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42-584: Riverbanks Zoo and Garden is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) . In the early 1960s, Columbia-area businessmen conceived of a zoo for the state capital. However, the idea did not get beyond the planning stages until 1969, when the state created the Rich-Lex Riverbanks Park Special Purpose District to run the proposed zoo. The zoo opened on April 25, 1974 after 5 years of planning. The planning stage

84-603: A 250,000-U.S.-gallon (950,000 L) pool. As of November 20, 2019 the last elephant was transported to the Milwaukee County Zoo in Wisconsin. The closing of the elephant exhibit made room for a Southern white rhino exhibit, opened in summer of 2020. Riverbanks Farm (opened in 1988) contains domestic animals and allows guests to feed the zoo's goats and alpacas . Lemur Island was a former exhibit including ring-tailed lemurs and red ruffed lemurs , later replaced by

126-401: A 250,000-gallon saltwater habitat. Around that time the newly renovated entrance, renovated otter exhibit, and renovated grizzly bear exhibit also opened. This was all part of the zoo's $ 36 million Destination Riverbanks plan. Additionally, a children's garden opened in 2016, complete with a dinosaur digging area and water features to interact with. This garden has been the largest addition to

168-441: A case of mistaken identity or milk theft, and may be a sign of kin altruism. Piglets begin grazing at about two to three weeks and are weaned by six months. Piglets quickly attain mobility and stay close to their mothers for defense. Common warthogs live for an average of 7 to 11 years in the wild. Captive specimens on the other hand can live for an average of 21 years. As of 1999, the common warthog population in southern Africa

210-668: A conference in September, one of the largest zoo and aquarium professionals' events in the US. AZA also manages the citizen science program FrogWatch USA . In the United States, any public animal exhibit must be licensed and inspected by the United States Department of Agriculture , United States Environmental Protection Agency , Drug Enforcement Administration , Occupational Safety and Health Administration , and others. Depending on

252-544: A female common warthog will defend her piglets aggressively. On occasion, common warthogs have been observed charging and even wounding large predators. Common warthogs have also been observed allowing banded mongooses and vervet monkeys to groom them to remove ticks . Common warthogs are not territorial, but instead occupy a home range. Common warthogs live in groups called sounders. Females live in sounders with their young and with other females. Females tend to stay in their natal groups, while males leave, but stay within

294-544: A handful in eleven other countries. In October 1924 the American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums was formed as an affiliate of the American Institute of Park Executives. In 1966, the American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums became a professional branch affiliate of the newly formed National Recreation and Park Association , which absorbed the American Institute of Park Executives. In

336-404: A token collection and, under the direction of a professional staff, provides its collection with appropriate care and exhibits them in an aesthetic manner to the public on a regularly scheduled basis. They shall further be defined as having as their primary business the exhibition, conservation and preservation of the earth's fauna in an educational and scientific manner." To achieve accreditation,

378-408: A zoo must pass an application and inspection process and meet or exceed AZA's standards for animal health and welfare, fundraising, zoo staffing, and involvement in global conservation efforts. Inspection is performed by three experts (typically one veterinarian, one expert in animal care, and one expert in zoo management and operations) and then reviewed by a panel of twelve experts before accreditation

420-723: Is South Carolina's largest gated attraction, averaging over one million visitors each year—a considerable amount for a zoo serving a region as small as Columbia (the Columbia metropolitan area has only 800,000 people). Riverbanks is a four-time winner of the Southeastern Tourism Society's Shining Example Award as the Southeast's top tourist attraction and a two-time winner of the SC Parks Recreation and Tourism Governor's Cup Award as South Carolina's Leading Attraction. The zoo

462-518: Is a 2-acre (0.81 ha) pair of exhibits featuring giraffe (including a paid feeding station), as well as Grant's zebra , and ostrich in the other. The Aquarium Reptile Complex (opened in 1989 as part of the Zoo II plan) is a 20,000-square-foot (1,900 m) building with a 50,000-U.S.-gallon (190,000 L) tank for Pacific coral reef species, as well as exhibits for Galapagos tortoises , false gharials , Komodo dragons , and other reptiles. There

