New Animals in Town

Birmingham Zoo Opens Two New Exhibits in Time for Spring Break

their presence at the Birmingham Zoo is part of the Black Rhino Species Survival Plan. This involves other participating zoos accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

It is hoped that Moyo and Kesi eventually will become parents, but right now, the two are not only new to the zoo but new to each other and their environment. Moyo came from the St. Louis Zoo and Kesi from the Pittsburgh Zoo. It’s likely visitors will see the rhinos living separately most of the time, but the zoo hopes to introduce them for breeding in the near future.

“We are excited for everyone to visit both Moyo and Kesi here in their new zoo home,” said Hollie Colahan, the zoo’s deputy director.

Monkey Around

Spring break visitors to the zoo can be among the first to visit the Barbara Ingalls Shook Foundation Primate Trek.

This new addition to the South America/ Primates Building provides the zoo’s resident De Brazza’s monkeys access to a new outdoor habitat that stands free of the main building. In addition to more space for the animals, this new habitat has increased access for animal care professionals to interact with them, providing feeding and training opportunities that guests will be able to see for the first time.

“The open-air habitat allows the De Brazza’s monkeys to have a whole new view of the zoo and its visitors as they move around the viewing path. They will also get a visual perspective of the other animals adjacent to them that they have never had, which will be very visually enriching every day,” said Danielle Williams, zoological manager of South America/ Primates.

The habitat has been designed for flexibility and with future expansion in mind, with overhead tunnels that can connect to the other indoor

The Daniel Foundation habitats. This would allow for other species to use this space or even add additional outdoor habitats in the future.

Alabama Rhino Habitat is now home to two Eastern black rhinoceroses, Moyo, a male who is almost 6, and Kesi, a 6-year-old female.

“We could not be more thankful for the generous donation by the Shook Foundation and their continued support of your zoo,” Colahan said. “Work on this project began before the pandemic, so we are thrilled to have a new habitat to share with our guests and see our primates enjoying this new outdoor space.”

The Shook Foundation has been a long-time supporter the zoo, including providing funding for the Barbara Ingalls Shook Foundation North American Black Bear habitat.

The zoo, normally open Wednesday-Sunday, will be open every day from March 22-April 2, from 9 a.m.–5 p.m. with plenty of animal experiences. That schedule will be announced soon.

Visitors can enjoy the 550 animals representing 180 species on exhibit, such as African elephants, lions, flamingos, sea lions, zebras, red pandas, a variety of snakes, birds and tortoises, American alligators and the North American black bear.

The Protective Carousel will be open and the Red Diamond Express Train will be ready for boarding. The zoo’s restaurants, Wild Burger and Nourish 205, also will be open.

From Page One

Motorsports Museum, which containsns the world’s largest motorcycle collection, the world’s most extensive collection of Lotus cars and an assortment of other rare and unusual cars. It also features a professional car and motorcycle racecourse.

Birmingham Botanical Gardens

Described on its website as a cherished place of respite and inspiration since 1962, the Birmingham Botanical Gardens encompasses 67 acres of serene beauty. More than two dozen garden spaces reflect the region’s terrain and showcase many plants that thrive in Southern gardens. There’s also a glass conservatory with many species of plants. The gardens are open seven days a week. Admission is free.

Birmingham Civil Rights Institute

The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute is part of the Birmingham

Civil Rights National Monument and is an affiliate of the Smithsonian. It’s a cultural and educational research center that promotes a comprehensive understanding of the significance of civil rights developments in Birmingham.

Birmingham Museum of Art

Help your family explore and appreciate the world of art with a visit to the Birmingham Museum of Art. There’s a diverse collection of more than 27,000 paintings, sculptures, prints, drawings and decorative arts and an outdoor sculpture garden. Visitors can take part in their own scavenger hunts through the museum’s galleries; information is available at both entrances.

McWane Science Center

Spring break day camps for preschool to kindergarten-aged children and for older kids in grades one to six will be held, but the science center also will be open to visitors. Popular hands-on permanent exhibits include the Shark and Ray Touch Tank and the Bubble Room. Fossils of dinosaurs that once roamed the state are in the Alabama Dinosaurs exhibit, and The Explore! Lab is devoted to hands-on exploration of geology, paleontology, anthropology and zoology.

Negro Southern League Museum

Before Jackie Robinson became the first African American to play in Major League Baseball, black players had their own leagues. The Negro Southern League Museum tells the story of African American baseball in America through the eyes of Birmingham, with the largest collection of original Negro League baseball artifacts in the country.

