with nearby lakes and hiking trails.
- Lots of state parks. South Carolina is also home to 47 state parks. Admission is free or nominal, and campers can pitch a tent or rent a cabin near lakes, in the mountains or on the beach.
- Museums. Across the state, museum lovers and history buffs can take advantage of free or low admission at hundreds of military museums and battlefield sites, including Fort Sumter National Monument, where the first shots of the Civil War were fired in Charleston Harbor.
For more information, visit www.DiscoverSouthCarolina.com.