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504-504: Is a Galapagos tortoise sculpture next to it. In September 2021, the complex was closed for one year in order to undergo major revisions. Opened in 2002, Ndoki Forest was designed to house two of the larger African species, the African elephant and western lowland gorilla , as well as slender-tailed meerkat , various birds, and formerly de Brazza's monkeys . The elephants once lived in a 1 ⁄ 2 -acre (0.20 ha) renovated yard with

546-402: Is a medium-sized species, with a head-and-body length ranging from 0.9 to 1.5 m (2 ft 11 in to 4 ft 11 in), and shoulder height from 63.5 to 85 cm (25.0 to 33.5 in). Females, at 45 to 75 kg (99 to 165 lb), are smaller and lighter than males, at 60 to 150 kg (130 to 330 lb). A warthog is identifiable by the two pairs of tusks protruding from

588-710: Is awarded. This accreditation process is repeated once every five years. AZA estimates that there are approximately 2,800 animal exhibits operating under USDA license as of 2019; fewer than 10% are accredited. Certification is possible for facilities that hold animals, but are not regularly open to the public. AZA's Saving Animals From Extinction (SAFE) program prioritizes collaboration between zoos and aquariums to support highly vulnerable species. SAFE builds on existing recovery plans to implement strategic conservation and public engagement activities. In 2017, AZA member zoos and aquariums invested $ 15.6 million towards SAFE program species. The SAFE program signature species include

630-501: Is home to over 2,000 animals, with collections of mammals , birds , reptiles , and fish . In 2002, additions included exhibits for African elephants , gorillas , and koalas . The Birdhouse at Riverbanks (opened 2001) was given a Significant Achievement Award by the AZA as one of the best new zoo exhibits in the United States, and features a display of king, rockhopper, and gentoo penguins. The Zoo 2002 plan cost $ 15 million. African Plains

672-576: Is promoted, while the "roaming tactic" promotes scramble-competition polygyny. The typical gestation period is five to six months. When they are about to give birth, sows temporarily leave their families to farrow in a separate hole. The litter is two to eight piglets, with two to four typical. The sow will stay in the burrow for several weeks, nursing her piglets. Common warthog sows have been observed to nurse foster piglets if they lose their own litter. This behavior, known as allosucking, makes them cooperative breeders . Allosucking does not seem to be

714-575: Is the only pig species that has adapted to grazing and savanna habitats. Its diet is omnivorous , composed of grasses, roots, berries and other fruits, bark, fungi, insects, eggs and carrion. The diet is seasonably variable, depending on availability of different food items. During the wet seasons, warthogs graze on short perennial grasses. During the dry seasons, they subsist on bulbs, rhizomes , and nutritious roots. Warthogs are powerful diggers, using both their snouts and feet. When feeding, they often bend their front feet backwards and move around on

756-406: The African lion , African species of vultures , Asian elephant , Atlantic Acropora coral, black-footed ferret , black rhinoceros , cheetah , eastern indigo snake , giraffe , gorilla , sea turtles , orangutan , radiated tortoise , red wolf , sharks , and sting rays , vaquita , western pond turtle , and whooping crane . There were more than 20 species or taxonomic groups included in

798-531: The American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums , is an American 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1924 and dedicated to the advancement of zoos and public aquariums in the areas of conservation , education, science, and recreation. AZA is headquartered in Silver Spring, Maryland , and accredits zoos. There were 238 accredited facilities as of 2019, primarily in the US, and also

840-416: The "roaming tactic", boars seek out estrous sows and compete for them. Boars will wait for sows to emerge from their burrows. A dominant boar will displace any other boar that also tries to court his female. When a sow leaves her den, the boar will try to demonstrate his dominance and then follow her before copulation. For the "staying tactic", monogamy, female-defense polygyny , or resource-defense polygyny

882-415: The AZA community's research. To be a member, a facility must either be accredited or certified. Accredited facilities maintain a professional staff and appropriate animal care, and are open to the public on a predictable basis. The following list is from 2013. Pier 39 Pier 3, Inner Harbor Pier 59 Certified facilities maintain a professional staff and appropriate animal care, but are not open to

