Meet the Animals at NC Zoo

Last summer I visited the North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro. It's huge-- more than 500 acres. It took us six hours to see everything.

The habitats are really nice. It has an Africa exhibit and a North America exhibit.

Like many good zoos it is helping endangered animals and plants. The NC Zoo has been reintroducing the endangered Red Wolf to parts of North Carolina, and other conservation projects.

If you can't visit or want a quick tour, here's my video. I hope you like it.

Congratulations to Satch Krantz!

Palmer "Satch" Krantz is the boss at Riverbanks Zoo, and I just found out he was made the chairman of the whole AZA!!! That's Association of Zoos and Aquariums. All the best zoos and aquariums in the country are members of the AZA. It was founded in 1924. In South Carolina, Riverbanks Zoo is a member. So is the South Carolina Aquarium in Charleston.

Satch gave me a tour of the entire zoo when I was four-- behind the scenes, the vet's offices, the aquarium tanks...


...and inside the elephant house. I was the first kid to see Tumpy, the new elephant.

Here is a message I got from Satch the other day to help me celebrate my 50th blog:

Let me first congratulate you on the 50^th blog posting on mossyanimals. Believe it or not, we have been following your wonderful blog for the past year or so, since it always contains such interesting and informative postings about Riverbanks Zoo. I am not at all surprised that you have had 40,000 hits.

Riverbanks is proud to be counted among your five favorite zoos. This is particularly noteworthy given your incredible knowledge about zoos and wildlife. The other four zoos on your “top 5” list are wonderful facilities. I am personally fond of the NC State Zoo and the Bronx Zoo.

I am delighted that you are still considering a career in zoos. I know you will find this a highly rewarding experience and look forward to having you join our profession. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to assist you in this exciting endeavor.

Again, congratulations. Keep on posting!

Satch Krantz
Executive Director
Riverbanks Zoo and Garden

My Question on You Tube for the Next President

Well this is my first try at You Tube. I decided to post a question to the presidential candiates for when they come to Charleston. I don't think endangered animals and the environment get enough attention so I hope they will use my question.

The original video was much better. I haven't figured You Tube out yet. Let me know if you know how to get better quality. And my parents made me cut my full name.

Will you vote for a president who cares about animals and the environment? I hope you will.

The Animal Riddle-- Are You Ready for 5th Grade?

This is just for fun. Tomorrow is my last day of fourth grade, so to celebrate, let's see how smart YOU are.

1. How do you put a giraffe into a refrigerator?

Correct answer: Open the refrigerator, put in the giraffe and close the door. This question tests whether or not you are doing simple things in a complicated way.

2. How do you put an elephant into a refrigerator?

Incorrect answer: Open the refrigerator, put in the elephant and shut the refrigerator.
Correct answer: Open the refrigerator, take out the giraffe, put in the elephant and close the door. This question tests your foresight.

3. The Lion King is hosting an animal conference. All the animals attend except one. Which animal does not attend?

Correct answer: The elephant. The elephant is in the refrigerator! This tests if you are capable of comprehensive thinking.

OK, if you did not answer the last three questions correctly, this one may be your last chance to test your readiness to be a fifth grader.

4. There is a river filled with crocodiles. How do you cross it?

Correct Answer: Simply swim through it. All the crocodiles are attending the animal meeting!

Happy Endangered Species Day

May 18 is endangered species day! Some animals considered endangered?

Elephants!

Rhinos!

Polar Bears!
Some of the endangered animals in South Carolina are the Piping Plover, Loggerhead Turtle, Eastern cougar, manatee, and whales like the right, finback, blue and humpback.

Many scientists think almost half of all animals on earth will become extinct in the next 50 years! Stop pollution, stop poachers, stop habitat destruction! Do your part.

Good Earth Day!

I had a good earth day. We went hiking at Harbison State Park where we saw a beaver by the river! It's the first time I've seen a beaver in the wild.


Then we went to Riverbanks Zoo and looked at everything. We watched elephants spray water on themselves. We saw some cute wallabee joeys. They also have many endangered species like the VERY rare bali mynah, grizzly bear, Siberian tiger, and the Western lowland gorilla.

My mom and sister planted wildflowers and worked in the garden. What did you do? Click on "comments" and tell me.