Greenville Zoo dedicated the Mary H. Huse Africa Plaza and opened a new exhibit on Nov. 15.
The zoo unveiled its cape porcupines in a newly built habitat, which is shared with an Aldabra tortoise moved from a display across the walkway. The plaza remains home to the recently renovated Masai giraffe area, as well as an unoccupied space that previously housed the zoo’s lions.
Huse, the mother of Greenville City Councilmember Dorothy Dowe, was a lifelong conservationist and animal lover. She passed away in 2002. The Rupert Huse Charitable Fund donated $250,000 toward renovations and additions to the plaza.
Dowe said her mother and family consider the zoo “one of Greenville’s treasures.”
“From her home, she could hear the vocal animals of the zoo every day until she died,” Dowe said of Huse. “She would be immensely proud of how far the Greenville Zoo has come and its support for species conservation, as well as programming and research initiatives that contribute to our planet’s sustainability.”
The Greenville Zoo Foundation raised $564,702 in private donations for the project, which included the new exhibit area, updated walkways, signage and landscaping. The path beside the new porcupine habitat includes bricks purchased by donors.
“It’s such a tribute. It says so much about the community spirit here, and the benevolence and the giving that happens for the zoo,” said Gail DePriest, chair of the zoo foundation board.
Additional funding for the plaza renovations came from the state. The zoo is owned by the city of Greenville and supported by the Greenville Zoo Foundation. City Council voted in August to name the plaza in honor of Huse.
Names of the animals in the Mary H. Huse Africa Plaza:
Cape porcupines: Brillo and Spike
Aldabra tortoise: Bubba
Masai giraffes: Miles, Autumn and Blossom
Quote:
“These animal are more than fascinating species. They’re ambassadors for their species and their ecosystems. By learning about them up close, we can gain a deeper understanding and respect of the rich diversity of wildlife on our planet.” – Greenville Zoo Administrator Bill Cooper