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924-497: The Endangered Species Act. In 2017, member institutions reported participating in field conservation projects benefiting over 860 species in 128 countries. AZA zoos and aquariums spent $ 25 million on research and published 170 books, book chapters, journal articles, conference proceeding papers, posters and theses or dissertations. Animal care, health and welfare, followed by species and habitat conservation, describe 68% of

966-612: The US and eleven other countries: Canada , Mexico , Bermuda , The Bahamas , the Dominican Republic , Colombia , Argentina , Spain , Hong Kong , Singapore , and South Korea . Approximately 800,000 animals representing 6,000 species are in the care of AZA-accredited facilities, including 1,000 threatened or endangered species. The association also facilitates both species survival plans and population management plans, which serve to sustainably manage genetically diverse captive populations of various animal species. AZA holds

1008-752: The animals they exhibit, the activities of zoos are regulated by laws including the Endangered Species Act , the Animal Welfare Act , the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 and others. Additionally, zoos in North America may choose to pursue accreditation by AZA. The American association has developed a definition for zoological gardens and aquariums as part of its accreditation standards: "A permanent cultural institution which owns and maintains captive wild animals that represent more than

1050-490: The common warthog's primary defense is to flee by means of fast sprinting. When threatened, warthogs can run at speeds of up to 48 km/h (30 mph), they will run with their tails sticking up and will enter their dens rear first with tusks facing out. The common warthog's main predators are humans , lions , leopards , cheetahs , crocodiles , wild dogs and hyenas . Birds of prey such as Verreaux's eagle owls and martial eagles sometimes prey on piglets. However,

1092-605: The cost of $ 6 million) with more than 4,200 species of native and exotic plants, and some sculptures. A trail system lets visitors explore several kilometers of bottomland and upland mixed hardwood forests in search of the native wildlife that call the Zoo and Garden home. Waterfall Junction (opened in April 2016) is a children's play area that includes a splashpad, playground, playhouses, and more. Association of Zoos and Aquariums The Association of Zoos and Aquariums ( AZA ), originally

1134-515: The fall of 1971, the American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums membership voted to become an independent association. On January 19, 1972, it was chartered as the American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums with its executive office located in Wheeling, West Virginia , within the Oglebay Park Good Zoo . In 1994, the shorter name American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA)

1176-569: The home range. Subadult males associate in bachelor groups, but males live alone when they become adults. Adult males only join sounders with estrous females. Warthogs have two facial glands: the tusk gland and the sebaceous gland. Common warthogs of both sexes begin to mark around six to seven months old. Males tend to mark more than females. They mark sleeping and feeding areas and waterholes. Common warthogs use tusk marking for courtship, for antagonistic behaviors, and to establish status. Common warthogs are seasonal breeders . Rutting begins in

1218-428: The late rainy or early dry season and birthing begins near the start of the following rainy season. The mating system is described as "overlap promiscuity": the males have ranges overlapping several female ranges, and the daily behavior of the female is unpredictable. Boars employ two mating strategies during the rut. With the "staying tactic", a boar will stay and defend certain females or a resource valuable to them. In

1260-414: The mouth and curving upwards. The lower pair, which is far shorter than the upper pair, becomes razor-sharp by rubbing against the upper pair every time the mouth is opened and closed. The upper canine teeth can grow to 25.5 cm (10.0 in) long and have a wide elliptical cross section , being about 4.5 cm (1.8 in) deep and 2.5 cm (0.98 in) wide. A tusk will curve 90° or more from

1302-436: The path. The Riverbanks Zoo added a Malayan tapir on January 18, 2013, since deceased; as well as a breeding pair of North Sulawesi babirusas in 2012. The babirusas have successfully been bred and can be found in the previous warthog exhibit. In June 2016, a new sea lion and harbor seal exhibit was opened, which is modeled after San Francisco's Pier 39 . This new exhibit includes four sea lions and one harbor seal in

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1344-460: The program as of 2019. The association has a computerized database called the Annual Report on Conservation and Science . This helps track AZA research projects worldwide. AZA member zoos and aquariums contribute $ 220 million to conservation projects each year. They participate in 115 reintroduction programs, including more than 40 programs for species listed as threatened or endangered under

