Greensboro Science Center to Host Endangered Species Day Event

MEDIA RELEASE
April 24, 2023

CONTACT INFORMATION
Bekah Robinson
(336) 288-3769 x1305
rrobinson@greensboroscience.org

GREENSBORO, NC — The Greensboro Science Center (GSC) is joining a national effort to raise awareness for endangered species. On Saturday, May 20, 2023 from 10am – 2pm the GSC will celebrate Endangered Species Day with educational tables that will be located throughout the facility and a variety of activities including a scavenger hunt for visitors to seek out the GSC’s resident endangered species. Guests can learn more about the event on the GSC’s Facebook page.

Saturday, May 20 will also mark the re-opening of the Cole Family Monarch Conservation Center and Butterfly House for the 2023 season. Guests can see beautiful native butterflies up close and discover how they can put conservation into action by choosing garden plants that serve as hosts and food sources for pollinators. In addition to the seven species the GSC hosted last year, nine new species, including luna moths, buckeyes, and red spotted purples, will join the endangered monarch butterfly to help raise conservation awareness for this butterfly season.

Jessica Gouge, the GSC’s Education Events Manager says, “We look forward to seeing everyone on May 20 to celebrate Endangered Species Day. We hope to help raise awareness for the animals and places that need our help, and hopefully inspire guests to find simple actions they can take at home to help protect threatened and endangered species. This year is special because it is the 50th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the legislation that institutionalized our nation’s commitment to the conservation of wildlife and the places they call home.”

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About the Greensboro Science Center
The Greensboro Science Center is a premier family attraction in North Carolina that offers the state’s first accredited inland aquarium, a hands-on science museum, an accredited Animal Discovery Zoological Park, a state-of-the-art OmniSphere Theater, FLYWAY Zipline at BPD, and SKYWILD, an animal-inspired treetop adventure park. The GSC is also NC’s only dually accredited AZA (Association of Zoos and Aquariums) and AAM (American Alliance of Museums) science attraction – an honor only 14 attractions in the nation can claim. The Greensboro Science Center is located at 4301 Lawndale Drive in Greensboro and is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization. For more information, visit www.greensboroscience.org.

The Greensboro Science Center’s Revolution Ridge Expansion is Working as Designed

MEDIA RELEASE
March 14, 2023

CONTACT INFORMATION
Bekah Robinson
(336) 288-3769 x1305
rrobinson@greensboroscience.org

The GSC Announces – Holly the Hippo is Pregnant

GREENSBORO, NC – Revolution Ridge, the Greensboro Science Center’s largest expansion to-date, opened in June of 2021 to record crowds. The 12-acre, 10-exhibit expansion was designed to be a breeding center for unique and endangered wildlife from all over the world. The signature pygmy hippo exhibit was specifically designed (at over $1.4M) to mimic key features of their wild habitat, including: three deep wading pools, a waterfall, a shallow river, a sandy beach, a mud wallow, both sun and shade areas, a temperature controlled indoor pool and safe areas for bedding and birthing. After less than two years in Greensboro housed with her mate Ralph the hippo, ultrasound imaging of Holly shows what appears to be an active and healthy hippo calf with an estimated due date range between March 15 and May 1, 2023.

Glenn Dobrogosz, the GSC’s CEO says, “While the GSC team is clearly very excited, we have to be cognizant that Holly is a first-time mom and successful reproduction in a wide array of species comes with many challenges. Survival rates can vary with age, experience, genetics and unknown health conditions. So far, the health and activity level of the calf in-utero looks positive.”

Pygmy hippos are listed as an endangered species and can only be found in four West African countries. Their demise in the wild is directly linked to habitat loss, river pollution and being hunted for local food sources.

The GSC would like to thank the Morrisette Family for sponsoring the pygmy hippo exhibit.

Click here for ultrasound photo and videos.

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About the Greensboro Science Center
The Greensboro Science Center is a premier family attraction in North Carolina that offers the state’s first accredited inland aquarium, a hands-on science museum, an accredited Animal Discovery Zoological Park, a state-of-the-art OmniSphere Theater, FLYWAY Zipline at BPD and SKYWILD, an animal-inspired treetop adventure park. The GSC is also NC’s only dually accredited AZA (Association of Zoos and Aquariums) and AAM (American Alliance of Museums) science attraction – an honor only 14 attractions in the nation can claim. The Greensboro Science Center is located at 4301 Lawndale Drive in Greensboro and is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization. For more information, visit www.greensboroscience.org.

Conservation Creation: Animal Valentines

This month in SciPlay Bay, we are creating enrichment for our animal residents! Join us at the GSC on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10:30am, or keep reading to make enrichment for your pet at home!

At the Greensboro Science Center, one of the most important things keepers do for our animals is provide them with enrichment. Enrichment is defined as “improving the quality of”, and we apply that principle to the lives of our animals. Two of the primary things to keep in mind when providing enrichment are: provide the animals with choices; and stimulate natural behaviors, both physically and mentally.

Enrichment can be created in a variety of ways, depending upon the type of animal it’s intended for. For example, penguins have excellent eyesight, so providing them with brightly colored decorations in their exhibit can spark their curiosity and encourage them to investigate their habitat. As another example, it’s enriching for our fishing cats when keepers scatter their diets throughout their habitat so that they have to forage like they would do in the wild.

For pet owners, there are many ways to provide enrichment for the animals (dogs, cats, birds, etc.) in our homes without breaking the bank. Check out some of our DIY enrichment ideas below, or get creative and see how many different ideas you can come up with!

What you’ll need: Cardboard or paper materials from your recycling bin + your pet’s favorite treats (we’re using Cheerios)!

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Enrichment Item 1: Forage Box

Step 1: Place your treats in the middle of a piece of paper, then crumple the paper into a ball. Make as many of these as you would like.

Step 2:  Place your treat-filled paper balls in a small box (like a shoe box), then give the box to your pet and watch them forage through to find their treats. For an added challenge, only put treats in a few of the paper balls so that your pet has to investigate more thoroughly.

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Enrichment Item 2: Treat Tubes

Step 1: Make a small paper ball and stuff it into one end of a toilet paper or paper towel tube.

Step 2: Place some of your pet’s treats into the tube, on top of the paper ball you just made. Next, place another paper ball on top of the treats. You can give your pets the tube at this point, or continue on to step 3 for an added challenge!

Step 3: Fold the outsides of the tube inward so that your pet has to manipulate the tube more thoroughly to reach the food. This will be especially useful for birds or high-energy dogs. Give the enrichment item to your pet, or hide a few of them around the house for your pet to find!

Please remember: Every animal may interact with enrichment items differently. For safety, items should be monitored to ensure your pet’s safety.