We visited one of our favorite places, the Greensboro Science Center to experience the new Revolution Ridge expansion recently. This is the largest expansion at the Science Center in its 63 year history and yesterday we attended the special members only preview day before its opening to the public on June 4, 2021. It was a beautiful day to visit even though rain was in the forecast. All the animals were out and about!! The expansion was well worth the wait and definitely worth checking out!
Southern Cassowary
As you enter Revolution Ridge, you start down a beautiful boardwalk nestled among the trees and the first habitat you come upon is the Southern cassowaries that originate from Australia, New Guinea and the surrounding islands. The Greensboro Science Center currently has two on exhibit, a male and female pair, named Dodo and Moana. The female is in the first exhibit and the males is in the second exhibit .
Okapi
Moving down the boardwalk was one of the most interesting animals on exhibit at Revolution Ridge (at least in our opinion), the Okapi named Bakari. The Okapi is a solitary animal and is related to the giraffe. People often confuse it with the zebra due to its striped coloration on its hind quarters. Another fun fact about Bakari is he used to live at Disney World’s Animal Kingdom theme park and was transferred here to live on Revolution Ridge. We enjoyed watching him check out his habitat today and try to eat the leaves from the trees above him.
Pygmy Hippopotamus
The next animal included in the Revolution Ridge expansion was the Pygmy Hippopotamus. This was another favorite of the day. There are two pygmy hippopotamus’ currently at the Greensboro Science Center. There names are Holly Berry and Ralph. However, only one of the two hippos was out today. The one that was out and about today was very active and very cute. These hippos originate from West Africa and can get up to 4 1/2-6 feet in length and can weigh from 350-600 lbs. Their habitat was impressive with 2 outdoor pools, an indoor enclosure with viewing area and an indoor pool as well. We also got to see the hippo on exhibit swim several times today.
Shearer Animal Hospital and Dr. Sigmund and Ellen Tannenbaum Conservation Center
From here the boardwalk winds downward to a new open area with picnic tables and restrooms. There is also a new Animal Hospital and Conservation Center, where guests can watch animal exams, procedures and even surgeries taking place.
Shearer Animal Hospital
and Dr. Sigmund and Ellen Tannenbaum Conservation Center
Caribbean Flamingos
Next up was the most colorful animal on exhibit in the new Revolution Ridge expansion of the Greensboro Science Center. You can not miss the Caribbean Flamingo as you exit the animal hospital and continue along the ridge. The flock consists of 19 birds total. Two of the nineteen birds are females and the rest are males. These beautiful coral, pink birds get their color from the carotenoid pigments that is found in the algae that makes up part of their diet. These birds can fly but need to have space to take off and as an extra precaution have had their wings clipped.
Small Cats
Part of the Revolution Ridge expansion included upgrading the habitats for some of Greensboro Science Centers current resident animals including the fishing cat family and the red pandas, Tai and Usha. The new fishing cat habitat is the next one you come to as you leave the new flamingo exhibit. It is much more spacious than their previous habitat located indoors in the aquarium. There is also a habitat for the new sand cat, Layla and for the Serval cat.
Fishing Cats 
Fishing Cat Habitat 
Serval Cat
Red Panda Ravine
As the path continues around you come to the new Red panda ravine, the last and final section of the new Revolution Ridge expansion at the Greensboro Science Center. This section gives the existing residents, Tai and Usha, a new and much upgraded and more spacious habitat that spans across the pathway with a connecting tunnel for them to crawl through. It is a truly beautiful habitat and one in which I think they are going to thoroughly enjoy. They already seem to be enjoying it immensely from the time we spent watching them yesterday. They were much more active yesterday than any of the other previous visits we have ever seen visiting them at the Science Center.
The new Revolution Ridge expansion at the Greensboro Science Center is amazing and is definitely worth checking out!! We love the Greensboro Science Center and this expansion only adds to its value. There are already more animals planned for the Revolution Ridge expansion, including the ground hornbill and the black-footed cat. There will also be a phone application that guests can download on their phones. Guests can then point their smart devices at signs located throughout the animal exhibits to gain more information on the animals on display. The Revolution Ridge expansion is now officially open to all guests for their enjoyment!!! Go check it out today!!! Leave a comment below and let us know what you think of the new expansion!!
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