1386-475: The public on a predictable basis. Common warthog 4 sspp.; see text The common warthog ( Phacochoerus africanus ) is a wild member of the pig family ( Suidae ) found in grassland, savanna, and woodland in sub-Saharan Africa . In the past, it was commonly treated as a subspecies of P. aethiopicus , but today that scientific name is restricted to the desert warthog of northern Kenya , Somalia , and eastern Ethiopia . The common warthog

1428-483: The rebuilt sea lion exhibit. Conservation Outpost features threatened species such as golden lion tamarins , fishing cats , and the aforementioned lemurs. In 1983, the Education Center opened for Zoo Camp. Kangaroo Walkabout is another modern addition. It has a path leading into the exhibit where visitors can view wallabies and red kangaroos without a barrier between them. However, visitors cannot stray from

1470-466: The root, and will not lie flat on a table, as it curves somewhat backwards as it grows. The tusks are not used for digging, but are used for combat with other hogs and in defense against predators – the lower set can inflict severe wounds. Common warthog ivory is taken from the constantly growing canine teeth. The tusks, particularly the upper set, work in much the same way as elephant tusks with all designs scaled down. Tusks are carved predominantly for

1512-414: The tourist trade in eastern and southern Africa . The head of the common warthog is large, with a mane down the spine to the middle of the back. Sparse hair covers the body. Its color is usually black or brown. Tails are long and end with a tuft of hair. Common warthogs do not have subcutaneous fat and the coat is sparse, making them susceptible to extreme environmental temperatures. The common warthog

1554-545: The wrists. Calloused pads that protect the wrists during such movement form early in the development of the fetus. Although they can dig their own burrows, they often occupy abandoned burrows of aardvarks and other animals. The common warthog commonly reverses into burrows, with its head facing the opening and ready to burst out if necessary. Common warthogs will wallow in mud to cope with high temperatures and huddle together to cope with low temperatures. Although capable of fighting (males fight each other during mating season),

1596-498: The zoo since the botanical garden in 1995. Separate exhibits include Hamadryas baboons , lions , Siberian tiger , meerkats , alligators , and siamangs . In May 2022, Riverbanks announced their new Bridge to the Wild plan, which aims to extend the zoo into the gardens. Plans include a new restaurant, as well as new species including orangutans , gibbons , red wolves , American black bears , and golden eagles . Phase two of this plan

1638-852: Was adopted. In early 2018, AZA acquired the Wildlife Trafficking Alliance to help grow public awareness about the purchase and sale of illegal wildlife products in the United States. The Association of Zoos and Aquariums reported 195 million visitors to its 236 accredited member facilities in 2017. The organization is active in institution accreditation , animal care initiatives, education and conservation programs, collaborative research and advocacy. AZA serves as an accrediting body for zoos and aquariums and ensures accredited facilities meet higher standards of animal care than required by law. Institutions are evaluated every five years in order to ensure standards are met and to maintain accreditation. As of 2019 AZA had 238 accredited facilities in

1680-548: Was approved in December 2023, with approximately $ 80 million invested from both Richland county and Lexington county. This project is planned to have a significant impact on tourism, local education, and potential job opportunities. The last original animal who had been there since the zoo's opening, a female Caribbean flamingo , died in March 2014. Riverbanks also has a 70-acre (28 ha) botanical garden (opened on June 10, 1995 at

1722-540: Was crucial because of the rich history surrounding the property, including four archeological sites. Within two years, it was obvious that the zoo would not be self-supporting, and the Riverbanks Zoological Society was created to help raise money for the zoo. At the same time, Palmer "Satch" Krantz was appointed executive director. Notable features of the original Zoo design were the mountainous, moated exhibits for big cats and bears. Riverbanks Zoo and Garden

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1764-585: Was estimated to be about 250,000. Typical densities range between 1 and 10 km (0.39 and 3.86 sq mi) in protected areas, but local densities of 77 km (30 sq mi) were found on short grass in Nakuru National Park in Kenya. The species is susceptible to drought and hunting (especially with dogs), which may result in localized extinctions. The common warthog is present in numerous protected areas across its extensive range. In 2020, it

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