BREAKING GROUND FOR ASIA

On August 17th, 2022, state and local government officials joined Zoo and Society staff and friends to celebrate the groundbreaking for the Zoo’s new Asia continent. The sun shone through the trees, while those in attendance listened to remarks from speakers, which included North Carolina First Lady Kristin Cooper. Secretary Reid Wilson, head of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) also spoke. DNCR is the state agency that manages museums and cultural sites across North Carolina, including the aquariums and the N.C. Zoo. Secretary Pamela Cashwell of the Dept. of Administration made some remarks, and reminded those present that her department oversees land owned by the state. The Zoo has over 2,100 acres of land under its management, making it very significant to Sec. Cashwell’s department.

by Kelly Nields

Local members of the N.C. legislature said a few words, as State Senator Dave Craven and State Representative Allen McNeill reminded those present of the economic importance of the N.C. Zoo to the surrounding region. Pat Simmons, Director of the Zoo, also spoke to the crowd, which had gathered on recently cleared ground marking the site of the Zoo’s first major expansion since the North America continent opened in 1994. Director Simmons spoke about the vision of the Zoo’s founders and past leaders, who imagined how the N.C. Zoo would one day showcase wildlife from six the world’s seven continents. (Sorry to all you fans of Antarctica!) The completion of Asia will get us half way to that long-standing, ambitious and admirable goal.

Former Chair of the Board for the N.C. Zoo Society and long-time supporter of the Zoo, Earl Johnson also traveled to Asheboro for the ceremony. Mr. Johnson currently serves as the Chair for the Capital Campaign that is dedicated to raising $50 million towards the Zoo’s expansion projects. As of November, 2022, that campaign is steadily progressing towards its goal, having raised nearly $28 million, so far.

Those privately donated funds, and the $75 million in public funds approved by the N.C. legislature for the construction of Asia, constitute a phenomenal investment in the Zoo, its science based education programs, and the future growth of the region. The people, businesses and public officials that have worked together to bring this vision into reality are true champions for the Zoo.

With the ceremony concluded, and the ground broken, over the next several weeks the construction crews from Rodgers moved in and got to work. By the end of August, site clearing was well underway. Several other tasks were focused on during this initial phase, which related to establishing the construction perimeter, and to creating pathways to facilitate the next steps in the project.

As September began, tree removal continued on the roughly ten acres, with some of the harvested timber being processed right on-site. Timber that cannot otherwise be used is mulched, whenever possible. All that tree clearing leaves stumps behind, and those have to be ground down or removed as well, which creates a whole other series of tasks. At almost every step along the way, lines of trucks are hauling materials in, and then hauling debris out. Machines have been moving logs and smoothing the earth, while workers with shovels, and saws, and other implements have remained in a constant state of activity. Hard hats and safety glasses are definitely required in the area, and a dust-mask is probably a good idea too!

With the tree removal completed, October saw the construction team really begin to work the land itself. Soil was stripped from certain areas, and relocated to others, to create the desired slopes and leveled spaces that will underlie the exhibits and landscaping of the completed Asia continent. The land around the Zoo is known for its rockiness, and some impressive boulders can be found in the park itself, as well as in the surrounding woods, alongside the Zoo’s hiking trails. The Asia construction site had its share of big rocks too. Some boulders could be extracted for later use in landscaping or barriers. Larger rocks that impede construction can sometimes be drilled and busted up, but the larger ones occasionally require blasting. Blasting operations at the Zoo are handled very carefully, with the safety and comfort of guests and the animals always taking precedent. Most of the blasting is done in the early morning hours, when guests have not yet arrived, and Zookeepers can more easily take steps to ensure the well-being of the animals in their care.

October also saw the beginnings of utility installations for the animal habitats and the visitor amenities. Asia will include habitats for tigers, Komodo dragons, gibbons, Small-Clawed otters, and a variety of other birds, reptiles and smaller mammals. These unique and amazing creatures will be housed in settings inspired by their natural habitats, and will receive the award winning level of care that the N.C. Zoo has become famous for. The visitor amenities in Asia will include a large café and event space. In one of the most highly anticipated features, visitors dining in the café will be able to look out through glass walls into the tiger habitat while enjoying their refreshments!

A project of this scope and size takes time, hard work, and substantial financial resources. Asia is projected to open in 2026, and the project is on track to meet that timeline. We at the Zoo and Society cannot overstate our gratitude to the leaders who have developed this plan, to the designers and workers who are making it a reality, and, most of all, to the donors who make it all possible through their generosity and commitment to the special place we call the North Carolina Zoo.

If you are interested in supporting the Zoo and Society, in this project and all their good works, you can learn more at www.nczoo.com.