ASHEBORO, NC - The North Carolina Zoo invites you to learn how tasting, touching, hearing, and seeing are different among the animal residents at the Zoo this Saturday, October 7. Learn how animals adapt to survive when some of their senses are better than others and discover how similar animals are to humans.  Celebrating Senses will feature 11 stations throughout the park with American Sign Language interpreters as well as tactile and auditory experiences for people with blindness. These experiences will take place at smart carts. There will also be natural history information and biofacts all presented by knowledgeable volunteers.

For guests who need a little quiet time, there will be two quiet zones, one in North America (at the Uwharrie Vision earthen sculpture, near the Prairie habitat) and one in Africa (along with the Africa Crossing trail, between lemur and baboon habitats). Also featured will be special backpacks that can be checked out at Kidzone including noise canceling headphones, stress squeeze toys, and other sensory calming items. There will also be several activities including a sensory walk at Kidzone.

Smart Carts and Activity zones will be located at:

  • Cypress Swamp Cart
  • Rocky Coast Cart
  • Kidzone
  • Streamside Cart
  • Prairie Cart
  • Desert/Honeybee Cart
  • Aviary
  • Gorilla/Chimpanzee/Lemur Cart
  • Zebra Ostrich and Giraffe Cart
  • Watani Overlook Cart
  • Predator & Prey at Lion Cart 

This one of a kind event at the North Carolina Zoo is not to be missed!

About the North Carolina Zoo

At the North Carolina Zoo, we celebrate nature. As the world’s largest natural habitat zoo, we inspire a lifelong curiosity about animals for the hundreds of thousands of people who visit our Zoo each year. Our dedicated team of experts provides exceptional, compassionate care for the more than 1,600 animals and 52,000 plants that call our park home. We also lead efforts locally and globally to protect wildlife and wild places because we believe nature’s diversity is critical for our collective future. The North Carolina Zoo invites all of our guests to witness the majesty of the wild in the heart of North Carolina and welcome everyone to join in our mission to protect nature’s diversity. Visit NCZoo.org to begin your life-changing journey.

About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources

The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (NCDNCR) is the state agency with a vision to be the leader in using the state’s natural and cultural resources to build the social, cultural, educational and economic future of North Carolina. NCDNCR's mission is to improve the quality of life in our state by creating opportunities to experience excellence in the arts, history, libraries and nature in North Carolina by stimulating learning, inspiring creativity, preserving the state’s history, conserving the state’s natural heritage, encouraging recreation and cultural tourism, and promoting economic development.

NCDNCR includes 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, two science museums, three aquariums and Jennette’s Pier, 39 state parks and recreation areas, the N.C.  Zoo, the nation's first state-supported Symphony Orchestra, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, State Preservation Office and the Office of State Archaeology, along with the Division of Land and Water Stewardship. For more information, please call (919) 807-7300 or visit www.ncdcr.gov.

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