Red Mountain Park

Hike the trails of the 1,500 acres in Red Mountain Park in southwestern Birmingham, once the site of extensive iron ore mining – one of the industries that helped build the Magic City. While the iron mines closed decades ago, this urban park is a recreational venue that offers 16 miles of trails accessible to hikers and bike riders. There are three tree houses and a 6-acre off-leash dog park. Your pups are welcome on the trails with you, as long as they’re on a leash.

Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve

Another former mining center turned urban park is Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve in northeastern Birmingham. There are 1,038 acres of biodiverse urban forest that connects East Lake, Irondale, Roebuck Springs and greater Birmingham via 14 miles of trails. The preserve, pavilion and trails are open Tuesday through Saturday, and the Nature Center is open Thursday through Sunday.

Southern Museum of Flight

One of the largest aviation museums in the Southeast is right here in Birmingham near BirminghamShuttlesworth International Airport. More than 100 aircraft are housed in the 75,000-square-foot facility, along with engines, models, artifacts and paintings to present civilian, military and experimental aircraft and memorabilia from the earliest history of powered flight. It’s also home to the Alabama Aviation Hall of Fame, with more than

70 biographical plaques highlighting individuals important to Alabama aviation history.

Vulcan Park and Museum

The original iron man, a 56-foot-tall statue of Vulcan, the Roman god of fire and forge, towers over Vulcan Park. A 10-acre park is spread out atop Red Mountain, and visitors can enjoy an observation tower, a museum and the view of the city in the wide section below the ridge.

Montevallo American Village

The Spirit of ’76 is alive and well at American Village in Montevallo, which celebrates and brings to life the country’s stories of liberty and sacrifice set in a sprawling Revolutionary War-era village. The Patriot Sampler program held Monday to Friday offers a variety of activities, including playing Colonial games, meeting famous patriots like John Adams and viewing the film, “Choosing to be an American People,” in the West Wing of Independence Hall.

By RuBin E. GRant

Dr. Aaron Casp didn’t see himself becoming an economist, although he has a degree in economics from Princeton.

He was more interested in sports medicine, considering he had been around athletics most of his life and wrestled at Princeton. He witnessed firsthand how trainers and doctors helped athletes return to action following an injury.

So, after earning his undergraduate degree, Casp decided to go to medical school at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. He was born and raised in a small town in western North Carolina.

“I guess I wasn’t paying too much attention in my economic classes,” Casp said jokingly, “so I decided to go to medical school and work with athletes, treating them so they would be able to get back from injuries.”

Casp completed his residency in orthopaedic surgery at the University of Virginia and while there he cared for athletes at local high schools as well as Virginia and James Madison University.

Following residency, Casp completed a sports medicine fellowship at the world-renowned Steadman Clinic

Five new Eagle Scouts in Homewood were presented with their awards Feb. 19 at a Court of Honor.

The Eagles who earned Scouting’s highest rank are members of Troop 97 at Trinity United Methodist Church in Homewood.

Gavin McAbee

Gavin’s Eagle project, benefiting the Homewood Parks and Recreation Department, was the construction and installation of two bicycle repair stands on the Lakeshore Trail, Scoutmaster Grant Mullins stated in a written summary.

These highquality stands will provide cyclists along the trail easy access to the workspace and tools necessary to handle repairs and maintenance in

Goodson Brothers Earn

Eagle Scout Rank

Brothers Carter Goodson and Hews Goodson were awarded Scouting’s highest honor of Eagle Scout in September and December, respectively. They were honored March 5 with an Eagle Court of Honor ceremony.

Both are members of Troop 320, which is affiliated with Mountain Brook Presbyterian Church.

Carter has held many leadership positions in Troop 320, including as patrol leader four times, quartermaster, instructor and Order of the Arrow representative. While a Scout, Carter camped 46 nights, hiked 100 miles and

Casp

From page 9 and Steadman Philippon Research Institute in Vail, Colorado. While there, he became a team doctor for the United States Alpine Ski Team, traveling to Austria to provide medical care for the U.S. Ski Team athletes. He also was responsible for the care of athletes from all over the world at the FIS Freestyle Ski and Snowboard World Championships in Aspen, Colorado.

In August 2021, Casp, a resident of Homewood, moved to Birmingham, becoming an assistant professor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and a