Rhino-proof Fence

If you have noticed the metal posts being added to the 30-acre African Plains, at the N.C. Zoo, where our African antelope roam, here is what is up. This is early work toward moving the Southern white rhinos out there with our antelope.

The chain link fence now in place around the African Plains is antelope-proof, not rhino-proof.

The plan is that the rhinos move onto the Plains in late 2006 and the African elephants take the 3 1/2 acres the rhinos leave, as well as keeping the elephants' own, current 3 1/2 acres. The plan is also that we "grow" the herds, with breeding, to 10-12 each (elephants and rhinos).

Watani Grasslands is the name for the $6.75 million project, which will create a new elephant barn designed to handle a growing elephant herd, including a "nursery". Project: Pachyderms is the name for the NC Zoo Society capital campaign to fund the changes to the elephant and rhino/antelope exhibits, new barn, new visitor walkway "out into" the elephant and rhino habitats, educational interpretive exhibits and more. LINK

(Pachyderms refers to both elephants and rhinos and means "thick-skinned".)