Night Falls on African Plains

Last evening I attended a dinner on the Shani Loop at the NC Zoo. This is the very new walkway that juts out into the "African Plains" and African Elephant exhibit (Watani Grasslands) at the Zoo.

As a few dozen donors and sponsors enjoyed dinner and the occasional breeze, Southern white rhinos, ostrich and antelope came very close. The huge rhinos, in groups of six and three, came especially near.

Occasionally, conversation was halted when one of the rhinos offered some loud (semi-rude) vocalizations of her or his own.

The whole experience, gave a feel for what the exhibit will be like when the nine rhinos and 40 antelope are joined, one day soon, by seven or more elephants and 60 or so added antelope of multiple species.

It was a special treat to see the light colored rhinos, as darkness descended rapidly, still grazing and interacting as we headed off to buses and cars and homes and beds.