A major expansion at the Greensboro Science Center is now open to the public. It's called Revolution Ridge and showcases several new animal exhibits, including some threatened and endangered species.
The more than $15-million expansion spans several acres. It includes a new animal hospital where visitors can watch surgeries and how the animals are cared for, a conservation center, and treehouses. It's also now home to rare animals like red pandas, pygmy hippos, and okapis.
Greensboro Science Center CEO Glenn Dobrogosz says it's part of a big community effort to grow the science center. The project was funded with help from private donations and a $20 million bond referendum supported by voters.
“Revolution Ridge is the final expansion of our zoological park. So now it's a full 25 acres," says Dobrogosz. "It's got big and little animals, very up-close experiences, even some really cool technology that we will be launching in about a week called Keeper On Call where you will be able to just point your device and all of these things will start happening in augmented reality right in front of you inside the exhibit with the animals.”
Dobrogosz says they called the new addition Revolution Ridge because it sits adjacent to a historic Revolutionary War battlefield site and it symbolizes the fight for freedom that threatened and endangered animals face as their habitats in the wild continue to be disrupted.
The Greensboro Science Center estimates it will see around half a million visitors this year.
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