ASHEBORO, NC — Come celebrate Easter weekend at the North Carolina Zoo for the annual Egg-Stravaganza event on Saturday, April 4, and Sunday, April 5, featuring special Easter treats for the animals.

In several animal exhibits, zoo keepers will place paper-mâché eggs, made by zoo volunteers and filled with appropriate food treats as well as other enrichment items. Additionally, keepers will be available to answer visitor questions at some exhibits.

The schedule includes: elephants, 10:00 a.m.; polar bears, 10:30 a.m.; bobcats 10:30 a.m.; red river hogs, 11:00 a.m.; seals, 11:30 a.m.; seabirds, 11:30 a.m.; black bear, 11:45 a.m.; grizzly bear, 1:15 p.m.; chimpanzees, 2:00 p.m.; baboons, 2:00 p.m.; lemurs 2:30 p.m.; and cougars at 2:30 p.m. In addition a special display of bird eggs will be available in the R.J. Reynolds Forest Aviary from 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.

Egg-Stravaganza is part of the zoo’s ongoing animal enrichment program, which provides mental and physical stimulation for the animals, allowing them to find and play with the treats as well as experience the tastes and smells.

Finn, a young Flemish Giant Rabbit that will be available for kids to see in the zoo’s KidZone playground in the near future, received his Easter treat today. The video can be found at http://ow.ly/L8XWi.

The North Carolina Zoo is an agency of the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Donald R. van der Vaart, Secretary; Pat McCrory, Governor.

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