ASHEBORO - With fun and entertainment each weekend-from celebrating animal birthdays to a "party for the planet"-the North Carolina Zoo will offer something for everyone throughout the month of April during "ZooFLING 2010."

The merriment kicks off on Saturday, April 3, when visitors can enjoy "Eggstravaganza," a day when zoo animals hunt for treats in their exhibits. In keeping with the Easter celebration, the treats will be hidden inside decorative paper-mache` eggs made by zoo volunteers and students at the Asheboro High Zoo School.

The animal "eggsperiences" begin with the cougars at 10:30 a.m., followed by black bears at 11 a.m., puffins at 11:30 a.m., gorillas at 1:30 p.m., elephants at 2:30 p.m. and baboons at 3 p.m. In addition, Radio Disney will be in the North America Plaza with music and games from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and a special display of eggs from Sonora Desert critters will be at the Desert exhibit from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.

On the following Saturday, April 10, the zoo celebrates "Feast of the Beasts," when visitors can meet and talk to keepers and enjoy animal feedings throughout the day. The celebration begins at 10 a.m. at the Streamside exhibit.

Saturday & Sunday, April 17 & 18, is "Earth Day" weekend at the park. During the "party for the planet," visitors will learn about the zoo's conservation efforts and green practices and can take part in educational family fun throughout the park. On both Saturday and Sunday, singer and guitarist Pamlico Joe will perform his show in the Junction Plaza at 1 p.m. & 3 p.m.

Saturday, April 24, kicks off the park's "Creature Comforts" celebration, when visitors can again meet the keepers and also learn about animal enrichment. All the weekend fun takes place during regular zoo hours of 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. and is included in the regular zoo admission of $10 for adults, $8 for seniors (62+) and $6 for children (ages 2-12).

Coca-Cola is the signature sponsor for all zoo special events and WalMart is the special sponsor for ZooFLING.

The zoo is an agency of the N.C. Department of Environment & Natural Resources, Dee Freeman, Secretary; Beverly Eaves Perdue, Governor.

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