ROANOKE TIMES 

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, August 14, 1994                   TAG: 9409160001
SECTION: DISCOVER                    PAGE: 105   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

ZOO EXHIBITS TAKING ON NEW, NATURAL LOOK

Mill Mountain Zoo has sat atop Mill Mountain for years near that giant neon star. But its exhibits are beginning to take on a new look, says Amy Chattin, the zoo's director of education.

Look for the zoo's capital fund-raising campaign to begin this fall, she says, as the zoo prepares to house its animals in exhibits that mimic their natural habitats. Visit today and you'll see one such exhibit - Ruby the tiger's giant roaming area and pond. If you're lucky, Ruby won't be dozing in the shade, and she'll ham it up for your cameras. (She really appreciates the zoom lenses, we're told.)

The zoo participates in the Species Survival Plan that breeds endangered species. Born this year at the zoo are the white naped cranes, a Japanese macaque (snow monkey), a tree kangaroo, a golden lion tamarin and a Korean rat snake. On the way is a red panda cub. The zoo also hopes to house a snow leopard and golden eagle soon.

Mainstays include the petting area with lop-eared rabbits, guinea pigs, bob white quails and pygmy goats. And there are the prairie dogs - an exhibit that ranks in popularity with Ruby and the monkeys.

The Blue Ridge Zoological Society, which runs the zoo, also has worked with the Explore Project to start the American Center for Rare and Endangered Species program. Here, on a 55-acre farm near Explore, rare and threatened North American species such as the red wolf are bred. The facility is not open to the public because the project expects to re-release the animals into the wild.

The zoo is open daily throughout the year except Dec. 25. Hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. during the summer season and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. during the winter.

It is accessible from both Interstate 581 and the Blue Ridge Parkway. From I-581 south, take exit 6, making a right onto Elm Avenue; from I-581 north, turn left. Then turn left onto Jefferson Street. From Jefferson take a left onto Walnut Avenue and follow the signs to the zoo. From the Blue Ridge Parkway, simply follow the posted signs.

Admission is $3.50 for adults, $2 for children 2-11, free for children younger than 2. Reduced group rates are available.

Annual dues for membership are $15 per person, $20 for individuals plus a guest, $25 for grandparents and $30 per family. A servetor membership of $75 also is available for those who want to support the ACRES program. Any membership entitles visitors to unlimited zoo entry, a zoo newsletter and other benefits. For more information, call 343-3241. 


 by CNB